Living with Wisdom is a comprehensive introduction to the life of Thomas Merton, one of the most influential and widely read of modern spiritual figures. The author Jim Forest was a close friend and is therefore able to give an intimate portrait of Merton. Merton’s most famous book, “The Seven Storey Mountain”, the story of how he became a Trappist monk, has been read by millions and translated into dozens of languages. Forest details Merton’s life from babyhood through to his tragic death in 1968, including his time at the abbey of Gethsemane, his travels to India and meeting with the Dalai Lama, his brief love affair with his nurse, and his lifelong interest in other religions. He was not without his critics who objected to his identification with pacifist groups and his interest in other religious traditions, particularly Buddhism. His reaching out to non-Christians took up a great part of his life and writings. Of particular value is the very extensive collection of photographs which accompany the text. If you read only one book about Thomas Merton, this is it.