Recommendations based on New Seeds of Contemplationby Thomas Merton

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. The Seven Storey Mountain

    by Thomas Merton
    Autobiography of a man's journey from a privileged upbringing to becoming a Trappist monk. A spiritual classic.

    One of the most famous books ever written about a man’s search for faith and peace. The Seven Storey Mountain tells of the growing restlessness of a brilliant and passionate young man, who at the age ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Practice of the Presence of God

    by Brother Lawrence
    Turning away from life's distractions, finding solace in prayer and meditation.

    Alternative cover edition of ISBN 0883681056 can be found here Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

    by Henri J.M. Nouwen
    Exploration of the parable of the prodigal son and its application to modern life.

    A chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son, catapulted Henri Nouwen into a long spiritual adventure. In his highly-acclaimed book of the same ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society

    by Henri J.M. Nouwen
    Examining the role of the healer in society and exploring its implications for our lives.

    What does it mean to be a healer in the modern world? In this hope-filled book, Nouwen offers a radically fresh interpretation of modern ministry. ... (Goodreads)

  5. Confessions

    by Augustine of Hippo
    A spiritual autobiography tracing Augustine's journey from youthful excess to Christian faith.

    Augustine's Confessions is one of the most influential and most innovative works of Latin literature. Written in the author's early forties in the last years of the fourth century A.D. and during his ... (Goodreads)

  6. The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out

    by Brennan Manning
    A reflection on the unconditional love of God, inviting readers to find healing and peace.

    Are you bedraggled, beat-up, burnt-out? Most of us believe in God’s grace—in theory. But somehow we can’t seem to apply it in our daily lives. We continue to see Him as a small-minded bookkeeper, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Tao Te Ching

    by Lao Tzu
    A collection of wise sayings and reflections on the nature of existence.

    A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or -The Classic of ... (Goodreads)

  8. Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

    by Henri J.M. Nouwen
    A personal letter to a friend on how to live a spiritual life in a secular world, emphasizing the importance of feeling beloved by God.

    Initially written for a Jewish friend, Life of the Beloved has become Henri Nouwen’s greatest legacy to Christians around the world. This sincere testimony of the power and invitation of Christ is ... (Goodreads)

  9. Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

    by Richard Rohr
    A reflective journey exploring themes of maturity, mid-life crises, and spiritual growth.

    A fresh way of thinking about spirituality that grows throughout life In Falling Upward , Fr. Richard Rohr seeks to help readers understand the tasks of the two halves of life and to show them that ... (Goodreads)

  10. Living Buddha, Living Christ

    by Thich Nhat Hanh
    A comparative study of Buddhism and Christianity, exploring the similarities and differences between the two religions.

    A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions. ... (Goodreads)

  11. The Imitation of Christ

    by Thomas à Kempis
    A spiritual guidebook advocating turning away from worldly concerns and focusing on the divine.

    Only the Bible has been more influential as a source of Christian devotional reading than The Imitation of Christ. This meditation on the spiritual life has inspired readers from Thomas More and St. ... (Goodreads)

  12. Orthodoxy

    by G.K. Chesterton
    An exploration of the spiritual and moral foundations of Christianity.

    This book is meant to be a companion to "Heretics," and to put the positive side in addition to the negative. Many critics complained of the book because it merely criticised current philosophies ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Jesus I Never Knew

    by Philip Yancey
    A journey of faith, exploring the life and teachings of Jesus.

    Philip Yancey helps reveal what two thousand years of history covered up What happens when a respected Christian journalist decides to put his preconceptions aside and take a long look at the Jesus ... (Goodreads)

  14. I and Thou

    by Martin Buber
    Exploration of the dichotomy between relating to the world as an "I" or a "Thou".

    An alternate cover for this isbn can be found, here,. Martin Buber's I and Thou has long been acclaimed as a classic. Many prominent writers have acknowledged its influence on their work; students of ... (Goodreads)

  15. Beyond Good and Evil

    by Friedrich Nietzsche
    A philosophical exploration of morality and truth, challenging conventional morality and religious beliefs.

