I think Catherine Doherty does an admirable job of explaining Eastern spirituality for westerners.

I came upon her book surfing the net looking for information on retreats. I ordered Poustinia from Madonna House, read it and immediately contacted my priest for permission to do this sort of retreat. It was exactly what I needed.

No clocks, no TV, no computer, no books other than the Bible. Just me and God, alone for 6 days. (Okay, I didn't just have bread and water, but I did do strict vegetarian and no Coke.)

That time allowed me to understand that while I had surrendered to God, I had not really made a commitment. Making the commitment enabled me to place my trust fully in God. It was a life-changing experience that I highly recommend.

I have since read her books Sobornost and Strannik and found both of them worthwhile. Molchanie is also on my reading list.

Poustinia was the first book of the Baroness that I read, many years ago (the book finally fell apart and I had to get another). This is indeed a good book, and in many ways gets at the spiritual heart of what she was trying to do with Madonna House. The whole idea is that one can live out the idea, the calling, of the poustinia even while "in the world" amidst its distractions and detractions, is one that always has its time and place, and one which reveals in a vivid way her own wonderful Russian spiritual heritage.
FDD