Reading spiritual books is one of the means of preparing oneself for living in a monastery.

Reading spiritual books is one of the means of preparing oneself for living in a monastery. To read it is necessary first of all the following authors: St. John Climacus, Abba Dorotheus, John Cassian of the Romans, Varsonophia the Great and John the Prophet, Isaac and Ephraim the Syrian. Particularly relevant creations of recent authors: St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov), St. Theophan the Recluse, Optina elders, and not yet glorified: the abbot Nikon (Vorobyov) "We are left with repentance," the Valaam Schema-Igumen John (Alexeev) "Look into your heart," the modern Greek ascetics. 


The biographies of the devotees of piety from the 19th to the 20th centuries are also useful. Reading in the world will come in handy also because the inhabitant of a modern monastery is usually so busy with obedience that he does not always have time for spiritual reading. And the works of St.. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) are important to the modern monk so much that I advise you to postpone your admission to the monastery until you can get acquainted with at least his book "The offering to modern monasticism" (Volume V of the "Creations"). Before the monastery it is necessary to attend to the acquisition of the personal library of the ascetic creations of the Holy Fathers, as there may not be a library in the monastery, and funds for the purchase of books are unlikely. 


Hegumen Sergiy (Rybko)
https://www.pravmir.ru/uxod-v-monastyr-legkij-li-eto-put/