In Praise of Retreat: Finding Sanctuary in the Modern World

by Kirsteen MacLeod

For readers of Walden , Wild , Pilgrim at Tinker Creek , A Book of Silence , A Gift from the Sea and other celebrations of the inner adventure. An utterly engaging dive into our modern ways of retreat ― where we go, why we’re drawn, and how it’s urgent From pilgrim paths to forest cabins, and from rented hermitages to arts temples and quiet havens for yoga and meditation, In Praise of Retreat explores the pleasures and powers of this ancient practice for modern people. Kirsteen MacLeod draws on the history of retreat and personal experiences to reveal the many ways readers can step back from society to reconnect with their deepest selves ― and to their loftiest aspirations in life. In the 21st century, disengaging, even briefly, is seen by many as self-indulgent, unproductive, and antisocial. Yet to retreat is as basic a human need as being social, and everyone can benefit, whether it’s for a weekend, a month, or a lifetime. Retreat is an uncertain adventure with as many peaks and valleys as any mountain expedition, except we head inward, to recharge and find fresh energy and brave new ideas to bring back into our everyday lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Nature, Spirituality, Audiobook, Personal Development, Canada

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2021

About the author

Kirsteen MacLeod is a writer and yoga teacher who lives in Kingston, Ontario. The Animal Game is her debut collection of short fiction. Kirsteen was born in Glasgow, Scotland, lived in Toronto and Brazil, and has worked as a magazine writer, communicator, and editor for 30 years.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I yearn for a period of extended solitude but, given that it’s impossible right now and for the foreseeable future, reading a book In Praise of Retreat seemed like the next best thing. And it was.

As another reviewer suggested, this book is extremely comprehensive which is simultaneously its strength and its limitation. I admire MacLeod’s scholarship. It is clear that she has read everything worth reading about every single manner of retreat. It’s a book to return to when I want to dig deeper into Thoreau’s experience at Walden or learn more about Emily Carr’s life in her caravan in British Columbia. It’s not a book that is at all easy to summarize in book notes as I usually do. There are just too many such notes.

The limitation of this comprehensiveness is that MacLeod’s own experiences of retreat, all of them quite fascinating, tend to get lost in the morass of researched detail. If the book had been structured just a bit differently, with subheads, and with her personal experiences more prominent, it would have easily had a ‘5’ rating from me.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly didn't read this book entirely - I found the first part quite disappointing and boring - a lot of rambling about how technology ruins us all, everyone is always connected without any time for reflection, people never take a break, we rely on our phones too much, etc... And a lot about the lovely and humble cabin in the woods the author bought with her husband, which none of her friends enjoyed spending any time in, and how dreadful the neighbours were, even in such a remote location...

But I am glad I persisted and read on because the rest of the book was a lot more interesting, and I really enjoyed it. The best chapters are the ones on monasteries - I learned a lot, and I enjoyed the fact that she wrote a lot about places I know very little about, and how monasteries are adapting to the modern world - turning into a wellness centre, or offering digital detox retreats to wealthy workaholics. The chapters about pilmigrages was fascinating, again because she went in detail about ones I had never heard of - she mentions quite a few in Europe (especially the Camino de Santiago, and a few in the UK - the 'old ways' explored by Robert MacFarlane) but also ways and places that First Nations and Native people use and consider sacred - and how the old beliefs become mixed with the new ones. Lastly Kirsten MacLeod shines particularly when she explores the role of retreat for writers, artists and philosphers and how their work came about out of solitude and voluntary isolation - the paragraphs about Rachel Carson, Elizabeth Bishop or Thoreau were interesting and well-written. I personally was not very interested in the last part about yoga retreats and meditation centres but it was very well-researched and well-written as well.

Overall a very good book - I found it slow to begin with but ended up loving the rest of it. If you have spent the lockdown researching on which remote island you could move to, or if you have created a 'cabincore' board on Pinterest, I highly recommand the book.

Free ARC from Netgalley.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected it to be. It reads more like a textbook, with much less of a story while going in and out of the authors personal experiences.

