Kathleen Norris's masterpiece: a personal and moving memoir that resurrects the ancient term acedia, or soul-weariness, and brilliantly explores its relevancy to the modern individual and culture. Kathleen Norris had written several much loved books, yet she couldn't drag herself out of bed in the morning, couldn't summon the energy for daily tasks. Even as she struggled, Norris recognized her familiar battle with acedia. She had discovered the word in an early Church text when she was in her thirties. Having endured times of deep soul-weariness since she was a teenager, she immediately recognized that this passage described her affliction: sinking into a state of being unable to care. Fascinated by this "noonday demon," so familiar to those in the early and medieval Church, Norris read intensively and knew she must restore this forgotten but utterly relevant and important concept to the modern world's vernacular. Like Norris's bestselling The Cloister Walk, Acedia & me is part memoir and part meditation. As in her bestselling Amazing Grace, here Norris explicates and demystifies a spiritual concept, exploring acedia through the geography of her life as a writer; her marriage and the challenges of commitment in the midst of grave illness; and her keen interest in the monastic tradition. Unlike her earlier books, this one features a poignant narrative throughout of Norris's and her husband's bouts with acedia and its clinical cousin, depression. Moreover, her analysis of acedia reveals its burden not just on individuals but on whole societies-- and that the "restless boredom, frantic escapism, commitment phobia, and enervating despair that we struggle with today are the ancient demon of acedia in modern dress." An examination of acedia in the light of theology, psychology, monastic spirituality, the healing powers of religious practice, and Norris's own experience, Acedia & me is both intimate and historically sweeping, brimming with exasperation and reverence, sometimes funny, often provocative, and always important.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
CD Version I bought the CD version so I could listen to the book during rush hour on my way to work in the Washington DC area traffic. I listened to about half of the CDs then moved on to another book. Indeed this is quite the timely topic and her scholarship and study seems first rate. Yet, early on, I got the point and there was no compelling reason for me to continue. Her suffering and depression while, worth undestanding in terms of the topic, got to be a bit much. It also got to be a bit redundant. These things... more info
Not very reliable, would not give any stars if program allowed I still have not received my item 10 days after the latest delivery quote. I sent an email to locate my book and have yet to receive a reply.
READ IT!!! No lengthy treatise on this book - that's already been done. Very simply - Mighty good book, which is no surprise seeing that's it Norris - and on a much-ignored and forgotten topic. Read it - it's eye opening.
Acedia and me Once again Kathleen Norris shares her life experiences and helps me see new possibilities in my own life.
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