Galatea 2.2: A Novel

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Cognitive neurologist and well-known writer team up to produce a machine that can pass a comprehensive exam in English literature, with predictably unpredictable results. Like The Gold Bug Variations, this is another of Powers' wild, unforgettable novels encompassing science, philosophy, and the frailty of mankind.

Book Description

After four novels and several years living abroad, the fictional protagonist of Galatea 2.2-Richard Powers-returns to the United States as Humanist-in-Residence at the enormous Center for the Study of Advanced Sciences. There he runs afoul of Philip Lentz, an outspoken cognitive neurologist intent upon modeling the human brain by means of computer-based neural networks. Lentz involves Powers in an outlandish and irresistible project: to train a neural net on a canonical list of Great Books. Through repeated tutorials, the device grows gradually more worldly, until it demands to know its own name, sex, race, and reason for exisiting.

Customer Reviews:

Just a big stinking let down........2007-09-09

I felt like the first hundred or so pages of the book promised a lot of truly vicarious devastation, but then I got to the end and Powers' had delivered nothing. This book is dullsville; read it and feel absolutely nothing during the story's climax. In all fairness, Powers writes very well, it's just that the content of this book bores me. Maybe my problem is that I was expecting it to be much more sci-fi and dramatic, and to me it read more like a semi-masturbatory litany of the sufferings of the author at the hands of his bipolar ex-girlfriend.

Intricately turned phrases.......2007-07-13

It's funny, the reviews on the cover make me think that they didn't read the book. It's neither terse nor a thriller, but a poignant semi-autobiographical passage. This book sent me running to the dictionary every two pages, but I didn't mind because each sentence unearthed a penetrating revelation that was deeply satisfying to me personally.

what was so good about it?.......2007-07-04

I got this book at a thrift store for 99 cents. It had been a used book at the UC (Cincy) bookstore and had many great reviews. For what class, I wonder? Literature? Computer science? Philosophy? Whatever it was, I stuck it out for about 200 pages, then threw it in the trash. I tried to read it, tried to become interested in it, tried to see what all the hype was. What it ended up doing was to keep me from reading other better books for several weeks. I recall going to a book discussion group and the monitor asked if we were reading any good books; I couldn't say "yes" since I was reading this at the time. I didn't understand the concept of the autobiographical part; every-other chapter deals with the author's failed love with a depressive girl of Dutch heritage. I didn't like the use of initials, A, B, C, D, E, U, instead of names for cities, schools, and people, let alone the stages of development of the AI eventually named Helen. I didn't understand how a computer would so easily learn to speak answers to "questions", how it knew what a question was, how it knew grammar, etc. I didn't understand why an intelligent(?) person (the author who is in this project) would sit & read aloud to the AI they are training instead of popping in a book-on-tape/CD and leaving for the day. The part about the other woman in the project who the author "likes", visits, and of course who has a child with birth defects: what is this? "Accidental Tourist"? Hasn't this been done before? I think I was hoping for more of a sci-fi thriller or AI-type story like the movie "Sim-One" (Simone), and instead was dragged through a boring, slow, pathetic tale of an author who has no self esteem, stays with a depressed woman far longer than it makes sense, the details of dealing with her Dutch-ness are just another "who cares?" filler for me, who somehow is involved with an AI project the technical details of which we aren't supposed to be interested in and never seems to progress except to make the project's particiants seem more weak & introspective than before. After a while, I just didn't want to go on with it. What a waste of time! Read something else!

Overworked and Narcissistic .......2006-02-10

For the life of me, I can't figure out why so many readers give this book glowing reviews. I found it boring in the extreme. I guess you need to be a real "neural network" fan to enjoy this type of writing. For me this tome is overworked and overly pedantic.

The basic premise is a good one (and could have been wrapped in a much better story), but the plot fails to get going at a pace that would keep even the most jaded "computer drama" fan entertained or interested. Characters are not fully fleshed out and the story arc self-terminates in many places.