    Friedrich Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil is translated from the German by R.J. Hollingdale with an introduction by Michael Tanner in Penguin Classics. Beyond Good and Evil confirmed Nietzsche's ... (Goodreads)

  16. A Severe Mercy: A Story of Faith, Tragedy and Triumph

    by Sheldon Vanauken
    An exploration of faith and love in the wake of tragedy and unexpected grace.

    A heart-rending love story described by its author as “the spiritual autobiography of a love rather than of the lovers” about the author’s marriage and search for faith. Vanauken chronicles the birth ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times

    by Pema Chödrön
    A guide to overcoming fear and embracing life, through spiritual practice and self-reflection.

    Lifelong guidance for learning to change the way we relate to the scary and difficult moments of our lives, showing us how we can use all of our difficulties and fears as a way to soften our hearts ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

    by Thich Nhat Hanh
    A guide to cultivating mindful awareness and inner peace in the midst of everyday life.

    In the rush of modern life, we tend to lose touch with the peace that is available in each moment. World-renowned Zen master, spiritual leader, and author Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how to make ... (Goodreads)

  19. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

    by C.S. Lewis
    Autobiography of an Oxford professor's spiritual journey from atheism to faith.

    Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life is a partial autobiography describing Lewis' conversion to Christianity. The book overall contains less detail concerning specific events than typical ... (Goodreads)

  20. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

    by Richard J. Foster
    A guide to spiritual growth through various disciplines, including meditation, prayer, fasting, and study.

    A newly repackaged and updated 40th anniversary edition of the timeless guide that has helped numerous seekers discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace, and a deeper understanding of ... (Goodreads)

  21. My Utmost for His Highest

    by Oswald Chambers
    Daily spiritual reflections on Christian faith and the application of scripture to life.

    For nearly seventy-five years, countless millions of Christians the world over have trusted the spiritual companionship of Oswald Chambers's daily devotional, "My Utmost for His Highest." These brief ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

    by Alan W. Watts
    A philosophical exploration of the nature of self and reality, challenging the idea of a separate self and encouraging a more holistic perspective.

    A revelatory primer on what it means to be human, from "the perfect guide for a course correction in life" (Deepak Chopra)—and a mind-opening manual of initiation into the central mystery of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle

    by Steven Pressfield
    A guide to overcoming procrastination and other inner obstacles to unleash creativity.

    A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere,, The War of, Art, is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

    by Shunryu Suzuki
    A guide to Zen meditation and philosophy, exploring the power of mindfulness and introspection.

    “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a ... (Goodreads)

  25. Knowing God

    by J.I. Packer
    Reflection on the nature of God and the relationship between God and humanity.

    For over 40 years, J. I. Packer's classic has been an important tool to help Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory and the joy of knowing God. In 2006, Christianity Today voted ... (Goodreads)

  26. Letters to a Young Poet

    by Rainer Maria Rilke
    Uplifting and inspiring words of wisdom, encouraging a young poet to find his own artistic voice.

    In 1903, a student at a military academy sent some of his verses to a well-known Austrian poet, requesting an assessment of their value. The older artist, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), replied to ... (Goodreads)

  27. Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again

    by Rachel Held Evans
    A memoir of rediscovering faith and the Bible through personal experiences, cultural analysis, and theological reflection.

    If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired ? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she ... (Barnes & Noble)

  28. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

    by Eric Metaxas
    A biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who opposed the Nazi regime.

    Who better to face the greatest evil of the 20 th -century than a humble man of faith? As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the Jews of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

    by Cal Newport
    Strategies and techniques to help readers stay focused on tasks and achieve greater success.

    One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on ... (Goodreads)

  30. Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

    by Donald Miller
    A Christian's exploration of faith and spirituality, navigating its relevance in the modern world.

    The runaway New York Times bestseller that became a cornerstone of Christian nonfiction, Blue Like Jazz is a fresh and original perspective on life, love, and redemption. ,"I never liked jazz music ... (Barnes & Noble)