An Invitation into the Quiet
For most of us, the idea of living alone in a remote place – without the constant hum of conversation, news feeds, or traffic-feels like stepping out of the world entirely. In Consider the Ravens, Paul and Karen Fredette invite us to imagine doing just that. As long-time hermits and founders of the Raven’s Bread newsletter for solitary seekers, they offer both a spiritual and practical guide to what it means to choose solitude as a way of life.
This is not a romanticised tale of retreat into a forest hut. The Fredettes present hermit life as both a vocation and a discipline – one that asks for courage, intentionality, and a willingness to meet oneself without distraction. Through their own stories and the voices of other modern hermits, they reveal a path that is as demanding as it is rewarding.
The Inner Landscape of Solitude
One of the most striking aspects of this book is its honesty about the psychological and emotional challenges of extended solitude. The Fredettes do not shy away from talking about boredom, loneliness, and the temptation to abandon the commitment. They write with the authority of those who have lived through the initial unease of silence and emerged into its deeper gifts: clarity of thought, heightened awareness, and an unshakeable sense of the sacred in the everyday.
The book draws heavily on the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, showing how their spiritual insights remain startlingly relevant. These ancient hermits understood that solitude is not about escape, but about transformation-facing the inner restlessness that drives us to constant busyness and finding a deeper peace beyond it.
Practical Wisdom for Would-Be Hermits
What makes Consider the Ravens stand out is its attention to the practicalities of living apart. The Fredettes discuss everything from choosing a location and managing finances to finding creative ways to contribute to the wider community while remaining faithful to a calling of solitude. There are sections on self-sufficiency, navigating health needs, and maintaining a spiritual routine.
They also explore the legal and ecclesiastical aspects of being a hermit-particularly within the Catholic Church, which recognises hermits under Canon 603. But they are equally respectful of hermits who live outside religious institutions, showing that this calling can be expressed in many forms and faith traditions.
Why This Matters to All of Us
Most readers will not feel called to become hermits, yet the book’s relevance extends far beyond those considering the life. In a culture dominated by noise, speed, and constant connection, the hermit’s witness offers a much-needed counterbalance. By simply existing, hermits challenge our assumptions about what constitutes a meaningful life. They embody a radical reordering of values-placing contemplation above consumption, depth over distraction.
For readers of this site, Consider the Ravens offers a powerful mirror for examining our own relationship with solitude. It invites us to ask: How much quiet do I allow into my life? What could I learn by stepping away, even for short periods? And what might my “inner hermitage” look like, even within an ordinary home and schedule?
A Gentle, Radical Vision
The Fredettes write in a style that is warm, humble, and quietly persuasive. They do not idealise the hermit life, but neither do they apologise for its strangeness in modern eyes. Their tone suggests that, while this is not a path for everyone, it is a path that benefits the whole human community. In their view, hermits are not withdrawing from the world but holding a space for it – a place of prayer, reflection, and deep listening that has value precisely because it is rare.
In the end, Consider the Ravens is less about “dropping out” and more about “tuning in”-to God, to the self, and to the natural rhythms of life that modern living so easily obscures. Whether you are considering a major life change or simply looking for inspiration to weave more stillness into your days, this book offers a thoughtful, practical, and deeply encouraging companion.
Solitude in the Digital Age
When Consider the Ravens was first published in 2011, choosing the hermit life often meant stepping almost entirely outside the structures of paid work. Today, the spread of remote and home-based employment makes it easier to imagine living in relative seclusion while still sustaining an income. Yet this new accessibility brings a different challenge: the digital world can just as easily intrude into a hermitage as the city street. In our time, the hermit’s witness is not only about choosing solitude, but about guarding the inner space where stillness, depth, and the sacred can take root.
Continue the Journey
If the themes in Consider the Ravens resonate with you, you might also enjoy exploring other books in the Soulful Living & Inner Growth section of my reviews. These titles invite reflection on living with greater depth, intention, and alignment with your inner values. You may also find inspiration in the Cultural Shift & Collective Purpose theme, which gathers books that challenge mainstream assumptions and imagine more life-giving ways of being.