I really had a hard time getting through this, not because I'm dull-witted but because I found it far too overcooked and "clever" for my tastes. Even though it was written in first person, I've never read a novel where the writer is so clearly self-involved. As well, the devisive over-use of initials instead of proper names was irritating in the extreme and somewhat juvenile. OK, so the "author within the author" doesn't want to use names. Make up something to at least give the character a face!

All in all: a very tedious read. Save your money.

An instant classic.......2005-03-27

The writing is brilliant, with an extremely high vocabulary and a keen use of metaphor (Powers' standard). The science is suspect but is intelligently focused more by his expertise in literary devices and the logic of langauge (or lack of) than by knowledge of neural networks and computers (of which, even still, he knows a lot). The love story is fairly unmoving to me, and is annoying at times, though perhaps it is more realistic in that way. The ending is stunning.

You've never read anything quite like it, and may never again, so it is worth a try. It was the first Powers book I managed to get all the way through, and it revived the bookworm in me that was dormant for years. He has a knack for witty dialogue (though every character is so sharp (even a young child) it's hard to believe they are not of the same mind), and descriptions of the world that would never have occurred to you. You will be smarter after reading this. I love my friend for passing it on to me.

Book Description

This collection of classic and new writings on dance improvisation brings together 21 essays by prominent dancers, scholars and historians. Until now, discussion of improvisation in dance has focused mainly on the postmodern form known as contact improv. Taken by Surprise reflects the development of improvisation as a compositional and performance mode in a wide variety of dance contexts, including dance traditions from around the globe, such as Yoruban masked dance, Indian Bharatanatyam and flamenco.

The book also includes a thoughtful look at computer-aided choreography, a discussion of recent innovations in tap dancing and a section on improvisation in everyday life. Combining primary sources with critical analysis, Taken by Surprise will serve as an indispensible companion to studio work in improvisation, and a much-needed supplement to twentieth century dance histories.

CONTRIBUTORS: Ann Cooper Albright, Sally Banes, Bruce Curtis, Kent Despain, Margaret Thompson Drewal, Simone Forti, Susan Leigh Foster, David Gere, Raymond W. Gibbs, JR, Michelle Heffner Hayes, Carmela Hermann, Constance Valis Hill, Rachel Kaplan, Maura Keefe, Victoria Marks, Avanthi Meduri, Steve Paxton, Janice Ross, Karen Schaffman, Nancy Stark Smith, Ellen Webb, Ruth Zaporah.

Customer Reviews:

From Yoruban masked dance to Indian Bharatanatyam.......2004-01-14

Collaboratively compiled and ably co-edited by Ann Cooper Albright and David Gere, Taken By Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader collects together under one cover some twenty-one essays by well-known dancers, scholars, and historians. Discussing improvisation in dance within contexts and traditions ranging from Yoruban masked dance to Indian Bharatanatyam, flamenco, and more, Taken By Surprise offers an informed and insightful exploration into the art of impromptu dance, as well as the changing emotions expressed within its many forms.

Average customer rating:

What was I on when I bought this?!
HOT! HOT! HOT!
sexy fun!
The Surprise was on Me
Katherine O'Neal delivers the ultimate love for all time!

Taken By Surprise
Thea Devine
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1575668165

Book Description

An erotic game takes a most unpredictable course. A forbidden encounter leads to desire and danger. And a lover's provocative tale includes a very surprising twist. Tried-and-true passion may be lovely, but when it comes to deliciously wicked sinning, there's no greater aphrodisiac than being...

Taken By Surprise

Customer Reviews:

What was I on when I bought this?!.......2007-04-14

I can appreciate that tastes vary, so I will not fill this review with all the thoughts that plagued my mind after trying to get through this monstrosity.
So to state my displeasure simply and fairly:

The first story was tedious. It started out good, but the dialogue got confusing and I found myself going back pages to figure out what the hell was going on. The sex scenes were not worth it.

The second story was...not my tastes. So I will not rate it too harshly...but I did not realy care for the demeaning of the women. Not my thing.

The third was the only one that made this anthology worth reading. It should have been a novel though, not a short. It would have benefited by being more thurough. All the different past lives of the two characters should have been played out more, rather then just a page of description for each life. I would have bought this one alone if it had been more. It was a realy good idea, but it fell short as a short story.
But it is the saving grace of this trio and the only reason this anthology has a star.

