DESCRIPTION:
How medieval monastic practices—with their emphasis on a healthy soul, mind, and body—can inspire us to live fuller lives today
We know that they prayed, sang, and wore long robes, but what was it really like to be a monk? Though monastic living may seem unimaginable to us moderns, it has relevance for today. This book illuminates the day-to-day of medieval European monasticism, showing how you can apply the principles of monastic living, like finding balance and peace, to your life.
With wit and insight, medievalist and podcaster Daniele Cybulskie dives into the history of monasticism in each chapter and then reveals applications for today, such as the benefits of healthy eating, streamlining routines, gardening, and helping others. She shares how monks authentically embraced their spiritual calling, and were also down to earth: they wrote complaints about being cold in the manuscripts they copied, made beer and wine, and even kept bees.
How to Live Like a Monk features original illustrations by Anna Lobanova, as well as more than eighty color reproductions from medieval manuscripts. It is for anyone interested in the Middle Ages and those seeking inspiration for how to live a full life, even when we’re confined to the cloister of our homes.
MY REVIEW:
First off, I want to say I don’t believe in a higher being, but I do believe there’s a right and wrong way we should live our lives. So I picked up a copy for inspiration. I was expecting it to be preachy and full of overzealous religious content. I was wonderfully surprised to find that it wasn’t.
There were lots of illustrations and pictures that related to each chapter’s topic. The writing was straightforward, down-to-earth, and well edited.
We, as ‘Moderns’ have a misconception of what the medieval monastic lifestyle was really like. Yes, it was hard, but they were also educated, and cared about the world around them. Something, us ‘Modern’s’ have forgotten over the centuries.
They also had a very waste-not, want-not mentality. Some orders even shared their underwear. Eww. There were other humorous anecdotal examples that showed their lifestyle wasn’t all hardship. In fact, because of their isolation from the rest of the world, they experienced the same emotional issues we do today. Stress, anxiety, feeling disconnected were all problems that had to be addressed to keep their orders healthy and thriving.
As I was reading through the book, I couldn’t help compare it to the 10 Commandants. Those stone tablets were designed to show our ancestors how to live in harmony and not kill each other off. How To Live Like A Monk is our modern version of them.
If a minimalist lifestyle appeals to you, whether religious or not, this book is for you. I give it 4 stars.
