How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life

by Danièle Cybulskie, Anna Lobanova (Illustrator)

How medieval monastic practices―with their emphasis on a healthy soul, mind, and body―can inspire us to live fuller lives today We know that they prayed, sang, and wore long robes, but what was it really like to be a monk? Though monastic living may seem unimaginable to us moderns, it has relevance for today. This book illuminates the day-to-day of medieval European monasticism, showing how you can apply the principles of monastic living, like finding balance and peace, to your life.    With wit and insight, medievalist and podcaster Daniele Cybulskie dives into the history of monasticism in each chapter and then reveals applications for today, such as the benefits of healthy eating, streamlining routines, gardening, and helping others. She shares how monks authentically embraced their spiritual calling, and were also down to they wrote complaints about being cold in the manuscripts they copied, made beer and wine, and even kept bees.  How to Live Like a Monk features original illustrations by Anna Lobanova, as well as more than eighty color reproductions from medieval manuscripts. It is for anyone interested in the Middle Ages and those seeking inspiration for how to live a full life, even when we’re confined to the cloister of our homes.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Self Help, Religion, Medieval, Spirituality, Philosophy

175 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2021

About the author

Danièle Cybulskie is a historian, author, TEDx speaker, and medieval coach, who has been sharing her love of the Middle Ages with readers worldwide for over a decade. Her book, The Five-Minute Medievalist, debuted at #1 on Amazon’s Canadian charts (Western History), and her featured articles at Medievalists.net, as well as in several international magazines, have reached over half a million readers, and counting.

A former college professor, Danièle worked as the subject matter expert on OntarioLearn’s The Middle Ages and the Modern World: Facts and Fiction, now being offered at nine Ontario colleges. She earned her MA in English literature from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in medieval literature and Renaissance drama. Her mission is to make history fun, entertaining, and engaging, and to draw attention to our shared human nature across the centuries. When she’s not reading or writing, Danièle can be found drinking tea, practicing archery, or sometimes building a backyard trebuchet.

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

What great recommendations for a pleasant and gratifying life!

You need not practice a certain faith to appreciate learning about the medieval monastic life and how their day-to-day lives can encourage us to follow similar practices. Specific examples include “Read,” “Consider staying anonymous,” and “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” Simply put, “What we can learn from monastic life…is how to fulfill…requirements of happiness: living with meaning and purpose.”

This little gem will be a reread in the future for sure.

-Sara W.

[Antigone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brethren sometimes fall into a state of weak health from the irksomeness of life in the Cloister, or from long continuance of silence; sometimes from fatigue in the [choir] or extension of fasting; sometimes from sleeplessness or overwork...Those afflicted with these and similar infirmities cannot read or sing, or perform properly any of the other duties pertaining to the Observances directed by the Rule. On account of such an attack, however, they ought not to go into the [infirmary], or to stay there, because they do not require medicine, but only repose and comfort. [With permission] they may walk in the vineyard, the garden, and along the riverside [or] they may go beyond the precincts into the fields, meadows, woods, or any other place...and even, for their diversion, take their meals with those who have been bled; they may absent themselves, for a short time, from the [choir], from study, and from the Cloister, and so, by repose, diet, and recreation, regain before long their former state of health.

Such were the instructions of Caesarius of Heisterbach on those periods of depression and despair encountered in monastic life. One might have imagined abbots insisting on a course of increased sacrifice and further acts of contrition, yet here we have a gentle release into repose and comfort; a signal that the communal life of the monastery came with its own distinct brand of communal wisdom.

Daniele Cybulskie is a medieval scholar who has turned her focus for a moment toward applying such wisdom to the modern day. I don't know that she's terrifically successful in this endeavor, but what her book presents that gives it inestimable value is an authentic look at the everyday life of a medieval monk. Anyone attempting to research these matters will find themselves lost among histories of the warrior factions; the Templars, the Hospitallers, the many marginally religious orders that launched into the Crusades. That was a different breed altogether. Here we have a close account of the monastery operating down the road; the neighborhood order quietly plying its small pots of honey, its casks of beer, and its simple quarters for travelers in need of a night's lodging.

It's a nifty little volume, well-made, with lots and lots of colorful illustrations of manuscripts, relics, and sacred scenes that blend quite happily with the text. A sure pleasure for those who have an interest in such things.