This is a book to borrow from a friend rather than purchase. Buyer be aware.

HOT! HOT! HOT!.......2003-05-16

I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. Susan Johnson and Katherine O'Neal make this book. Thea Devine's story left my cold.

Susan Johnson has definitely found her muse again. The last two stories (this one and Force of Nature) she has written have been outstanding. This reminds me of her earlier works. There is passion, understanding and love. A young Russian princess is married to a cruel and evil prince by Ivan the Terrible. When she becomes pregnant the evil prince sends her back to her family's estate. She has a daughter and as punishment her husband leaves her exiled in the country. Tatiana is more than happy to stay on her estate.

While out on a ride she meets a young Count that has been given the neighboring estate for services rendered to the court. Stavr Biron is her husbands enemy, but Tatiana cannot help feeling attracted to the Count.

stavr never thought that he would meet such an enchanting young women. He knows that she is virtuous, but she raiss a fierce desire. He finally decides to make a play for her.

This story will make you cheer and cry and wish the evil prince to Hades.

Erotic Deja Vu will leave you breathless and wanting to turn the next page. The story revolves around an ancient curse and the solution that will free the lovers for all time. The journey to that end is explosively passionate and senuous. Celia and Royce are destined to be together, but can it be forever. This story has an Arabian Nights and Scheherazade feel to it.

sexy fun!.......2003-05-13

This book is made up of three novellas by Susan Johnson, Thea Devine, and Katherine O' Neal. All three stories were different in sexual content, style etc.
I have to say while reading the first novella, To Russia, With Love by Susan Johnson, I was alternating between falling asleep and rolling my eyes. Especially when the "hero" Stavr first meets the heroine, Tatiana- If Stavr gets [excited again] thinking about Tatiana and how virginal she was, I swore to myself I was gonna hurl the book out the window. Speaking of virginal, the author NEVER fails to use the adjectives "virginal" or "innocent" in front of Tatiana's name- from the excessive way the words are used, I can correctly deduce three things- 1)Tatiana must be 8 yrs old 2)Stavr is a pedophile, and 3)Tatiana's baby must have came from stork (given she is soo virginal and innocent..PUKE) That was all that stood out to me in the novella..oh besides couple EXTREMELY BLAND sex scenes and ridiculously unbelievable and exaggerated ending...I don't need to tell you the rest of the plot because that in No way whatsoever lured me to wake up from my more interesting dream. As to Thea Devine's story "Her Lord and Master", WOW~ Mrs. Devine really turned up the thermosat in my house. The pages were practically smoking and my eyes watering from all that explicit boinking. Hey it's all just sexy pleasure reading this novella- the premise is interesting- a bored heartbreaker earl is playing the Who's wants to marry a millionaire/The Bachelor game, a much dirtier skankier (and interesting!)version in which the three finalists has to...err you read and found out the erotic details for yourself. But warning though-don't read this book for romance- I can't seem to find that element anywhere on the page. but hey, its sexy and streamy and it woke me up after the last story about...whats it about again?
I don't have too much to say about the 3rd story, Erotic Dejavu. Its a romance story expect complete with sultan who wants to put the heroine in her sordid harlem as well as elements of multiple past lives and how the two are destined to be together and finally make it end right blah blah didn't I read that somewhereS (notice the plural form of the word) before? The bedroom scenes are good but not sizzling, but on the other hand after the burning Devine story, that'll be hard to judge. The romance element is there but not completely emotional like I wanna cry my eyes out for the two lovers. So overall, its...a good anthology...but if your not big fans of any of the authors, maybe you should filch and xerox the stories from your friend's copy.

The Surprise was on Me.......2003-03-25

From Russia, With Love by Susan Johnson***

After losing her parents, Tatiana was made to marry the tsars' man, Prince Igor Skuisky. The couple met for the first time at the altar and we are told that the prince brutality did his duty and shipped her back home as soon as she became pregnant since she was so too frail for one who preferred buxom women. While in exile, Tatiana meets her neighbor, Count Starv Biron and they eventually indulge in a summer affair. The hero is refrained and the heroine is weak, not the usual rake and strong, independent female. There was no in depth supporting characters.

