The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction

In the digital era, where distraction reigns supreme, the distant past is seen as a golden age of attention. However, historian Jamie Kreiner's book "The Wandering Mind" reveals that early Christian monks, who were known for their mindfulness, struggled with distraction just like modern individuals. The monks waged an all-out war against it, seeing it as a matter of life and death. By examining their techniques, such as regimented work schedules and metacognitive exercises, we can learn something about our own distractedness and the ingenuity that lies in our efforts to master our minds.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2023
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

The digital era is plagued by distractions, and it seems like things are only getting worse. In times like these, the distant past beckons as a golden age of attention. We fantasize about escaping our screens, longing for the quiet of a world with less noise. We imagine retreating into solitude and single-mindedness, almost like modern-day monks.

However, despite our perception of early monks as master concentrators, a life of mindfulness did not come easily to them. As historian Jamie Kreiner demonstrates in her book "The Wandering Mind," their attempts to stretch their minds to God, to continuously contemplate the divine order and its ethical requirements, were all-consuming. Their battles against distraction were never-ending.

Kreiner delves into the experiences of early Christian monks living in the Middle East, around the Mediterranean, and throughout Europe from 300 to 900 CE. She shows that these men and women were obsessed with distraction in ways that seem remarkably modern. At the same time, she suggests that our own obsession with distraction is remarkably medieval.

Ancient Greek and Roman intellectuals had sometimes complained about distraction, but it was early Christian monks who waged an all-out war against it. The stakes could not have been higher: they saw distraction as a matter of life and death.

Even though the world today is vastly different from the world of the early Middle Ages, we can still learn something about our own distractedness by looking closely at the monks' strenuous efforts to concentrate. Drawing on a trove of sources that the monks left behind, Kreiner reconstructs the techniques they devised in their lifelong quest to master their minds. These techniques include regimented work schedules, elaborative metacognitive exercises, and physical regimens for hygiene, sleep, sex, and meditation.

The monks' dedication to mindfulness and their willingness to experiment with different techniques demonstrate their commitment to achieving a state of mental clarity and focus. Their struggles against distraction remind us of the importance of being present and attentive in our own lives, even in the face of modern-day distractions.

In conclusion, the digital era is beset by distractions, but the distant past offers us a glimpse of a golden age of attention. Early Christian monks were obsessed with distraction in ways that seem remarkably modern, and their struggles against it remind us of the importance of being present and attentive in our own lives. By learning from their techniques and experiences, we can strive to master our minds and achieve a greater sense of focus and clarity in our daily lives.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 162 x 238 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781631498053