Why Not Merton's The Seven Storey Mountain?

The article challenges the common recommendation of Thomas Merton's autobiography, "The Seven Storey Mountain" (SSM), as the first Merton book, questioning its suitability for three reasons: the nature of autobiography, Merton's age when he wrote it, and his later discomfort with it. Topics include the challenges of spiritual autobiography, the significant changes in Merton's life after 1948, and his evolving perspective on The Seven Storey Mountain.