I was definitely taken by surprise when I read this story. It does not belong in a tales of erotic romance anthology; Ms. Johnson has many historical romance books that have more erotica then this story. The title is a warning that this is not the usual Susan Johnson. Having read so many of her other books and being used to that style of writing, well this story just does not live up to her standard.

Her Lord & Master by Thea Devine****

The Earl of Wick who has ravished every woman in London has become bored and is being pressured to marry. Being the rake that he is, he must have only a virgin wife who has to be chosen/tested by his fellow rakish friends. Once the top three are chosen they must then allow certain liberties - sometimes in private, sometimes not, kind of like.... ah.... what's the word? oh yeah, orgies. The things these women do to win an Earl. For this heroine though, she'll do whatever it takes to get revenge, yeah it's payback time.

Erotic Déjá Vu by Katherine O'Neal**

Reincarnation taken to a new level. To be cursed repeat the same disastrous lifetime over and over just because your man did not tell you that he loves you before you turned him in to be murdered. The author actually tells a story within this story.

Summing things up this book is not worth $, save yourself some money. If you want to read it, then get it from the Library.

Katherine O'Neal delivers the ultimate love for all time!.......2003-03-24

I was one of the first readers to fall in love with Katherine O'Neal's writing, and my pleasure in her storytellling has only grown with each new book she's created. In EROTIC DEJA VU, she tells a story that every hopeful romantic can identify with--a tale of lovers destined to find each other but powerfully tested by fate. An utterly passionate story that is both erotic and intelligent, this novella will seduce you into the mystery and magnificent adventure of a great love.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Westchester County Business Journal, published by Westfair Communications, Inc. on October 11, 2004. The length of the article is 937 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Cancer institute creditors taken by surprise.
Author: David Gurliacci
Publication: Westchester County Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 11, 2004
Publisher: Westfair Communications, Inc.
Volume: 43 Issue: 41 Page: 5(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Troopers in Moore film taken by surprise.(General News)(State police officers say they weren't told they'd be in "Fahrenheit 9/11," but they're satisfied ... from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

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Troopers in Moore film taken by surprise.(General News)(State police officers say they weren't told they'd be in "Fahrenheit 9/11," but they're satisfied ... from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00082RQT8
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by Thomson Gale on July 2, 2004. The length of the article is 735 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Troopers in Moore film taken by surprise.(General News)(State police officers say they weren't told they'd be in "Fahrenheit 9/11," but they're satisfied with the interviews)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: July 2, 2004
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: d1

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Volleyball player appealing scholarship loss.(Sports)(The Oregon sophomore says she was taken by surprise when coach Carl Ferreira terminated her financial ... from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

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Volleyball player appealing scholarship loss.(Sports)(The Oregon sophomore says she was taken by surprise when coach Carl Ferreira terminated her financial ... from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)

Manufacturer: The Register Guard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008G5STY
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on February 4, 2003. The length of the article is 888 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Volleyball player appealing scholarship loss.(Sports)(The Oregon sophomore says she was taken by surprise when coach Carl Ferreira terminated her financial aid)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: February 4, 2003
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: D1

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The disagreeable surprise;: Or, Taken up and taken in! A musical farce, in two acts,

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The disagreeable surprise;: Or, Taken up and taken in! A musical farce, in two acts,
George Daniel
Manufacturer: J. Lowndes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000869O80

Book Description

When corporations go to war, standard business practice goes out the window. Astro Corporation is led by indomitable Texan Pancho Lane, Humphries Space Systems by the rich and ruthless Martin Humphries, and their fight is over nothing less than resources of the Asteroid Belt itself. As fighting escalates, the lines between commerce and politics, boardroom and bedroom, blur--and the keys to victory will include physics, nanotechnology, and cold hard cash.As they fight it out, the lives of thousands of innocents hang in the balance, including the rock rats who make their living off the asteroids, and the inhabitants of Selene City on Earth's moon. As if matters weren't complicated enough, the shadowy Yamagata corporation sets its sights on taking advantage of other people's quarrels, and space pirate Lars Fuchs decides it's time to make good on his own personal vendetta.It's a breakneck finale that can end only in earth's salvation--or the annihilation of all that humankind has ever accomplished in space.

