"The best introduction I can think of to Merton, his life, and work." —Robert Lax

"A superb introduction to the life of one of the most extraordinary monks of our time." —Brother Patrick Hart

"If you have to read one book about Thomas Merton, this is the one to read. It is concise, insightful, complete." —Paul Wilkes

This absorbing pictorial biography of Thomas Merton—revised now for the fortieth anniversary of his death—tells the story of the extraordinary Trappist monk whose writings, including his classic autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, have exerted a profound influence on millions. Beginning with Merton's early life and conversion, his entry into the Abbey Gethsemani, and his fame as an author, Forest explores his increasing search for solitude, his emergence as a prophetic voice of peace and social justice, and the fascinating dialogue with other religions that continued until his sudden death in 1968.

Enhanced by the most extensive collection of Merton photographs ever published, Living with Wisdom captures the life, writings, and vision of one of the great spiritual figures of our time.