This book investigates the historical development and theological framework of contemplative reading as a distinct spiritual practice within the monasteries of the Church of the East. David A. Michelson, a scholar of Syriac Christianity, utilizes primary source texts from sixth- and seventh-century Mesopotamia to reconstruct the ascetic traditions of the era. He argues that this practice evolved through three specific phases: initial establishment, theological articulation, and eventual maturation and expansion across the region.

Scholars in the field of Syriac studies recognize this work as a significant contribution to the understanding of early Christian asceticism. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the meticulous use of primary source documentation.