Customer Reviews:

War Is Hell.......2006-08-28

The Silent War (2004) is the third SF novel of the Asteroid Wars series, following The Rock Rats. In the previous volume, Lars Fuchs was caught in an ambush by HSS mercenaries, was returned to Ceres, and then was exiled by the Rock Rats. Amanda Cunningham divorced him and married Martin Humphries to keep Lars from being hurt by any HSS goons. But Amanda also has plans to implant an embryo fertilized by Lars within herself and to carry it to term.

In this novel, Yamagata Corporation is moving back into space ventures after years of rebuilding Japan. Saito Yamagata is leaving corporate management to his son Nobuhiko, but providing advice as requested. Saito has insisted that the corporation should remain in the background until their position is assured. Most of their efforts have been focused through Nairobi Industries, an African conglomerate with little overt experience in such ventures.

Covertly, Yamagata Corporation is picking off freighters from both Humphries Space Systems and Astro Manufacturing. Now each of these corporations blames the other for their losses. Martin Humphries and Pancho Lane are ready to make war of each other. The Humper is reestablishing the base on Vesta and equipping it with a dozen attack craft. Pancho is arming her freighters.

Lars Fuchs is unaware of most of these warlike preparations, but he is continuing his war against HSS. Dorik Harbin, commander of the HSS mercenaries, is still trying to lure him into a trap, but without luck. Still, Lars has learned about Amanda's pregnancy, but not about the heritage of the embryo.

Eight years after her marriage to Humphries, Amanda makes her first move in the long held plan to implant herself with the cryogenically preserved embryo of Lars and herself. She is supposedly carrying Humphries's baby and only Douglas Stavenger and Pancho Lane know that the embryo's heritage is quite different. She has even changed the DNA codes in Humphries's medical records to throw off suspicion of another paternity. Now if she can just carry the baby to term without the Old Humper learning of her duplicity.

The characters in this novel have well developed, but trite motivations. Of course, trite means commonplace and they are very common personality types. Especially Humphries, who learned early that his father cared nothing for him; now he is marking people notice him by force (mostly economic). Pancho is a white-hatted cowboy, out to do good in the world, but otherwise liable to play practical jokes and other highjinks. Lars Fuchs has been forced into a psychological corner by the Old Humper and differs greatly from his previous self-image. All are what they are due to circumstances beyond their control, just as are you and I.

The prologue and epilogue to this work occur six years after the body of this novel. An alien object, thought to be an artistic work, has been discovered and sold to Martin Humphries. Except for the discovering family and the initial security detail, no one else has seen the object. The results of viewing the object are variable, but profound.

This novel is the final volume in the Asteroids Wars series, but the consequences carry throughout the Grand Tour universe. Some of these effects have already reached publication in other works, most notably Venus, which is a direct sequel, although taking place over a decade after this volume. Others are still to come.

Recommended for Bova fans and for anyone else who enjoy tales of high adventure, technical warfare and naked slaughter.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Good book but the ending stumbled.......2006-01-30

Characters
They're racy, with a corporate cowboy type atmosphere. Only it all takes place in a vacuum. The pace is ok to good and then speeds up during the last half of the book.
Who has the power and freedom to act? Pancho Lane. Who did you want to succeed in the end? Pancho. Who was the main character? Probably Pancho. She could have been the viewpoint character but Bova toggles between scenes so fast he couldn't really use a viewpoint character very effectively. It all has to be third person which I like. As far as who hurts the most there's lots of pain in the book but the winner was either an oppressed exile or an inwardly tortured mercenary.