I must say, I was disappointed in the readability of the book. The author previously has been known for short stories and I expected the theme of retreat to be told in stories of remarkable people using this action to change their lives. Instead, retreaters (if you will) were put into categories, or just thrown in anywhere, to give you an ENTIRE history of retreat.

If you think this book may convince you to retreat, it may or may not. At times I needed to retreat away from this book. I appreciate the thoroughness of the research but it was too much to be enjoyable.

[Stephanie Weima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, going back to take notes and make a list of authors she references!

[Chattynatty Van Waning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to ECW Press and US distribution Baker & Taylor Publisher Services for sending me this ARC to read and review.

I look forward to the book’s release date in March 2021 as I want to be able to check all my book darted quotes with the finished copy.

I found this book so poignant for my personal state of life and bigger picture- society’s state of life. Little did the author know when she was finalizing edits Dec 2019 how much the world would be affected by forced isolation and retreat due to COVID-19.

Themes of this book: retreat (formal and informal), nature, hermits, monasteries, pilgrimages, yoga, meditation, East meets West. I initially by the title thought formal religion would be a part of this text but surprisingly I felt it was more about a general faith/being/beliefs.

I really appreciated when the author shared personal stories, thoughts and experiences tied into the above themes.

I did take my time reading this book ( took me all month) as the chapters were long, and the content was not an “easy/quick” read.

This book was definitely educational filled with tons of information and history- clearly the author had to do some heavy researching.

I think this is one of the books that will stay with me for awhile and make me think about how I want and should be living my life.

[Liz Wine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book and finding much applicable to my life. This book was more of a history book than a ‘how to.’

The privilege of constant overseas travel that the author recounts as well as the privilege of owning a second space, when many can’t access affordable housing made this book feel inaccessible to the common person. Additionally, many people could not get the constant amount of time off of work or afford the lost wages.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much info about people i don't give a hoot about

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up after hearing the author interviewed on a podcast. She profiles all types of retreats — hermitages, pilgrimages, yoga and meditation retreats, nature retreats, and more — combining interesting history with her own personal experience. The result is a comprehensive and inspiring book for contemplating how retreat might fit into your own life. She argues that we don’t need to choose an inner or outer life, but that they are two parts that make a whole and that a meaningful life needs both. One thing I have struggled with is developing a rich spiritual life outside of traditional religion. So I found it deeply meaningful to read about retreat as an important spiritual practice, a necessary counterbalance to our outer-focused, increasingly noisy and distracting world but also a way to connect with something more vast. I really enjoyed this book.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It’s becoming easier than ever to confuse a busy life with a rich life…to swap fleeting interactions for true connection and squander our down time on screen time.”

[Books, Brews & Booze · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wildly interesting book! I wish I had started a page in my bookish journal when I started listening to this audiobook, because about halfway through, I realized there were so many quotes, names and books I wanted to research.

It’s interesting to read this book after a year of retreat. It’s not a retreat people went on deliberately, for spiritual solace, development, etc. I could see myself reading this book on a deliberate retreat -- a vacation, a stepping away.

What I love:

The history: I didn’t expect to read so much history on pilgrimages, hermits, monks, nuns and people who traditionally retreat. It was a great surprise and I learned a lot about people I hadn’t heard of.

The bibliography: So many books to add to my list for further reading.

Poetry: Love that the author mentioned Mary Oliver several times. Oliver is a great poet.

The narrator, Lynn Bradford: A very soothing, soft voice. I also like how I could hear the smile in her voice sometimes.



What I would have loved:

OK, so I know the audiobook format isn’t conducive to this, but I would have loved to have a list of all the books MacLeod mentioned. Either that, or a mention of a link online where I could find the list of books.

Overall, a fascinating journey into the past and the history of those who have stepped away from society, for many different reasons.

Thank you to Netgalley, OrangeSky Audio and ECW Press, for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

[Michelle McGrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Going nowhere ... isn’t about turning your back on the world; it’s about stepping away now and then so that you can see the world more clearly and love it more deeply.”
— Leonard Cohen

Drawing on her own experiences, and the wisdom of hermits, monks, pilgrims, naturalists, writers and artists, solitary thinkers and other independent spirits, Kirsteen MacLeod explores the art of retreat and how it can reconnect us to our essence — and why this is a matter of urgency in modern times.

