Convent Wisdom

“Delightful.” —The Guardian • “Cheeky.” —The New York Times • “Insightful.” —Marie Claire • A not-so-saintly self-help book that dives into the wild, wise, and unconventional lives of 16th- and 17th-century nuns and proves one thing: no matter the century, nuns know best. When most of us think of nuns, we picture hands clasped in prayer, solemn shuffles down cloistered halls, and that iconic habit silhouette. But what about the nuns who ate spiderwebs, erupted into jealous fights over makeup, or chain-produced manuscripts for extra cash? In reality, these women were no one-dimensional martyrs. 16th- and 17th-century nuns were resourceful, rebellious, and refreshingly relatable—and their lives hold surprising lessons for us today. Convent Wisdom is your guide to navigating everything from patriarchal bureaucracy to an all-consuming friend crush with help from history’s most fascinating nuns. Struggling with money? Saint Teresa and her fellow Carmelites have recession-proof advice. Scrolling social media and drowning in FOMO? Mary of Jesus of Ágreda’s miraculous ability to engage in bilocation might help you cope. Confounded by a lesbian situationship? The yearnings of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz contain unexpected insights. Blending rigorous research with tongue-in-cheek takeaways and weaving pop culture and personal anecdotes throughout, Brown University scholars and best friends Ana Garriga and Carmen Urbita spill the juicy inside scoop on monastic life so you can better conquer today’s anxiety-ridden, hyper-connected world. Be it work woes, unholy diets, or crises of the soul, the nuns of Convent Wisdom are here to guide you—with a wink and a prayer.

Ana Garriga is a scholar of early modern Spain and Latin America. She earned her PhD from Brown University in 2024. Prior to joining the Department of Hispanic Studies at Brown, she completed a PhD at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid with a dissertation on the letters of the nun Teresa of Ávila (1515–82), for which she received the extraordinary PhD award. In 2014, she earned a prestigious Fulbright scholarship. She launched Las hijas de Felipe with Carmen Urbita in 2020. Carmen Urbita earned her PhD from Brown University in 2025. Prior to joining the Department of Hispanic Studies at Brown, she completed her BA in comparative literature at King’s College London (University of London). She was granted a scholarship to pursue a Master of Studies in modern languages at the University of Oxford, where she completed her dissertation on the writings of the nun Jeanne des Anges (1602–1665), earning Distinction. She launched Las hijas de Felipe with Ana Garriga in 2020. With over sixty episodes published, Las hijas de Felipe is one of the most popular podcasts in the Spanish-speaking world.