Story Construction
Bova seems to have made an error in story construction, especially the end. The main characters get cornered and soon after, they dribble off the end of the book by means of Bova's artifact. I like the artifact idea and the uniqueness of the artifact itself. Bova prepares Dorn and Humphries for us with earlier glimpses into their private horrors. (Sorry, you'll just have to read it and I recommend a used paperback.) But I think he uses it as a terminating distraction so he can end the story (even though its introduced in the beginning to bracket the novel).

Summary
The quality of Bova's writing is excellent. His craftwork makes for fast reading and I enjoyed his use of technology to write stellar scenarios in future, not-to-distant places. His ship hulls, moon bases and lasers are believable.
Bova can write anything he wants but the end of the book was awkward and uncoordinated with how the characters developed. Plot twists are exciting but The Silent War contained character types with motivations established during the body of the book and they unwound in unlikely directions. I'm convinced he should have written little Van into the story to correct, console, and provide remembrance. Never underestimate the power of a little baby to propel a story to a memorable end. Remember Bethlehem?

Did some other author write the last chapter ?.......2005-10-22

The "3" rating is most definitely an average of a "1" and a "5".
Until the very end, this book exemplified all the best features of this series, with a lot of corporate manipulation and dramatic action. I was hooked quickly. I found myself looking forward to the 2 new books in the Grand Tour that Bova has published since The Silent War. I even joined Bova's mailing list to hear about future books.
Then the last chapter descended on me like a sudden laser blast from space. It was so different in tone and theme that it did not even seem like something Bova would have written. It was not a fitting concluson, nor was it likely to appeal to the kind of reader who would have enjoyed the rest of the book or the rest of the series. If it was a jumping-off point for the next books, it was too sudden and unwelcome.
Is the Grand Tour taking a new route? If so, I'm not sure I want to go along.?

The Conclusion of the Astroid Wars, Part of the Grand Tour.......2005-06-01

The Grand Tour is Dr. Ben Bova's series of books on the human exploration of the Solar System. This book is the third and final in a trilogy called The Asteroid Wars as human development reaches to the asteroids to get raw materials for space based manufacturing in the face of severe global warming. The war between two corporations to decide the future of the astroid belt and ultimately of Earth itself comes to a head. Seeing an opportunity as the two fight it out, others come in to try to pick up their share. As the conclusion comes, this volume wraps up the series.

One aspect of good science fiction is the science aspect that makes a prediction for the future that should be logically possible. At this Dr. Bova does an excellent job.

This recording runs for thirteen hours, it is on ten CD's, read by Scott Brick, Amanda Karr and a cast of lessor characters.

Great SF!!.......2005-04-18

I have a habit of reading the last book in a triology - first. Despite doing so, Bova's novel is a fantastic read. Though I didn't have all the backstory, I was still able to enjoy it. The main character, Pancho, was well-defined and very real. Humphries is the guy you love to hate. Arrogant, egotiscal and devious. Lars, gotta love the guy and admire his devotion to his wife and the reader definitely feels the hate he has for Humphries. Bova, successfully entwined raw emotion into each of his characters, making them a reality in the mind's eye. As with other Bova novels, I don't expect to be disappointed reading the first two within this series.

Amazon.com

Out of My Life and Thought is the autobiography of Albert Schweitzer, the theologian, musician, scientist, and medical missionary who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 (and donated his prize to build a leper colony). Schweitzer's autobiography is a masterful and motley blend of confession, narrative, adventure, and philosophy. The chapters about how he came to write The Quest for the Historical Jesus and The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle are indispensable summaries of and apologies for those books; the chapter called "I Resolve to Become a Jungle Doctor" is a model of Rilke-style life-changing decision; and the chapters on Bach and on organs are full of fascinating historical and mechanical detail. For contemporary readers, Out of My Life and Thought may be most compelling for its epilogue, which describes the ethical mysticism that Schweitzer called "Reverence for Life," which he achieved in his later years. The epilogue is full of stirringly Germanic passages such as the following: "Once man begins to think about the mystery of his life and the links connecting him with the life that fills the world, he cannot but accept, for his own life and all other life that surrounds him, the principle of Reverence for Life. He will act according to this principle of the ethical affirmation of life in everything he does. His life will become in every respect more difficult than if he lived for himself, but at the same time it will be richer, more beautiful, and happier. It will become, instead of mere living, a genuine experience of life." Because Schweitzer believed Christianity implied such world-encompassing reverence, he had the confidence and faith to "demand from Christianity that it reform itself in the spirit of sincerity and with thoughtfulness, so it may become conscious of its true nature." --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

