The Intellectual Life: a book recommendation for the serious student

Author: A. G. Sertillanges
Title: The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods
Translator: Mary Ryan
Place of publication: Washington, DC
Publisher: Catholic University of America Press
Date: Reprint edition, 1987

Originally published in French in 1920, this book has become something of a contemporary classic in France. It has been repeatedly reprinted and continues to inspire and instruct young scholars. Thanks to the translator's work, we now have available the book in English.

Sertillanges asks in the preface of the 1934 edition of The Intellectual Life: "Do you want to do intellectual work?" He follows with the prescription: "Begin by creating within you a zone of silence, a habit of recollection, a will of renunciation and detachment which puts you entirely at the disposal of work; acquire that state of soul unburdened by desire and self-will which is the state of grace of the intellectual worker. Without that you will do nothing, at least nothing worth while."

"Discusses with a wealth of illustration and insight such subjects as the organization of the intellectual worker's time, materials, and his life; the integration of knowledge and the relation of one's specialty to general knowledge; the choice and use of reading; the discipline of memory; the taking of notes, their classification and use; and the preparation and organization of the final production." (The Sign)

In the forward to this edition, James V. Schall, S.J., writes:

"I would put The Intellectual Life on the desk of every serious student, and most of the unserious ones. . . . We should read through this classic book, make its teachings ours after our own manner. Adapting what Sertillanges suggests to our own computer, to our own books, to our own hours of the day or night should be no problem. The book will have an abiding, concrete effect on our lives. If we follow its outlines, it will make us alive in that inner, curious, delightful way that is connoted by the words in the book's magnificent title--The Intellectual Life. I see no reason for settling for anything less. The great French Dominican still teaches us how to learn, but only if we are free enough to let him teach us."

Highly recommended, especially for the serious student.