The Silent Life book cover

The Silent Life by Thomas Merton Summary

The Silent Life
Thomas Merton
4.08 (188 Reviews)
Mindfulness
Philosophy
Inspiration
Aperçu
Points Clés
Auteur
Questions Fréquentes

Overview of The Silent Life

Merton's "The Silent Life" unveils monastic existence with poetic precision. This 1957 spiritual classic sparked interfaith dialogue with the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. What secrets of contemplation could transform your chaotic modern life into one of profound purpose?

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Points clés

1

When the World Disappears, God Appears

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What possesses someone to abandon everything-career, family, comfort, freedom-to live in silence behind monastery walls? In an age where Leonard Cohen could walk away from international fame to spend five years in a Zen monastery, perhaps we're beginning to understand what Thomas Merton articulated decades ago: that the monk's "useless" life answers our deepest hunger. We measure success by what we produce, accumulate, and broadcast to the world. The monk measures it by what he surrenders. This isn't escape or cowardice-it's the most radical response imaginable to being found by God. No one seeks the divine without first being sought. The monastic vocation begins with hearing a call that drowns out every other voice, a summons so compelling that nothing else matters. In our hyperconnected world of constant notifications and manufactured urgency, the monastery stands as both rebuke and refuge, asking a question we're increasingly desperate to answer: What if the path to finding yourself requires losing everything you think you are?

2

The Monk's Paradox: Gaining Everything by Releasing Everything

3

The Clear Stream: Pursuing Purity of Heart

4

Living Stones: The Monastery as Sacred Community

5

The Benedictine Balance and Cistercian Fire

6

The Radical Edge: Hermits Who Choose Complete Solitude

7

The Hidden Power: How Monks Transform the World They've Left

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
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