• Considers monasticism and monastic communities from ancient and medieval times right through to the 21st century
• Compares the different religious traditions of monasticism — especially Buddhism, Christianity, and Jainism — and also non-traditional communities
• Explores different settings, from East Asia to North America
• Discusses the realities of daily life for monks and nuns throughout history and across the globe

 
Monasticism is a social and religious phenomenon which originated in antiquity and which still remains relevant in the twenty-first century. But what, exactly, is it, and how is it distinguished from other kinds of religious and non-religious practice?

In this Very Short Introduction Stephen J. Davis discusses the history of monasticism, from our earliest evidence for it, and the different types which have developed from antiquity to the present day. He considers where monasteries are located, from East Asia to North America, and everywhere in between, and how their settings impact the everyday life and worldview of the monks and nuns who dwell there. Exploring how monastic communities are organized, he also looks at how aspects of life like food, sleep, sex, work, and prayer are regimented. Finally, Davis discusses what the stories about saints communicate about monastic identity and ethics, and considers what place there is for monasticism in the modern world.