" Out of My Life and Thought 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

Of the many highly esteemed books Albert Schweitzer penned in his life, he valued his autobiography the most. He had become a legend and he wanted to remind readers that he was just a man, and a man who had learned from many others. He had been fortunate to be in the right places at the right times, to meet people of thought and sympathy. He wanted to report his debts to them. He wanted to clarify his reasons and methods for his undertakings and to respond to some of his critics. And, he wished to honor something greater than he was--reverence for life. Reverence for Life became his life's motto, and it brought him pain as well as joy as he sought to respect how precious and unique each life is. Schweitzer believed there was a way to live in the world, accept it, take joy from it--and who could know this better than a man who had placed himself so much in it, given so much for it, and had been ready to receive experience as a gift to be thankful for.

In addition to a preface by Rhena Schweitzer Miller and Antje Bultmann Lemke, this translation incorporates revisions and additions Schweitzer made for the French translation of 1960 and those he made for thirty years in his own copy of the original German edition.

"This fascinating volume is the autobiography of the world-famous missionary doctor, organist, philosopher, theologian, and Nobel Peace Prize-winner, newly translated, researched, and corrected on the basis of recently discovered material."-- Booklist

"An authentic twentieth-century classic. Few books in our time have had a greater impact on the life and values of untold numbers of people."--Norman Cousins

Customer Reviews:

Jewels of Wisdom and Perspective.......2007-08-22

This book is not an easy read, but it is an interesting and worthwhile read. The chapter on why Dr. Schweitzer chose to be a medical missionary to Africa is especially interesting and meaningful. His thoughts on "Reverence For Life" are interesting and worthwhile reading, most provacative. His wide array of talent, abiltiy and interests are amazing and especially interesting, almost beyond belief and comprehension. His experiences as prisoner of war are revealing and somewhat shocking. At times the book gets tedious, especially in his philosophical thought,but don't let that stop you for slow you down. This book is well worth the read.

Do men like Albert Schweitzer exist anymore? Could or would our culture let them exist?

A book that matters..........2003-12-09

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.

For students of this great mind, this is a must read........2003-02-09

There is no better short book available on the mind and thoughts of Albert Schweitzer than this book. His theology on Jesus and Paul, his thoughts on Bach and organ building, his philosophy on Reverence for Life are all laid out here.

George Marshall (see my review of Marshall's excellent biography: Schweitzer) once asked Dr. Schweitzer what professors would best provide him an education on Schweitzer's thoughts. He replied that Marshall should not go to professors but "read my books! No one can express the ideas of a man as well as he has expressed them himself.... read my books".

Bob Frost of "Biography Magazine" once wrote, "Albert Schweitzer is not exactly forgotten today, but his name won't crop up in daily conversation. Fifty years ago, though, people talked about Schweitzer all the time. An American magazine selected him, ahead of Albert Einstein, as the "world's greatest living nonpolitical person." He was the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Fueled by idealism and burning spiritual passion, this medical missionary led one of the most intense lives of the 20th century."

Be apprized that "Out of my Life and Thoughts" is not an easy read. Dr. Schweitzer's theology and philosophy, though dense, is not incomprehensible. And due to the translation from French to English, you many find yourself reading a passage multiple times to get the gist his thoughts.

