The desert fathers of 4th and 5th centaury Egypt, Syria and Lebanon were the guiding principle for St Benedict and his rule, something that went on to be the defining point of monasticm spreading throughout the west. So to see the modern monk in Mark Grubber go back to the roots of monasticm is an interesting contrast. Mark finds himself in the desert's desert away from the comforts of the cloister as he knows them and faces the daily challenge as St Anthony and the early fathers also faced them. Not much has changed in all that time and a simple and humble life of prayer and work being close to God in the desert is the same now as it was then.

Mark's developed American analytical intellectualisation is another interesting factor. The process of modern thought and logic runs concurrent with the Coptics old established ways of faith, of belief. And many times throughout the book we find that the true wisdom rests with these simple people of the desert. Toward the end of the book Mark concedes that he has been taught much by these people and expresses that the way of the past lived by these people is closer to the truth than the way developed in the western world.

There are many interesting accounts of the situations Mark find himself in the desert and whilst travelling the region. It is both ecumenical and cross faith. Mark is welcomed by the Orthodox people and even asked to stay at one monastery! Friendships are also developed with Muslims and Bedouins (where Mark feels the death of dehydration in the heat whilst stranded in the desert). The cool night under the star laden sky on Christmas eve and the baby coming back to life in the church of our Lady are very poignant moments.

A good honest and open account of wisdom from times gone by being lived out today. For further reading John Main, Henri J Nouwen and Lawrence Freeman are modern day authors who give practical insights to the wisdom of the desert fathers past and guide to practices on how to compromise life in our own desert.