I And Thou by Martin Buber Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of I And Thou
Book Review: Use the Kaufmann translation instead
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a great book, written originally in German. The German language has two second person singular pronouns: "dich", and "du". "Du" is reserved for intimate friends. RG Smith, in the 30's, translated Buber's book "Ich und Du", rendering "du" as "Thou". In 1969, after Buber died, his son asked Walter Kaufmann, himself a well-known philosopher and translater, to retranslate the text. Kaufmann renders "du" as "You". I think this makes all the difference in the world, whether you think of "Thou" as aloof and transcendent, or as "You", intimate and immanent. I recommend the Kaufmann translation over the Smith.Book Review: Eye-opening work of great spiritual power
Summary: 5 Stars
You don't have to be Jewish or even to have studied Judaic theology to appreciate Buber's genius. This book is about forming a relationship with God but has applications to everday ones as well. Fantastic!Book Review: An obvious - but thought provoking essay on relationships
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was truly amazing and I continual refer to it with my relationships with other people. And that is the central commandment - to realize that we have relationships with people, trees, dogs, and god (an I-You relationship). We do not experience the abovementioned as objects (an I-It relationship) but they have life that reciprocates our actions. Buber explains our relationships and how we should go about interpreting them. For example, animals and plants are a relationship beneath language, people our related to within language, and finally the eternal you (god) is above our function of language."Feeling dwell in man, but man dwells in his love. This is no metaphor but actuality: love does not cling to an I, as if the You were merely its "content" or object; it is between I and You. Whoever does not know this...does not know love..."
The only way one can find themselves is to experience the relationship. I highly recommend this book, but I do suggest a dictionary nearby because the wording can get rather tricky. Admittedly it is a difficult read, but taking your time with each paragraph and rereading when necessary, I am confident that if you truly want to find out more about a simple but thought provoking philosophy you will find yourself done with the book in a matter of weeks.
Book Review: recommended edition trans. by the able Kaufmann
Summary: 5 Stars
This book should destroy any psychological notion that people exist in separate subjectivities. Buber's beautifully written psycho-mystical prose leaves one breathless. A deserved classic.Book Review: READ IT! READ IT! READ IT!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book speaks of the true nature that is at the centre of all religion. it is difficult to read at times and you can't read it all in one day and comprehend most of what it says. The translation may not do it full justice so if you can read it in German by all means do. It is an extremely profound book that can change your life if you are willing to let it. The book talks about how life is just a collection of thoughts and process, and that is "I and It". Occaisionally we MAY experience these beautiful moments that are gone as fast as they came, these are "I and Thou", hence the title. If I were to endorse only one book this would be it. Everyone who can read should definitely read Martin Buber's "I and Thou".