That said, for students of this great mind, this is a must read. Strongly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Schweitzer's life and thought:.......2003-01-22

"Since my first years at the university I had grown increasingly to doubt the idea that mankind is steadily moving toward improvement. My impression was that the fire of its ideas was burning out without anyone noticing or worrying about it. ... What was just and equitable seemed to be pursued with only lukewarm zeal. I noticed a number of symptoms of intellectual and spiritual fatigue in this generation that is so proud of its achievements."
Albert Schweitzer was a man of action -- humanitarian, theologian, historian, musician, musical technologist, medical doctor, author, philosopher, missionary, professor, environmentalist, prisoner of war, recipient of the Nobel Prize. He writes an interesting autobiography, which is not surprising when one considers the breadth of his interests and of his achievements in science, the humanities and the arts. In his later years he was perhaps the most widely admired and respected person in the Western world.
Jimmy Carter offers a foreword in this volume; it is economical, a mere six sentences. Schweitzer's philosophical work may be well studied, but does not particularly distinguish itself in this volume (with some notable exceptions). His theological work (i.e., Christology) is generally questionable -- bound to Enlightenment fallacies of a "historical Jesus." I was happy to be concurrently reading the thoughts of a far better theologian, CS Lewis, on the idea of "discovering" a "historical" Jesus. While some of Schweitzer's ideas are [rightly] not highly regarded, his "life and thought" makes for unusually interesting biography. His "reverence for life" precept certainly has great value, but seems to be a less profoundly unique idea than he held it to be. Perhaps my view here is merely ignorant of the world in which Schweitzer lived.
He considered this book to be his best, or at least his preferred, writing, but if you are going to read only one book considering theological and historical exegetics, this is probably the wrong book. On the other hand, Schweitzer makes many observations cleanly and powerfully: "Our world rots in deceit. Our very attempt to manipulate truth itself brings us to ... [a truth] based on a skepticism that has become belief... It is superficial and inflexible." Kant had observed the intellectual paralysis of such "a skepticism that has become belief," but Schweitzer goes further, recognizing it as an even deeper spiritual paralysis.
While Schweitzer's Christology is, at the least, arguable, his firm commitment to Christ's commandment of love is a strong example of the Christian life led in the light of its Teacher's example. The author is [rightly] given to referring to Christianity as "the religion of love." In this aspect, Schweitzer at once offers the non-Christian a true image of Christianity and offers the Christian an important, if gentle, reminder. "[God] announces Himself in us as the will to love. The First Cause of Being, as He manifests Himself in nature, is to us always impersonal. To the First Cause of Being that is revealed to us in the will to love, however, we relate as to an ethical personality." And quoting Paul: "Love never faileth: but where there be knowledge it shall be done away."

An inspiring journey with a true disciple of Christ.......2002-09-18

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.

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Out of My Life and Thought

Manufacturer: HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

This is a 1949 publication of Albert Schweitzer's 'Out of My Life and Thought".

Albert Schweitzer Out of My Life and Thought an Autobigtaphy

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Albert Schweitzer Out of My Life and Thought an Autobigtaphy
translator C.T. Campion
Manufacturer: Mentor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000V8KLE6

Albert Schweitzer: Out of My Life and Thought, Autobiography

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Albert Schweitzer: Out of My Life and Thought, Autobiography
Albert Schweitzer
Manufacturer: The New American Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Before the Wind: Poems out of my Life and Thought

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Before the Wind: Poems out of my Life and Thought
Mona D Sizer
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The poems in Before the Wind must speak for themselves with passionate clarity:

“A shriek in black ink down a diary's page.” from "Passage: March 9, 1936.”

“Savoring the perversity of power, I opened my hand.” from “Adventuring”

“In that world within our world
The explosion of Armageddon!” from “A Conundrum Visited.”

“Oh! Greedy Race to want much more than human!” from “Speed”

“Thirty-four million miles apart,
Through space so narrow that
Your passing's like a kiss.”
from “On Seeing Mars” (August 27, 2003)

All the elements of fine ballads, free and rhymed verses, sonnets, and a villanelle are present in this volume. The past collides with the present in surprising images, and the vivid future is both possible and probable.

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Out of My Life & Thought
Albert Schweitzer
Manufacturer: HOLT, HENRY * & CO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Out of my life & thought: An autobiography

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Out of my life & thought: An autobiography
Albert Schweitzer
Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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OUT OF MY LIFE AND THOUGHT
Albert Schweitzer
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Out Of My Life and Thought
Albert Schweitzer
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Out of My Life and Thought
Albert Schweitzer
Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

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