This book is excellent for anyone who is a student of history or enjoys autobiographies. It contains quite a bit of information about the history of the orders of monks, with emphasis on the Trappists. Some of it is rather startling, for instance, I never knew that there might be women in an abbey. I also assumed that only Catholics would go to a monastery.

The book chronicles the author's personal struggles to find greater peace in life through following the principals of life taught by example among monks, especially those who live at Menken Abbey. Over the course of a year's time, Mr. Wilkes makes monthly treks to the cloister and lives among the brethern. Each chapter covers a month's journey and the insights he gains during that time about the  twelve building blocks in a monk's life. It goes on to tell how he applies them to his life, how he falls short and picks himself up to try again time after time.

Despite the fact that this is billed as an inspirational book, I found it more of a textbook in its readability. It was informative, but did not leave me with anything that would help me feel closer to the Lord.