Reddit reviews Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth

Way of the Ascetics by Tito Colliander. Small, short, simple, but extremely helpful.

Way of the Ascetics by Tito Colliander.

Christian content aside, it's a beautifully written book that should give you some food for thought.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0881410497

>Should I not be proud of my accomplishments or of places God has brought me in life?

You (we) should be grateful for the places God has brought you in life, knowing full well that you did not earn them. Your (our) accomplishments themselves are still God's gift to you (us). What if your (my) opponent had been stronger? What if you (I) had gotten sick? What if you (I) had been distracted, or stupid, or hadn't been able to work as hard? All of these factors were gifts from God, not your (our) hard work.

>In that same vein, what exactly does it mean to be humble, in God's eyes?

To think of and treat yourself as a worthless sinner, and everyone else as though they were Christ Himself walking around you.

>What does it really mean to be modest or meek?

Side note: I hate modesty. It's not a virtue. At best, it's a fortunate byproduct of humility and chastity (with regards to dress).

Here's a great book on humility:

http://www.amazon.com/A-Spiritual-Psalter-Reflections-God/dp/0912927402

Here's an okay one:

http://www.amazon.com/Way-Ascetics-Ancient-Tradition-Discipline/dp/0881410497

Doh. In that case I've heard good reviews of this.