‘In Praise of Retreat’ resonates strongly with me. Long before I read about extroverts, introverts and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, I have always required regular spaces of silence and solitude. This is time which fosters independent thinking, creativity, and connection with self, others and the planet. This is how I return to myself.

I’ve read a number of interesting books relating to retreats: Jane Hirschfield’s ‘Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry’; Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s ‘Gift from the Sea’, Sara Maitland’s ‘A Book of Silence’; May Sarton’s ‘Journal of a Solitude’; Rebecca Solnit’s ‘Wanderlust: A History of Walking’; Cheryl Strayed’s ‘Wild’; Susan Cain’s ‘Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking’ and Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own and Three Guineas’. ‘In Praise of Retreat’ will fit neatly among these well-loved books.

This is not a memoir although MacLeod includes her own beautifully written personal experiences. She has done a great deal of research into the history of retreats and this is equally interesting.

‘In Praise of Retreat’ is engaging and will be a balm to anyone who has been called ‘anti-social’ by family and friends or been made to feel guilty because of their need for silence and time on their own. “Resist much, obey little” (Walt Whitman) when it comes to claiming time apart.

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @ECWPress for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first word to come to mind in describing this book is "comprehensive." This book not only praises the concept of retreat, she tells you about the history of retreat throughout numerous cultures and time periods. This would make a good textbook for a seminary, in that it covers so much of the history of contemplation, monasticism, and the role of hermits in Christian history.

The author's own stories of retreat would have made a good book in and of themselves, and these were the sections of the book that really grabbed my interest. She has lived in retreat in the Canadian wilderness, in Scotland, at an ashram in India, and in the Bahamas.

My only complaint with this book was that it was too much of a good thing. The long, long lists of historical figures who had incorporated retreats into their spiritual lives were informational but got a little tedious. The book has few chapter breaks and no sub-headings, so it's hard to skim through if you want to skip over sections.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hermit is one who renounces the world of fragments that he may enjoy the world wholly and without interruption.

We can never have enough of nature.

We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake.

Ralph Waldo Emerson owned Walden and allowed Thoreau to build a cabin by the pond.

Simplifying life frees us to see more clearly, breaking normal habits of perception, which can lead to new ideas and connections.

How do we love a world that's at once terrible and suffering and beautiful?

Wandering slowly in the forest, awakening your senses, reconnecting with nature in a meaningful way is more than just a walk, it's a small pilgrimage.

Being in nature for several consecutive days does yield better health benefits.

[Caitlyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. As other reviewers have mentioned, it's not quite what I expected. The tone and content shift after the opening section. MacLeod interweaves thorough research with personal experiences, often prioritizing historical information over her own extensive practice of going on retreats--so don't go into it expecting a memoir. MacLeod's writing is sharp and poignant, though, and I was so glad to sit down and spend time thinking about the benefits of taking time away to reflect, recharge, and work toward a goal.

(I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has always loved to retreat, I found this book to be nourishing as well as informative. It is deepening my own sense of the importance of retreat in my daily life as well as in the bigger picture of my life’s journey.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Marianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the history of retreat across a multitude of disciplines, including monasticism, pilgrimage, yoga, writer’s and artist’s retreats. The most enjoyable to read were the author’s own personal experiences.

I will agree with a few other reviewers that the book was at times bogged down by the research and historical details.

[Anna Schilcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author uses ethereal and detailed verbiage, but it was incredibly difficult to retain what I was reading. The first half was incredibly slow to get through and the following chapter was just a review of my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. Because I’m unable to recall what I read, I have no clue what points the author made.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to savor! It’s as peaceful, informative, and reflective as a good retreat, and references so many interesting people and traditions that I now want to read up on all of them. An affirmation for those of us who sometimes need “permission” to step away from modern life.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book resonates deeply with me, from her cabin retreat to the people she references: Thoreau, Carr, Carson, Muir, Oliver, to name a few, and the fact that she lives in my home town. I have savoured each page and reread some sections many times. Just what my tired soul needed.

