Schweitzer: A Biography
by Mr. David Poling, Professor George Marshall
List Price:
Our Price: $11.75
You Save: $13.25 (53%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Mr. David Poling, Professor George MarshallEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-05-17
ISBN: 0801864550
Number of pages: 392
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Book Reviews of Schweitzer: A Biography
Book Review: Sensitive, moving and inspiring...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fine biography of one of the greatest humanitarians of the twentieth century. During his lifetime, (ninety years) Schweitzer the great man transformed into Schweitzer the great myth; the great white hope, saving the bodies and souls of the primitive black man of Africa. In our post colonial age, with its post modern, abstract cultural theories of the `other', Schweitzer became an easy target for cultural critics, using the man and his work as representative of everything evil about the self-perceived superiority of Western man over `primitive cultures'. It is without question, that, for the most part, European imperialism justified their greedy exploitation of developing countries as efforts to `civilize' them. Our culture, knowledge and religion were superior to these `savages', and while we stole their natural resources, we gave them enlightenment. Further to this, however, as we stole and enlightened, we also gave them our diseases, which, in some cases, virtually wiped out entire peoples. From the very beginning, Albert Schweitzer was aware of the European's injustices to these people, and deeply felt some kind of atonement or restitution had to be made. Schweitzer's intention was to essentially help; his inspiring example paved the way for present humanitarian organizations to make a difference or at least become more effective in their aid. This biography successfully dismantles the `great white hope' myth, and presents the man as an insightful critic of Western values and traditional theology, a man who lived his philosophy - or as Schweitzer said, "Live his argument". One can never truly understand or judge someone based on what they say or what they write; only through the results of a person's actions can we really know them. Marshall and Poling's biography of Schweitzer includes his writing and many quotes from conversations and interviews, but argue his greatness from the stand point of his actions. In other words, his fifty years of service and the establishment of the Lambarene hospital, speaks for itself.Schweitzer became aware of his mission to serve his fellow travellers on this planet somewhat late in life. An established philosopher and theologian at age thirty, a principal of a respected seminary, he awoke one morning to realize everything life had given him, and it was time to give back. After reading an article calling for trained medical staff to work in West Africa, he knew what he needed to do. Against heavy opposition from family and friends, he returned to university as a mature-aged student to study medicine, attaining his degree. The public know much about his early life but as his daughter, Rhena Schweitzer, writes in the Forward, "It is the first biography that gives an account of the last years of my fathers live. It helps explain and dissipates some of the false ideas about his relationship to the Africans." This book dispels these falsehoods and myths, and is also a sensitive and objective appraisal of a man and his life.
An inspiring read.
Summary of Schweitzer: A Biography
He was an accomplished organist and interpreter of Bach, a crusader for world peace, and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. He made his philosophy of "reverence for life" an ethic for the world. The hospital he founded in Lambaréné (still in operation in present-day Gabon) is a model of what Europeans might have given to Africans throughout colonial history. But above all, Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was a talented and compassionate human being. This biography probes beyond the timeworn image of Schweitzer as "the old man in the pith helmet" to reveal the philosopher, scholar, husband, father, humanitarian, and liberal rebel in a conservative church.
Missions & Missionary Work Books
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Organic Outreach for Churches: Infusing Evangelistic Passion into Your Congregationby Kevin G. Harney
Zondervan; Published: 2011-10-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.65
Price in other shops:
Becoming a Contagious Christian: Communicating Your Faith in a Style That Fits Youby Bill Hybels, Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg
Zondervan Publishing House; Published: 2002-12-20; Hardcover; Book
Backstage Pass to the Bible--Old Testamentby Jonathan Brant
Zondervan/Youth Specialties; Published: 2002-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.75
Price in other shops:
Real Mary, The - Why Evangelical Christians can Embrace the Mother of Jesusby Scot McKnight
Spck Publishing; Published: 2007-01-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.10
Agenda for Development: Future of Third World Publishingby Alec Gilmore
SPCK Publishing; Published: 1996-02-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $38.14
Ethnographies and Exchanges: Native Americans, Moravians, and Catholics in Early North America (Max Kade German-American Research Institute)Pennsylvania State Univ Pr; Published: 2008-06-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $45.00
Evangelical Christians in the Muslim Sahel (African Systems of Thought)by Barbara M. Cooper
Indiana University Press; Published: 2006-07-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $47.27
Price in other shops:
Evangelical Christians in the Muslim Sahel (African Systems of Thought)by Barbara M. Cooper
Indiana University Press; Published: 2010-03-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.66
Price in other shops:
Pass it on!: Practical Hints on Sharing Your Faithby Michelle Moran
Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd; Published: 1990-07-15; Paperback; Book
Crossing the Line: Teaching and Practical Suggestions for Evangelisationby Michelle Moran
Darton,Longman & Todd Ltd; Published: 1995-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $54.61
Reverence for Life: The Ethics of Albert Schweitzer for the Twenty-First CenturySyracuse University Press; Published: 2002-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.83
Price in other shops:
Out of My Life and Thought: An Autobiographyby Albert Schweitzer
The Johns Hopkins University Press; Published: 2009-06-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.46
Price in other shops:
The Quest of the Historical Jesusby Albert Schweitzer
Dover Publications; Published: 2005-02-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops: