7Thomas Merton was one of the greatest spiritual writers and social critics of the past century. For thousands of men and women, he remains a guide and model for contemplative living, interreligious dialogue, and intellectual exploration. While many have encountered Merton through his bestselling books on spirituality and contemplation, few are familiar with his powerful--and often prescient--insights about vital social and cultural issues of his day. In this audio course, award-winning professor Daniel Horan, O.F.M., explores Merton's writings on topics like nonviolence, civil rights, and the Christian life. Covering both famous and lesser-known works, Fr. Horan's course introduces Merton fans and newcomers alike to a new side of the Trappist monk. Indeed, the lectures peel back the many layers of the man whom Pope Francis described as a thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for souls and for the Church. He was also a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace between peoples and religions. Although he spent much of his life as a hermit, Merton's thought extended well beyond the monastery--across latitudes. A restless seeker, visionary writer, and prophet of peace, Merton was on an endless quest for the authentic self in an oft-inauthentic society--a quest that continues to speak to our own time.