Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
3/5
Audiobook5 hours
In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk’s Memoir
Written by Paul Quenon, OCSO and Pico Lyer
Narrated by Paul Boehmer
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
()
About this audiobook
Monastic life and its counter-cultural wisdom come alive in the stories and lessons of Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO, during his more than five decades as a Trappist at the Abbey of Gethsemani. He served as a novice under Thomas Merton and he also welcomed some of the monastery's more well-known visitors, including Sr. Helen Prejean and Seamus Heaney, to Merton's hermitage. In Praise of the Useless Life includes Quenon's quiet reflections on what it means to live each day with careful attentiveness.
The humble peace and simplicity of the monastery and of Quenon's daily life are beautifully portrayed in this memoir. Whether it be through the daily routine of the monastery, his love of the outdoors no matter the season, or his lively and interesting conversations with visitors (reciting Emily Dickinson with Pico Iyer, discussing Merton and poetry with Czeslaw Milosz), Quenon's gentle musings display his love for the beauty in his vocation and the people he's encountered along the way.
Inspired by his novice master Merton, the poet and photographer's stories remind us that the beauty of life can best be seen in the "uselessness" of daily life—having a quiet chat with a friend, spending time in contemplation—in our vocations, and in the memories we make along the way.
The humble peace and simplicity of the monastery and of Quenon's daily life are beautifully portrayed in this memoir. Whether it be through the daily routine of the monastery, his love of the outdoors no matter the season, or his lively and interesting conversations with visitors (reciting Emily Dickinson with Pico Iyer, discussing Merton and poetry with Czeslaw Milosz), Quenon's gentle musings display his love for the beauty in his vocation and the people he's encountered along the way.
Inspired by his novice master Merton, the poet and photographer's stories remind us that the beauty of life can best be seen in the "uselessness" of daily life—having a quiet chat with a friend, spending time in contemplation—in our vocations, and in the memories we make along the way.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherTantor Media, Inc
Release dateOct 9, 2018
ISBN9781977332387
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Reviews for In Praise of the Useless Life
Rating: 4.352941176470588 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
17 ratings4 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a good listen, with a beautiful and rewarding story. The book provides an intimate conversation with a humble and remarkable monk, who turned his passions into his life's work. The narration is also praised for fitting the temperament of the book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Oct 4, 2023
The experience of reading this book was like that of having an intimate conversation with this humble, remarkable monk. Here is a man who turned his passions for music, nature, meditation and prayer into his life's work. I am the better for having read this book.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Oct 4, 2023
A very beautiful and rewarding book. Thank you Fr. Quentin - I also thought the narration was very good and fit the temperament of the book.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Oct 4, 2023
Good listen! I had to laugh though when he said he got excited when one of the monks died!1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Sep 1, 2021
The quiet asurence of a life well lived. Also with humor.