The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton

by Michael Mott

Derived from Merton's personal journals and letters, and from the recollections of intimate friends, this authorized narrative catches the character of the man, the artist, and the Catholic priest

Genres: Biography, Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Classics

690 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When I reveal most, I hide most.” ~Thomas Merton

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography savoring it as I spent time getting to know an author—who I consider more of a friend—better. I do not, however, recommend Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton for someone who has only a casual interest in Thomas Merton. Better to find a smaller/shorter bio, or better yet, try one of Merton’s many little gems on contemplative prayer. Come to know him first through his insightful writing.

Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton by Michael Mott is the quintessential biography of this larger-than-life-playboy-writer-turned-contemplative-monk-famous-author-world-renown-avant-guard-figure. Merton was so complex, sensitive, subtle, multi-faceted and constantly growing, learning, trying on ideas and discarding them as outmoded or unworkable, moving on to the next and the next as ideas, theories and realms presented themselves to him—in the form of new friends, fresh experiences, poetry or a philosophy/spirituality which beckoned to his hungering soul. Friends never knew what to expect from Merton from one occasion to the next but if they were true friends that is what they valued in him—startling and unpredictable, magnetic and ever-changeable—he was never dull.

This extremely detailed biography about TM covers his life in excruciating detail. If you are hoping for ‘the rest of the story’ this is the book. It fills in everything his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, couldn’t and goes on from there. It’s based on the Geography of Thomas Merton in which there were seven mountains, although one was the idea of the other: Canigou, The Calvaire, Brooke Hill, The Pasture, Mount Purgatory, Mount Olivet, and Kanchenjunga, and includes minutiae which would be of little interest to someone who was not already a devoted Merton fan including many facts from his journals.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and will keep it alongside all his other books which I regularly reread. Thanks Jane for the recommendation!

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Merton, aka. Father Louis, has loomed large in this Kentucky neck of the woods of mine for many decades. I had no idea, though, as I was living my life here that our paths had crossed, interdimensionally at any rate, as I played criss cross with him on the pavements in alternate time. I find he dined at Cunningham's, visited an allergist in St. Matthews and friends in Anchorage Ky a mile away from me, browsed and studied at the art library and main library on the University of Louisville campus where I traipsed countless times, and made many appearances at Bellarmine where a center collecting his life work is housed; again, a campus I've strolled oft times. For one bound to the silent monastic life, he sure was effusive and well traveled, and in my own monastic isolation of self centered pursuit had no idea in my ignorance that I'd traveled, physically anyway, in his spaces. But that point is well made, and as my policy now is to not contribute much to the website of Mr. Penis Rocket Bezos and his Katy Perry payload carrying space dong I will bring this one home simply and say this was a solid, informative, if slightly oddly written account, of the epic life of the rock-star trappist monk and writer who has inspired so many, and even though I took six solid pages of notes to talk about this book, and him, I am simply going to go off to bed now having notched another big-ass Spring read that was long in the planning, for this year of our Lord, 2025. Now, please, give us a miracle sign for your canonization and send straight to Hell a certain orange catastrophe. If you do it within this week I swear I will give my atheist ass over to God. Amen

[Drew]

Decided to not read it. Obviously well done and worth it but it is more than I want to undertake.

[Desmond Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid biography of Thomas Merton, most suited for those who are already familiar with his written work and the general outline of his life. If one were not familiar with Merton's writing, it might be hard to understand what all the fuss about the celebrity monk was about. There is relatively little about the ideas explored in his written work, but a lot about the relationships he formed inside and outside the monastery. The questions Merton explores in his diaries, about solitude and the relationship of a monk to the outside world, benefit here from exposition about the actual steps he took on these matters. This is not a biography that addresses the why of Merton, why someone for whom writing was the essential of his life would choose to be a monk, and then turn his attention to the events of the world in his last decade. Even the description of the famous vision at 4th and Walnut in Louisville is presented briefly, and with little commentary. There is nothing about his ongoing influence; the book ends with his death and funeral. The benefit of this book for me is taking a look at the life of the man and deciding if it changes anything I think about what he had to say in his writing. It does not add much, but it detracts nothing.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Merton is a surprise to a Protestant, Jewish woman because of his honesty in dealing with the child he and a nun had after a relationship. He cared for the child and paid for the financial needs. Merton was a fellow that one could not help but enjoy talking too, he had a good memory and insatiable appetite for reading. One of his friends was living in Greenville, MS until passing away a few years ago. We had a chance to meed with this priest, Thomas Merton friend, but my husband withdrew his membership from the Catholic Church we were attending over the treatment by the closeted behavior of the church members towards me. Never a Protestant to them, I had to be an Anglican. Oh, what does that matter?
There are areas of Merton's life that cross the line of a priest who wanted to live like a hermit, and a person outside of the Ky. Church group that he was a member of.
more later, read this book when it first came out, and the Seven mountains by Thomas Merton

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simplesmente fascinante!

[Gwen Tough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about Merton in Mott's biography is not the same thing as reading Thomas Merton! You don't know Merton until you have read one of his books, such as New Seeds of Contemplation, or one of his journals. I also love the more recent book using Merton's writings, compiled by Kathleen Deignan : Thomas Merton, A Book of Hours. Merton wants to bring you closer to God.

