Thomas Merton is one of the few authentic spiritual masters America has produced. Merton's personal story and his writings continue to fascinate us, because his own life encapsulated the great social and spiritual struggles of his era. To read Merton today is to be swept up in the deepest issues of the 20th century. This volume contains substantial selections from Merton's prose writing, beginning with his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, and including a wide range of other works. There are excerpts from his journals, reflections on monasticism, on Eastern religions, and on the place of spirituality in contemporary life. Students and general readers will find the book an introduction to Merton's unique and powerful voice. For those who know him already, the volume will be treasured as a library of his most important works.