The Other Side of the Mountain: The End of the Journey (The Journals of Thomas Merton)

A vivid description of Merton's last year. This volume showed a monk who was less in turmoil than he was in the previous two volumes. It was quite apparent that had he returned to Gethsemani, there would have occurred major changes regarding his vocation. As with the other volumes, it showed a monk who was conflicted in his desire for solitude and yet wanted to be in the world. Very well put together

I was disappointed in seeing how Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, in what is considered among the strictest Catholic order, travelled staying in expensive hotels, drinking a lot of beer, lacking discipline in many ways. The interpretation of the vow of poverty seems to have been very poorly understood. He feels as though he is very distracted, and focussed mainly on where he would like to be as a hermit. There is this dreaming about a hermit life, but his actual life was the opposite, constantly talking and moving. I don't see him taking the necessary steps to create the silence and concentration that the hermit life requires. I was impressed with his honesty, and liked much of what he has to say on world affairs, as well as his contacts with Buddhists and Hindus, but find that he was not walking his talk about silence and contemplation.

Great story about a mystic and complicated man on his journey to find God

Merton’s trajectory towards his death in Thailand is filled with golden nuggets, but one must mine them. Merton is a scholar of Eastern religion, especially Buddhism. This overwhelms the reader who is not so well-versed.

The book came very quickly and was in great shape. I love the book itself and appreciate the availability of so much literature through the Amazon affiliates. The only problem is I spend too much money, I should go to the library but this is so convenient. . . Thank you.

Interesting mostly to Thomas Merton devotees. Lots of everyday observations. Haven't finished the book yet.

what a beautiful inspiration Merton was to all of us.....this journal of his last year on earth is a treasure

The Journal is great, but a word of warning: The text of the Kindle version is overwhelmed by misspellings, footnotes placed wrong, and strange characters inserted into the writing. It's a disgrace by the publisher to allow the etext to be in such abysmal shape, the worst I've seen in a long time. As I said, this Journal is wonderful, and I'm glad I have all seven volumes on my Kindle, but volume 7 is in inexcusable shape.

This difficult to review in some ways as it is essentially the simple diary of the trivia and the the depths of Merton's journey. Consequently one has to tolerate and appreciate the trivia as the bedrock of a life, to discover the tremendous flight and grounding of a Mystics soul. It is also his last writing prior to his early accidental death and contains a poignancy for that alone. He also made me smile for in that basic reportage of his day to day life, one becomes aware of the fact that he too was irritated, titillated and frustrated by life in exactly the same ways we all are.

A Glimpse into the the Life of Thomas Merton

As with all the Journals of Thomas Merton, well worth reading. But really, for a pricey Kindle version the number of typo's is surely unacceptable?

Having read The Seven Story Mountain I did not think it could be equaled, but this book is different and tells it as it was. If you love Merton this book is a must.

great product and service