(from A Book of Hours) "The secret of my full identity is hidden in him. He alone can make me who I am, or rather who I will be when at last I fully begin to be. But unless I desire this identity and work to find it with Him and in Him, the work will never be done . The way of doing it is a secret I can learn from no one else but him."

[Mary Yerrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written autobiography by an extraordinary man who practically raised himself, became a prolific writer and artist. He searched and found a religion that embraced his beliefs. He converted to Catholicism, joined a Trappist Monastery and became a priest. He advocated for contemplative Prayer, meditation and other eastern practices. He died young after writing nearly 70 books, many of which were published posthumously.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an adventure. What I enjoyed about this book is that in many ways, it reflercted my own journey. Here is a deeply religious/spiritual person who had the same struggles, questions, doubts,that I have had. Is now understand that it's about the journey and someday, I am convinced, I will truly understand. Thanks be to God!

[Rosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After many colleagues raved about Merton and how much he changed their lives, I went in with really high expectations. Perhaps would've benefited reading with a class. More than anything this book (& friend story lore) made me want to visit the Trappist monastery in KY/bourbon trail where Merton had his awakening.

[Ci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book as secondary source for a research project on Merton. This is an authoritative, scholarly and comprehensive biography of Merton's life story; it is indispensable for any research on Merton.

[Patrick Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhaustive, if sometimes exhausting, of one of the twentieth century's most important spiritual figures. I think the most interesting (and reassuring) thing to learn is that Merton, who could seem to have all the answers to life's big questions, remained unsure of himself until the very end.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most interesting and inspirational books I’ve ever read.

I read it about every other year and am never disappointed!

[Lorna A MacLachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can easily relate to Fr. Merton, as his experience with God mirrors my father's.

[Raymond Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE biography of Merton still. Comprehensive and judicious. A must for anyone who wants to know Merton. And who shouldn't. One of the great Christian figures of the past century.

[Joe Vess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading more Merton having a better sense of context. I feel like I am able to appreciate his work a bit more knowing more about the circumstances in which he lived and wrote, and to see the changes in his perspective and approach. The book is quite long and very detailed, but I have to say it flows very well and only occasionally gets bogged down in extraneous detail.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merton's introspectively reviews his life from birth to the time after he enters the monastery. His clarity of thought and honesty is very compelling. The transformation from an agnostic youth to a fervent believer is riveting. The book is written as a narrative with a plot that drives the story. Merton from time to time takes a step off of the plot to delve deeper into various topics. Loved the book and was inspired by it.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this biography of Thomas Merton did fill in the gaps of my knowledge of the poet/monk/activist, it was certainly a slow read. There was a lot of time spent on dissecting literary works and the biographer's style was a tad long winded. I probably learned more than I wanted to learn!

[John]

Ok, I admit to turning slightly Catholic during the Holidays. This is good to read alongside his actual journals which are of course the source for much of the detail here. I'm on volume 3 of the journals.

[Robert Funaro]

Truly inspirational and moving - Merton was a person of deep thought, reflection and challenges my inner self to a journey that might lead to contemplation.

For those seeking an inner revolution, this is a way to start!!

[Phyllis Fredericksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since visiting Gethsemani I have wanted to read more about Thomas Merton. I've read his autobiography, but this biography certainly covers more territory with much more detail of his life. This is the authorized biography by the Merton trust. I think it is worthwhile reading.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must read for any Merton fan or critic. It outlines in sometimes harsh detail the life and trials of Merton. It helps you to understand the man behind the popular writings.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fair and well-researched biography. However, my personal views on Merton are a hopeless muddle.

[Sara]

1985 finalist

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read many of Merton's books, I really enjoyed learning more about the man and his life. The ending was quite moving.

[David Armstrong]

I adore this book.

[Lorna_tran]

Lovely biography of a monk. It's one of the books I won't let go of.

[Fred]

Michael Mott's biography is not an exercise in hagiography. This is not a book about "St. Thomas"or even about Father Louis. And it is not an extended meditation on his holy character. It is a narrative that grows out of Merton's writings, especially his extensive journals both public and private. As such we meet Merton as a 20th century intellectual more than anything else. We hear about what he is reading, what fascinates him, his correspondence with others both famous and unknown. Mott's book is built around the "seven mountains" of Merton roughly corresponding to seven places and phases that Merton lived. I think this is a weakness in the book. It works well at the beginning and the end (the last chapter called Kanchenjunga describes his last trip to Asia and is very good.) But to bogs down in the middle and needed sub headings. I found that in the end I knew Merton pretty well as a magnetic personality and frenetic writer, but I did not know why he wanted to be a Monk or what he really believed about Catholicism. To be fair we can find those things in other books. This is about Merton the man, the thinking man, the loving man, the praying prankster who no one could ever forget once having encountered him.

[Barbara]

this was the worst book that I have ever read! If this book gave all of these meaningless details about someone's life, such as the weather on a given day or how his stomach felt on a certain day, it would have been interesting if the person was someone like George Washington or William Shakespeare. But Thomas Merton was no Washington or Shakespeare! I can't imagine anyone being interested in this drivel!