Albert Schweitzer Books

This book provides the only personal portrait of Schweitzer, here as a young man on a quest to better the lot of humankind, and of the woman who helped to shape that pursuit. Schweitzer was twenty-six and Helene Bresslau twenty-two when they met. He was preparing for an academic life in theology and philosophy, while his skill as a musician supplemented his intellectual work. Helene stepped beyond the conventions of the day by entering the nursing field, by founding a welfare program for single mothers, and fearlessly stating her own opinions. While Schweitzer searched for his path, Bresslau provided the sounding board for many of his ideas.

Scion of the Pittsburgh oil and banking family, William Larimer Mellon, Jr., was married, the father of three, and a successful rancher in Arizona when, at thirty-seven, he read a Life magazine article about Albert Schweitzer's "reverence for life" that guided his mission hospital in a remote area of Gabon, Africa. Mellon immediately wrote to the famous humanitarian in Lambarene, expressing admiration of Schweitzer's life of service and the wish to engage in similar work with his wife, Gwendolyn. Schweitzer's reply in March 1948 was a lengthy letter of realistic encouragement. In time, Mellon received his medical degree from Tulane University and later established a well-equipped hospital in one of the poorest regions of Haiti, where, with his wife, he spent the rest of his life working as a physician and a community development engineer. The hospital continues to thrive. Brothers in Spirit brings together sixty-five of the letters written between 1947 and Schweitzer's death in 1965. Presented here in both English and the original French, they eloquently tell the story of a comfortable life abandoned for the goal of serving humanity.

In the late eighteenth century, scholars revisited foundational debates regarding the essence of Christianity, utilizing advanced linguistic and historical methods. They aimed to uncover the original Jesus by questioning the New Testament's silence on much of his life and examining Paul's writings. The exploration delved into Jesus's Jewish identity and the discrepancies among the Gospels, revealing a complex figure with multiple interpretations. This scholarly inquiry highlighted the diverse perspectives on Jesus, challenging the notion of a singular "true" representation.

In this charming autobiographical essay, Albert Schwenzer tells of his first nineteen years in Upper Alsace and his youthful discoveries of religion, music, and the inspiration of friendship. Even in his boyhood there were traces of what was to become his "reverence for life": as a boy, he writes, he managed to dissuade several companions from going fishing because of the pain he felt the deed gave to both the worm and the fish. In poignant vignettes, Schweitzer also describes his unhappiness at discovering that he had better food or better clothing than chose around him. Memoirs of Childhood and Youth offers wonderful insights on Dr. Schweitzer's childhood journey that eventually led him to dedicate himself to medical service in African colonies. This new translation also has rarely seen photographs of Schweitzer, both as a youth and as an adult.

Exploring the concept of the Kingdom of God, the book examines Jesus' role as the Messiah, emphasizing his message of establishing a new social order rooted in love, justice, and compassion. Schweitzer introduces the notion of the "messianic secret," positing that Jesus intentionally concealed his true identity until the appropriate moment. Drawing on his extensive biblical knowledge, this scholarly work is a significant contribution to New Testament studies and remains a classic in the field. The reprint aims to preserve its cultural importance.

Albert Schweitzer gibt in einfacher und klarer Sprache Auskunft über sein Leben und Denken. Aufgewachsen im Elsaß, studiert er zunächst Theologie und Philosophie in Straßburg und belegt Vorlesungen in Musiktheorie, um seine musikalische Ausbildung zu vervollständigen. 1904 faßt er den Entschluß, nach Afrika zu gehen, jedoch nicht als Missionar, sondern als Arzt, um »niht nur der Wissenschaft und der Kunst zu leben, sondern sich einem unmittelbaren menschlichen Dienen zu weihen«. Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Arzt in Lambarene beschäftigt sich Schweitzer weiterhin mit der Musik und der Philosophie; er gibt die Bachschen Orgelwerke heraus, geht auf Konzertreisen und veröffentlicht seine kulturphilosophischen Schriften.