Out of My Life and Thought: An Autobiography

by Albert Schweitzer

Book Overview

"Shatters the old myth and allows us to glimpse the real Albert Schweitzer, a man whose moral example is as relevant and compelling in the 1990s as it was in the 1930s on first publication. Eloquent and heartfelt." -- Los Angeles Times

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805014675
• ISBN13: 9780805014679
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A book that matters...

This is an elegant though brief memoir written by the great man himself. One should not expect too much detail, however, as the text only gives us glimpses into the man's life and the singular events that shaped who he was and what he became and, more importantly, what he accomplished. Schweitzer focuses mainly on the development of his theological and philosophical thought, beginning with his early endeavours leading to his famous work, `The Quest for the Historical Jesus'. From this point, he continues on towards the shaping of his magnum opus, `Philosophy of Civilization'. It is in this section of the text that he discusses two worldviews of life-affirmation and life-denial and pessimism. This work evolves into his philosophical perspective of Reverence for Life.The biography ends in the year 1931, well before the advent of the Second World War. Schweitzer was only fifty-six years of age when he penned this work, well before receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, living and working for another forty-four years. Curiously, when his publisher requested that he write an autobiography, he was hesitant, as he was more or less still in his prime. However, as he wrote to his publisher fourteen years later on his seventieth birthday, memory fades with age, and he believed that writing about himself at that stage of his life, he could put down those important memories that remained fresh in his mind.Schweitzer is certainly an inspiration - a man of immense strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually, with an almost endless capacity for work. The man worked in the most difficult of circumstances. Practicing medicine in intense tropical heat, day after day, disease run rampant; constant worry over funds to purchase much needed medical supplies. Moreover, the terrible events of two world wars - the odds he worked against to maintain the Lambarene Hospital, to my mind, is simply unimaginable. But the man persisted, rising every morning to meet disease, suffering, violence, death and loneliness.This is an inspiring little book, charming and entertaining.

An inspiring journey with a true disciple of Christ

Albert Schweitzer was an acclaimed organist, a world authority on Bach, a church pastor and principal of a theological seminary, a university professor with a doctorate in philosophy, and above all a humanitarian. This book gives a stunning account of how he grew into his ideals and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ethics or philosophy. I was left with an urge to read more about this true human, who believed and practiced the basic principle of goodness, as I finished reading the book. Schweitzer's faith in what he believes in and how he transforms it to the needy is absolutely inspiring. The epilogue of the book is very thought provoking as it gives a clear idea of his vision and the relevance of it in the world we live in.

seek ye first the kingdom....

A memorable account of the theologian, musician, author, and philosopher who up and went to the jungle one day to become a doctor... and of the opposition he encountered by "people passing as Christians." If you are in doubt about whether to risk living your own dreams, then this is your book. Schweitzer relinquished everything, received everything, and was free.

This a great book about a great man.

I read this book for an assignment for school, and it was great. Not many people know about Albert Schweitzer, and what he did these days. However, Albert Schweitzer was one of the greatest man in the 20th century. This autobiography of him shows his thoughts and troubles in the early part of his life. His writing shows his kindness and genius. I reccommend this book to everybody.

Excellent introduction to Schweitzer's life and ethics.

Dr. Schweitzer's autobiography, this book describes both his life and his philosophy. It describes his childhood and early years of theological study, his love of organs and Bach, his decision to enter missionary work, the subsequent years of medical training, and his first 16 years of missionary work in Africa. It covers his life up to 1930, when he was 55 years old. A very readable book, this book is an excellent introduction to Dr. Schweitzer's life and ethics. According to the preface, he considered it his most important book. In Schweitzer's usual modest but not self-denigrating style, he describes how he came to believe in the important of service to humanity. The reader is bound to be awed by the scope of Schweitzer's intellectual and spiritual accomplishment, but reassured by the man's humble concern for others. The only significant drawback of this book is that it ends fairly early in his missionary career. It is left to others to complete his biography.