[verbava · Rating 4 out of 5]

рано чи пізно self-help посібник, базований на повсякденні середньовічних ченців, мусив з’явитися. і мене радує, що його написала авторка, спеціалізація якої — медієвістика, а не self-help, тому це скоріше розповіді про чернечий побут із коментарями штибу «і ви можете так робити; он навіть стів джобс, виявляється, якось так робив», ніж проілюстровані середньовічними детальками вказівки, як допомогти собі жити.

поради тут прості, як саме життя в монастирях: вдумливо їжте, регулярно спіть, часто вмивайтеся (устави дуже наполегливі щодо миття рук), багато читайте (ченцям цих двох слів було достатньо, нам варто уточнювати про хороші довгі тексти), дихайте свіжим повітрям, дивіться на зелень, знаходьте час для вдячності за те хороше, що з вами трапляється, навіть якщо його не вкрай багато, плекайте спільноту, дозволяйте відпочити як тілові, так і психіці (цитату про те, що робили в монастирі з вигоранням, я викладала отут), створюйте для себе маленькі ритуали.

два місяці тому ця книжка здавалася чарівною і банальною; зараз я думаю, що середньовічні ченці все-таки щось у цьому житті розуміли, і бачу, як обідня кава в джезві й wordle перед сном можуть тримати на собі день (і відчуваю вдячність, що в тій безпеці, де я опинилася, є джезва для кави й інтернет для wordle).

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was as informative as it was entertaining. Cybulskie provides a comprehensive overview of monastic life in the Middle Ages, and draws very interesting parallels to current practices for living an enriching, fulfilling life. Though phrases like "mindfulness" and "daily gratitude practice" might not have been in the vocabularies of medieval monks, they were certainly familiar with the principals that underlay these practices- eliminating distraction, cultivating intention and purpose, and maintaining hope in the face of challenges. "How to Live Like a Monk" will be a hit with both history buffs and self-help afficionados. The history fan will appreciate the deep dive into monastic communities, rife with fascinating anecdotes from a wide array of textual sources. The self-improvement crowd will enjoy the tips for intentional, purposeful living.

PS: I get to interview this author for the Syosset Public Library official podcast, Turn the Page, next month. How lucky am I??

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. That’s all I have to say.

[Paula Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was a form of meditation for me. Every time I put it down, I felt calmer and more connected with myself.

It's a perfect fusion of medieval history and a guide to self reflection. Such a tough balance to manage - middle ages sensibility and contemporary self-help - but Daniele does it respectfully, gently and flawlessly.

She's mindful not to oversell the virtues of monastic life, but recognises the profound wisdom at its core. The chapter headings alone are enough to prompt contemplation, and digging into the content is even more rewarding. So much of it has resonated with me, not the least of which is living a life of purpose, and the importance of community.

I really struggle with meditation, but this book, and how it calmed and focused my thoughts on what's really important in life, seems like the next best thing.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, wholesome, classic advice from a Christian perspective. Sympathetic to medieval history, with some helpful nuance. A slight Roman Catholic influence.

Also, the cover design is adorable.

"We can use our gifts in endless ways to enrich both our lives and the lives of others by following the monastic example, no matter which (if any) faith we believe in: appreciate and spend time in nature; live simply; contemplate our own lives and their meaning; give to others with generosity and empathy; and practice moderation."

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What great recommendations for a pleasant and gratifying life!

You need not practice a certain faith to appreciate learning about the medieval monastic life and how their day to day lives can encourage us to follow similar practices.
Specific examples include “Read,” “Consider staying anonymous,” and “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”

Simply put, “What we can learn from monastic life… is how to fulfill … requirements of happiness: living with meaning and purpose.”

This little gem will be a reread in the future for sure.

[Siobhan DeFeo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very simplistic. I wanted a meatier approach. This seemed very much like a self help book. I loved the original illustrations.

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we read about those who lived in past centuries, there is often a disconnect. We know that they were also human beings like we are, but we see how different their ways of life are compared to ours, and it feels incredibly bizarre. We can find wisdom from the past for our more modern lives. One of the most unlikely sources of knowledge for our daily lives comes from the lives of men and women who choose to take a religious path. In her latest book, "How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom For Modern Life," Daniele Cybulskie shows her readers how medieval monks can help us live our best lives here in the present.

I heard this book from Daniele Cybulskie, and just from the description, I wanted to read it. I enjoyed the previous book that I have read by Cybulskie, which was "Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction," and I wanted to read more by her. I knew a bit of monastic life from other books that I have read, but I wanted to learn more.

Cybulskie took the idea of a book that explores daily life to another by using the monks' routines to act as a self-help book for the modern age. It may seem strange for an academic book to work as a self-help book, but if you think about how much we can use the past to help us understand the present, this concept makes perfect sense.

The lifestyle of a medieval monk is not for everyone, but there are aspects that we can respect and apply to our own lives. This book is broken into sections that focus on different aspects of monastic living, such as looking inward, looking outward, gardening, moderation, and minimalism. Cybulskie explains why someone would choose to become a monk and what monasteries would have generally looked like before the dissolution. She then explains the different parts of monks' daily routines that we could apply to our modern daily lives. These aspects include gardening, helping others, focusing on our mental health, eating healthy, meditation, setting boundaries, and my personal favorite, finding time to read. The illustrations and the quotes that Cybulskie includes in this book add another layer of enjoyment and depth into a charming historical self-help book.

Cybulskie has written another book that makes learning about medieval Europe fun for any history fan. Although I am not usually someone who reads self-help books, I found this particular title an enjoyable mix of advice and history. After reading this book, you may not want to become a monk, but I think readers can learn something new from this book. If you wish to a delightful book about medieval life and how we can apply lessons from the past to our modern lives, I highly recommend you read "How to Live Like a Monk: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Life" by Daniele Cybulskie.

[Scott Overton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danièle Cybulskie’s How to Live Like a Monk isn’t meant to convince anyone to take up life in the cloister. It’s a tribute to those devout men and women throughout the ages, but especially a collection of the wisdom that helped them cope with a demanding life and can help us through challenges of our own.
A book that uses monastic life in the Middle Ages to illustrate self-help lessons for modern living could easily feel forced, but Danièle Cybulskie avoids that with an easy-going style that makes such connections feel organic. After all, people of all eras have faced the same problems and stresses in day-to-day life: navigating relationships, finding purpose, looking after our physical and mental health, and so on.
Readers hoping to learn about medieval life in monasteries will find a thorough overview here, written in plain language with lots of footnotes and recommended reading. You’ll also find advice about being successful at reaching goals, coping with hardship, and embracing a minimalist lifestyle, but there’s less detail on these self-help aspects since most of them have already been the subject of many whole books on their own. Cybulskie helpfully points to sources where you can learn more about each one, from meditation to vision boards to healthy eating. But this book is about making the connection between the practices that allowed devoted communities of men and women to thrive for centuries, and the lessons we can all take from those practices to make our own lives better.
It’s also important to point out that this is a picture book as well, with dozens of medieval illustrations in vivid colour and detail (and some delightful modern illustrations, too).
A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Bryce Van Vleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religious belief, like human nature, is complex, changeable, and in many cases flexible, and that is not necessarily a flaw.

Cybulskie offers a humorous and well researched account of medieval monasteries - and what secular, modern people might learn from their way of life. This was delightful and full of wisdom that can help us be the kind of people we wish to be as we make a world of modern convenience and time-tested wisdom.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we share our "life hacks" with the rest of the world, we're following in the footsteps of our monastic brethren by embracing innovation for the sake of a better world for ourselves and others.

An interesting read, but, more of a (somewhat bias) history lesson on medieval monks than practical advice, though there is some.

3.5 rounded up

[Ron Nurmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in the medieval monastic life of monks and nuns and how they lived, this is a book for you. It applies the rules they live under to our modern lives and shows how we can apply these rules to our lives, although in a very different time and age.

The prose is very interesting and highlighted by the many colorful illustrations for the medieval life the monks lived.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little book. Very Americanised which I dislike in my books about medieval Europe. Some suggestions weren’t as closely tied to medieval practice I felt. Nevertheless, a sweet little read that allows us to realise that medieval monks actually lived their lives in a pretty healthy way.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, not life-changing. Some good ideas about adapting monasticism to modern life.

[Brian M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine book, but not really what I was expecting. This is a well-written and beautifully illustrated and decorated book which uses the practices of Medieval Monks to impart life lessons. I enjoyed all of the specific discussions of Monk's routines and rituals, but I found myself wishing there was more history and a little less self-help. Note that this is a "me" problem, and not a criticism of the book's aims. This book is absolutely beautiful, it is the perfect size and has amazing original illustration and Medieval artwork reproduced within that is really wonderful to look at. If this book sounds interesting to you, I would certainly recommend it. It is a very brief read.

I found the citations and recommended reading extremely helpful in looking for more specific discussion of what life was like in Medieval convents and monasterys and to direct me to specific topics which were touched on in the book.

[Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. The tips are pretty basic and ones that can be pulled out of any old self help book (spend time in nature, eat greens, embrace minimalism, meditate, help your community, cultivate healthy habits, read, everything in moderation, etc) but what makes this book stand apart is how interesting it was learning about the life of a monk in the middle ages. It shows you how they lived lives of peace, simplicity, and purpose, and how we can add those to our modern lives as well. It also has tons of pictures of medieval paintings to help contextualize everything which was pretty cool.

[Aisha Pectyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! Although, full disclosure: I probably read way too much self-help because none of the “wisdom” was exactly groundbreaking for me 😅😂). Still, it was super interesting to see how people have always been people and doing silly people things like looking for meaning, finding joy in small routines, and trying to live good lives.

[Nash Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful reading if you want be more like a monk. 100% would do it

[Amanda Marotz Roemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected, but pleasantly written.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Informative on the lives of medieval monks and a reminder that I have some realignment to do ;)

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting parallel between what we know of monastic living and modernization of the lifestyle. Myths are dispelled and confirmed. The author suggests we take away ideals from their living style and incorporate them into our modern world. Sprinkled on about every page is a photo to accompany the time period or topic.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and delightfully sweet read, full of genuinely interesting history.

[Justine Mccloskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really well written peek into the life of medieval monks. So charming and informative!

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. The book is so lovingly produced, and Daniele is quick to clear up the abundance of misconceptions about the Middle Ages in general and monks in particular.

I learned that I (mostly) already live like a monk, so my gleanings from the book were mostly information about monastic life.

[Anna rzk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice,relaxing book.

[Sahara Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I want to say I don't believe in a higher being, but I do believe there's a right and wrong way we should live our lives.  So I picked up a copy for inspiration.  I was expecting it to be preachy and full of overzealous religious content.  I was wonderfully surprised to find that it wasn't. 

There were lots of illustrations and pictures that related to each chapter's topic.  The writing was straightforward, down-to-earth, and well edited. 

We, as 'Moderns' have a misconception of what the medieval monastic lifestyle was really like.  Yes, it was hard, but they were also educated, and cared about the world around them.  Something, us 'Modern's' have forgotten over the centuries.

They also had a very waste-not, want-not mentality.  Some orders even shared their underwear.  Eww.  There were other humorous  anecdotal examples that showed their lifestyle wasn't all hardship.  In fact, because of their isolation from the rest of the world, they experienced the same emotional issues we do today.  Stress, anxiety, feeling disconnected were all problems that had to be addressed to keep their orders healthy and thriving.

As I was reading through the book, I couldn't help compare it to the 10 Commandants.  Those stone tablets were designed to show our ancestors how to live in harmony and not kill each other off.  How To Live Like A Monk is our modern version of them. 

If a minimalist lifestyle appeals to you, whether religious or not, this book is for you.  I give it 4 stars. 

[Thomas Vriens · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a hot summer's day, my last day of vacation was spent strolling around in Copenhagen city. I stumbled across a book store called: Arnold Busck. Despite many of the books being written in a foreign language, a little row at the bottom of the bookshelves housed some English books on spirituality and wellbeing. I had no intent in the first place of buying this book but the cover enthralled me to buy it and I sure was in for a surprise.

Spiritual living always interests me; Mainly Zen, Buddhism, and Taoism. however, monastic living; until reading this book, had always put me off. At first, it seemed to me to be a very bland and emotionless lifestyle. However, as this book quickly teaches in several paragraphs; a monk's life was full of devotion, meaning, and meditation. From a devout appreciation of our natural world to their inspirational minimalistic lifestyle. Spreading the wonderful teachings of forgiveness. love, simplicity, and charity are the cornerstones of their practice.

The purpose of this book is not literally to join a monetary or live as a monk but rather to live like a monk. "living like a monk that is - with purpose and compassion - can help us move ad meliora: toward better things"

[Vincent Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rather easy to read book with tangible actions for the reader to take. It is rather clear Daniele is knowledgeable about monastic life and Middeval life in general. She takes this information and makes it digestible and tangible for the reader to decide and contemplate ways these principles of monasticism can help enrich their life.

If you are looking for a religious book, this is not the none. If you are looking a book that helps find cultural principles from monastic living and ways they can apply to help you enrich your living to live in line with your values regardless of your beliefs, this is for you.

This book I can also see being used as a reference book. I can see myself returning to it several times through the coming year to refresh and remind myself on some of the principles within to grow as a person.