This cassette presents a fascinating portrait of the Trappist monk by one of his closest friends. Ron Seitz talks about Merton's ability to richly value both solitude and companionship. He reveals his spiritual mentor's keen love of reading, poetry, progressive jazz, beer, folk music, and full-bodied laughter. Merton comes across here as eclectic and ecumenical, prophetic and mystically profound — an emblem of the rounded and robustly empathetic Christian who is needed for the 21st century.