[Franca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice overview of possible ways to "retreat" without idealizing the prospect too much. Things can go wrong - or at least not as expected. Enjoyable read.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. I've got many new ideas now.

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirsteen MacLeod's "In Praise of Retreat: Finding Sanctuary in the Modern World" is an engaging and intriguing read exploring the modern ways of retreat - where we go, why we're drawn, and how it's urgent to do so.

"In Praise of Retreat" was never really the book that I expected it to be, occasionally transcending my expectations and occasionally baffling them. I was most successful in reading it when I could let go of my own preconceived notions of what the book should be and simply allow it to be wherever MacLeod took it, though I also found some of MacLeod's historicity, which I certainly didn't really expect, the most engaging aspects of the book.

"In Praise of Retreat" struck me much like a variation of the arthouse movie, a difficult to describe work that doesn't fit nicely into any particular genre yet will likely enchant those who sink into MacLeod's rhythms.

I must confess, however, that I struggled to immerse myself into those rhythms myself. I was never less than engaged by "In Praise of Retreat," though I struggled to truly surrender to it. MacLeod writes from both intellectual and emotional places with great ease, her mind and soul seemingly always processing her own retreat experiences and I must admit that I found myself more at ease with her emotional journeys than her intellectual ones. At times, I found myself completely and utterly enchanted by the lyricism of her soulful experience that would suddenly be met by factual aspects about certain places or certain types of retreat that felt almost defensive as if the experience had butted up against an emotional guardrail and she simply refused to go any further.

While the factual material is fine, the abrupt shift occasionally caused me to disconnect and it would take me a few paragraphs to truly re-engage with the material.

Yet, there's no denying that MacLeod is an engaging writer who has created a wonderfully engaging text that sits comfortably alongside works like "Walden" and "A Book of Silence" among others. For those who've explored retreat or those simply curious, "In Praise of Retreat" is an effective and meaningful exploration of what it means to retreat, the various ways we do it, more than a few of the places one can retreat, and the various reasons one may retreat. MacLeod even seems to explore her own sense of spirituality here, not a person of faith but a person who seems to acknowledge some sense of other of which she becomes more aware in retreat.

We learn, perhaps to the detriment of the book, very little about MacLeod throughout "In Praise of Retreat" other than her experiences with actual retreat and her appreciation for having a partner, Marco, with whom she can share many of the experiences. In fact, strangely enough, I seem to have a much stronger visual of Marco than I do of MacLeod herself.

MacLeod does a tremendously effective job of weaving the history of retreat into the modern experience of retreat, including her own, and undoubtedly regards retreat as a necessity and most certainly not self-indulgent in any unhealthy sense. As someone who has drifted away from what had been regular retreat experiences, though certainly less extreme than MacLeod's, "In Praise of Retreat" often took me back to those experiences with fond memories and even my own body's engagement with what it was like when I retreated regularly.

"In Praise of Retreat" made me long to return to that way of life.

Simultaneously lyrical and instructional, intimate and universal, "In Praise of Retreat" is an informative and engaging work on the importance of retreat in the modern world and will be equally appreciated by those who study retreat and those who simply surrender themselves to it.

"In Praise of Retreat" is due for release in March 2021 by ECW Press.

[Miriam Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...

Retreat is not the same as sheltering-in-place which we are doing during this pandemic. Retreat is a purposeful separation from the world in order to think, write, regroup, ponder—and a whole bunch of other reflective words. MacLeod defines it thus: “A retreat means removing yourself from society to a quiet place where moments are strung like pearls, and after long days apart in inspiring surroundings, you return home refreshed and with a new sense of what you want to do with your life.” In a variety of ways, MacLeod explains what retreat means to her as well as what it meant to others through the centuries. Of course she describes what retreat meant to Henry David Thoreau, but I was especially taken with her study of the life of Leonard Cohen and what the concept of retreat meant to him.

MacLeod is an excellent writer, and her descriptions of her own retreats, from her cabin in the woods, to the wild places in the Scottish highlands make the reader yearn for some time away. She says, “In the quiet forest, I can begin to see the patterns of reality. To retreat is to stop, gain clarity and make space for change.”

