How to Live Like a Monk

We know that they prayed, sang, and wore long robes, but what was it really like to be a monk? Though monastic living may seem unimaginable to us moderns, it has relevance for today. This book illuminates the day-to-day of medieval European monasticism, showing how you can apply the principles of monastic living, like finding balance and peace, to your life.  With wit and insight, medievalist and podcaster Daniele Cybulskie dives into the history of monasticism in each chapter and then reveals applications for today, such as the benefits of healthy eating, streamlining routines, gardening, and helping others. She shares how monks authentically embraced their spiritual calling, and were also down to earth: they wrote complaints about being cold in the manuscripts they copied, made beer and wine, and even kept bees. How to Live Like a Monk features original illustrations by Anna Lobanova, as well as more than eighty colour reproductions from medieval manuscripts. It is for anyone interested in the Middle Ages and those seeking inspiration for how to live a full life, even when we’re confined to the cloister of our homes.

“This entertaining and enlightening book almost made me want to become a monk. Almost… ” - Dan Jones, New York Times best-selling author and presenter of Netflix’s Secrets of Great British Castles, “This is a brilliant concept, beautifully delivered . . . told with great knowledge, with a view to passing on lessons learnt many hundreds of years ago, but still so relevant today. ¬This highly original work is the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life.” - Charles Spencer, Historian and best-selling author of Killers of the King and The White Ship, “This is a profoundly lovely book. Here is the life of a medieval monk, vividly described . . . with clarity, wit, and a humane wisdom that . . . offers food for thought about the modern world.” - Helen Castor, Author of She-Wolves and Joan of Arc

Danièle Cybulskie is the author of Life in Medieval Europe and The Five-Minute Medievalist. She co-runs Medievalists.net and is the creator and host of The Medieval Podcast.