The Words of Albert Schweitzer (Newmarket "Words Of" Series) [Paperback]

Norman Cousins (Author)

Book Description

Series: Newmarket "Words Of" Series | Publication Date: June 17, 1999

Inspiring selections on Knowledge and Discovery, Reverence for Life, Faith, The Life of the Soul and Civilization and Peace.

21 photos, chronology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

No one in our times has taught us more about the potentiality of a human being. -- Norman Cousins --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Norman Cousins was the author of Head First: The Biology of Hope, Anatomy of an Illness, The Healing Heart, Dr. Schweitzer of Lambarene, and many other books. He maintained a close correspondence with Schweitzer until the spiritual leader's death in 1965 and was chairman of the board of directors of the Albert Schweitzer Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Press (June 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557042918
• ISBN-13: 978-1557042910
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #520,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Albert Schweitzer - Spiritual Man of the Century, February 19, 2000

By 

Theodore G. Mihran (Schenectady, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Words of Albert Schweitzer (Newmarket "Words Of" Series) (Paperback)

Although I am a scientist and I appreciate Einstein being chosen as Man of the Century, I feel that Albert Schweitzer would have been a more compelling choice. It is true that Einstein represents the science and technology that is taking us at a breathless pace into the new millenium. But just where is is taking us?

Schweitzer's scholarship in medicine, music, and religion could easily have led him to a highly successful academic career at a university. But he did not choose this path. Rather, he put his knowledge of medicine to use at a primitive level by serving natives in a remote part of Africa. It was a courageous, soulworthy decision. For that reason it is worth learning everything we can about this man whose mind was capable of such unique comprehension and action.

I am very grateful that Norman Cousins put his editorial skills to use in selecting words of Albert Schweitzer to pass on to us. Cousins is correct in the Introduction when he says "The greatness of Schweitzer rests not just on what he has done but on what other have done because of him."

The words in the text are classified under six headings: Knowledge and Discovery, Reverence for Life, Faith, The Life of the Soul, The Musician as Artist, and Civilization and Peace. Also, an excerpt is given from Schweitzer's 1952 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

The quotations range from humorous to subline; from "An organ is like a cow; one does not look at its horns so much as at its milk," to "The history of our time is characterized by a lack of reason which has no parallel in the past." It is a fearsome accusation for a generation that prides itself on the good job it has done in harnessing reason to science. Schweitzer further reflects that "we have sought to live and to carry on with a civilization which has no ethical principle behind it."

With the example of Schweitzer's life of dedication and service we can perhaps see a glimmering of the ethical principle that is missing in today's world. By living a life of sacrifice and service, his soul grows steadfastly without bound.

7 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction to the great humanitarian., March 4, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Madison, Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Words of Albert Schweitzer (Newmarket Words Of...) (Hardcover)

As printed in the Editor's Note, I first suggested the ides of this book to the publisher and corresponded with Norman Cousins. In l995 I wrote a multimedia musical dramatization called the "Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach>" This acclaimed production is available to churches and universities. It was prsented March l at Syracuse University, New York. Thurston Moore