Thomas Merton: The Daring Young Man on the Flying Belltower

by Cornelia Sussman, Irving Sussman

A biography of the Trappist monk and Zen mystic who gained fame as a writer, social critic, and radical peace activist.

177 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Married to Irving Sussman. At one time resided in Dana Point, CA.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend if you know nothing about Merton. I've always wanted to explore Merton because I know he had such a large impact on contemporary mystics seeking silence and solitude and the dismantling of the false self, etc.

This is an extremely readable biography with short chapters. The authors succeed in showing the connecting threads from his youth to his adulthood. They not only share the story of his life (which is fascinating), but they also present the theological/spiritual concepts that were most important to him along the journey.

[Paul F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard about Merton for years, good read on his life.