I appreciated this study of retreat so much because of MacLeod's perspective and her honesty. Today, I was in great need of some solitude and quiet. I couldn’t leave home and go to the cottage or to the retreat center that I have been to in the past, so I decided I would make a retreat at my dining room table. I read MacLeod’s enlightening words and stared out my window at the bird feeder and the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks that were visiting nonstop. I took a walk to see the daffodils that are bursting all over the yard. And I practiced my deep breathing to find some clarity. MacLeod says, “Every retreat is a retreat to the self—not necessarily a place, but a state of mind and heart.” By heeding her words, I was able to find a brief respite from a difficult time in my life and find solace and rest. I rose from the table refreshed.

In Praise of Retreat will be released tomorrow. Articulate, well written, and profoundly challenging, I recommend this book to help us all navigate these uncertain times.

[AB Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is broken into five major sections, in which the author elucidates upon: 1) the concept and background of retreating from the wider world; 2) examples of the Christian tradition of retreat, which focusses specifically upon monastic life and the pilgrimage; 3) the secularisation of retreat, with specific discussion of Henry David Thoreau and the increase in artist and writer’s retreats around the globe; 4) the highs and lows of mediation and yoga retreats, and how not every retreat on the market is worth the experience; and, 5) a short chapter on Leonard Cohen and how he embodied the balance between dancing between extended retreats and the demands of a career in the modern world. In all sections, the author highlights her own personal experience with the subject matter, and as such, provides a certain depth of researched into the idea of self-isolation and seclusion.

As a result, the book is both a blend of a life lived in pursuit of retreat as well as an examination of what makes retreat so emboldening and empowering. It’s an effective strategy; however, by time I reached the chapter on her experiences in the ashrams of India, the details provided had become a bit tiresome. In all, the strongest chapter features Henry David Thoreau, with attention to the incredible shift his experiment at Walden Pond has allowed for creators of all kinds in their consideration of the art of retreat. One wonders what Thoreau would think of the current modus operandi of commercialising retreats for the masses.

4 stars. At present, I’m on a self-created retreat myself. By defining the experience on my terms, I’m able to focus on what creativity and self-realisation I want to discover for myself. So in reading this book, I’ve discovered a better idea of what it means to thoughtfully consider my own process – as well as the circumstances – of my retreat. In this, MacLeod’s primer on approaching this powerful remove from the stresses of society is a helpmate, as reading along with this kindred spirit has helped me discover a variety of ways I might make my own retreat more effective. For that I’m grateful.

[Genna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I think it would be very helpful for many people to have some period of silence and isolation to look within and find out who they really are, when they're not so busy playing roles—being the mother, wife, husband, career person, everybody's best friend, or whatever façade we put to the world as our identity. It's very good to have an opportunity to be alone with oneself and see who one really is behind all the masks."

I thoroughly enjoyed this both pragmatic and spiritual exploration of the role and impact of the choice to retreat in our manic modern world and lives. MacLeod is clearly a kindred spirit in her emphatic desire to periodically escape society, commune with natural spaces, and embrace solitude in an effort to mentally reset and oxygenate her curiosity and creativity. Reflecting on her own experiences seeking solitary reflection as well as examining the historical influence of physical spaces of retreat, In Praise of Retreat feels both personal and collective. My interest waned during MacLeod's more thorough exploration of the history and influence of yoga, ashrams, meditation, and Buddhist traditions (clearly all personal passions of hers, but not one of mine), but this shortcoming was overshadowed by the inspiring content of the majority of the chapters. In particular, the analysis of specific monastic retreats, pilgrimages, and hermitages balanced with MacLeod's self-reflection and intimate relationship with solitude and wild places was inspiring and compelling. Many nuggets of wisdom to be found here.

"If one's place of worship is that place that allows you to draw nearest to the universal spirit, then the forest is that for me. It is my church, my tabernacle, my refuge."

"In the quiet forest, I can begin to see the patterns of reality. To retreat is to stop, gain clarity and make space for change."

[Jess Witkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an ode to retreats, a practice I love, wish I could do more of, and fully recommend. In Praise of Retreat by Kirsteen MacLeod is one of the best books I've read about the importance of retreats/sanctuary/"getting away from it all."

