For seven months, Henri Nouwen participated in the life of the monks at the Trappist monastery Genesee Abbey in New York State. He submitted himself to the rules of silence, manual labor, contemplation, and the spiritual guidance of the abbot. Diary entries from this time later served as the foundation for his impressive and captivating account of his journey into another world. His book describes a path of mysticism and practice. Nouwen experiences the completely unfamiliar, facing a shift between irritation and attraction. Disappointments and crises transform into moments of insight and fulfillment, and he traces his spiritual roots, which lie in silence, obedience, and contemplation. This account, which offers surprising insights into a Trappist abbey, captivates us and is a spiritual classic of the present day.