Readers may find different chapters speak to them more than others as she covers a wealth of retreat types from visiting a cabin in the woods to the history of holy retreats, meditation and yoga practices, and retreats for creatives such as authors and songwriters. MacLeod does not skimp on research as evidenced by her lengthy bibliography. Each chapter is full of quotes and ideas from retreat type founders and practitioners. It is interesting and thought provoking with many golden gems of quotes and poems and ideas. But where the book really shines is in the author's own experiences with the various kinds of retreat types she portrays. I loved the author's keen observance of the world or people around her and she really made me picture the places she visited, which, in a book about retreat, should feature beautiful language about setting, should it not? MacLeod doesn't disappoint.

So if you're reading, and start to feel the history make you zone out a little, skim ahead and look for the personal passages. That's where the heart and storytelling really connect with the reader. I don't even think MacLeod would mind. She shares again and again her own stumblings and recall to presence while on retreats. She's not immune to disruption or irritation, which is one of the things I loved and laughed at in her book. But when she finds sanctuary, she shares it in beautiful words that will make you also want to seek out more sanctuary for your own soul. That's what it's about.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.

[Sara Budarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book, even thought the topics - retreat, pilgrimages, monasteries, wandering - are topics I find fascinating. But the writing felt too repetitive. I suspect I would have loved the book if it had been half as long.

And while I loved the memoir aspects of it, those sections both felt like they were keeping the reader at arms length (in that they felt too sanitized and impersonal, with few personal details) yet also were then too explicitly opinionated, especially in her dislike of certain religions and love of others. I wish she had been more open and honest in these sections, or then just left them out all together.

And yet, in the end, I still enjoyed reading the book. And it motivated me to find time for a silent retreat sooner rather than later.

One idea that I did find intriguing was the idea that walking and going on a pilgrimage of sorts serves different purposes in different cultures, and that in the UK, you walk to recover the past, to strip away civilization, whereas in the US, you walk to discover and liberate yourself and seek adventure (as in the iconic road trip).

[Miss Murder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm actually super impressed by this book and was not anticipating on it to be a favorite!

I randomly saw it at the library and liked the title (as I'm a huge fan of contemplative work/writings on solitude), but fully expected it to be the typical self-help book of "go outside sometimes". Instead, this was part memoir, part self-help, part non-fiction writing on hermetic and monastic lifestyles. Which is like the perfect mixture for me!

I was quite slow to get through this 300 page book because the writing can be quite dense. It required my full attention to really grasp the topics MacLeod explores. It can read like a textbook at times, which reminded me of Mythology by Edith Hamilton (another one of my favorite books). But, all in all, it provided such an interesting take on solitary lifestyles and historic as well as modern hermetic lifestyles, something that is not touched upon nearly enough in my opinion.

I also added a bunch of other similar works MacLeod references throughout her novel, and will be reading those as well. So fingers crossed!

[Ariane Laxo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to listening to this book - personal retreat, pilgrimage, the need for quiet alone time, spirituality vs. religion - it seemed relevant and like a timely topic as so many are burnt out due to the last 18 months of the COVID pandemic. But as an audiobook, I couldn't get into it. The book feels like an academic assessment of these topics, rather than storytelling. The audiobook reader has a voice like you'd expect from a white yoga/meditation teacher - soft and gentle. I used it to help me fall asleep at night 😬. I might give this book another try in physical form (DNF at 50%) or simply look for a podcast interviewing this author to get the main points without the academic assessment of these topics.

Thanks Netgalley for the audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the cover of this book - totally suitable to the subject.
This book is chockful of insightful commentary and research around the concept of retreat.
Personally, this is something i am all for! I find solitude and taking time for oneself so very important for mental health and well being.
This is a great book to keep at a bedside, at a cottage, in a guest room such that it can be picked up and a few pages read here and there. There is so much information to think on, it is best to read a little bit at a time, it is not a book to consume in a few days.

If you are looking for an interesting read to broaden your horizons, and to learn more about taking time away from the modern world, this is a great buy!