Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

Book Description

After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. His Letters and Papers from Prison became a prized testimony to Christian faith and courage, read by thousands. Now in Life Together we have Pastor Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community. This story of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years reads like one of Paul's letters. It gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship.

Customer Reviews:

Another classic by Bonhoeffer!.......2007-10-09

I encourage anyone who snags a copy of this book to read the introduction of this book because it summarizes who Bonhoeffer was and what he went through - which is very incredible. Just reading the introduction made me curious and open to what was contained in the pages to follow.

In this book Bonhoeffer is addressing life in the Body of Christ, the community of believers. Specifically, in the local body. For what he writes as to the purpose of community and how it should be played out in the lives of believers, every pastor and leader in a church should read this book, because it is a beautiful vision of what it is to live life together.

The third chapter, titled 'The Day Alone' was worth the price of admission to me, on its own. In it he talks about one's personal walk with God, the time alone with God and in his Word and in prayer. It is really challenging, but at the same time encouraging .

If I could, I'd have every Christian read this book and engage the material within. Bonhoeffer came from a situation foreign to most readers today, but most of what he writes is relevant to the modern setting. There were a few things he suggested (well, dictated, as is his style...) which raised my eyebrows. Not necessarily that what he said was biblically wrong, I just didn't quite completely agree with the practical practice he was outlining for a specific point. But that doesn't mean he wasn't making a relevant commentation - and his points are all excellent for believers to engage and think about, for their minds to stew over and then take back to the Word.

So yes, I recommend this greatly. If you're a Christian, read it. If you're not a Christian, this has glimpses of what it means to love Christ and live with his followers and I'd encourage you to consider what is written on these pages. Though if you're curious about what Christianity is, I'd suggest something more along the lines of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

A legitimate classic..........2007-05-29

I have been wanting to read this book for several years, having become increasingly fascinated with the life and thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His story is truly remarkable, and this seemed like a good place to start reading his work. I probably had unrealistic expectations, given the language and culture gap between us. Nonetheless, it is a substantial and worthwhile book to read.

The strength of this book is its depth. While only 100+ pages long, it is meaty. Bonhoeffer is full of big ideas with profound implications. He tackles big issues in Christian community, spending inordinate amounts of time discussing topics like confession with great sincerity and significance.

My primary critique of "Life Together" (and this may be partially attributed to translation issues) is that Bonhoeffer seems to be unnecessarily dogmatic on some rather peripheral issues. For instance, he suggests that unison singing is an essential part of Christian worship, somehow equating vocal harmony with disunity. This idea seems like a stretch, at best. More broadly, the chapters "The Day with Others" and "The Day Alone" seem to be almost like Bonhoeffer's Rule, a contemporary and Protestant version of the earlier rules of monastic life. Though filled with great ideas and describing a life that would surely please God, he sets up his schedule as a spiritual necessity, rather than one option among many.

Overall, this book is definitely worth reading. When he gets bogged down in describing the minutiae of life in Christian community, it gets a bit laborious. But when Bonhoeffer focuses on the main ideas of ministry, confession, and communion in the final half of the book, the endurance of this book as a classic becomes evident. I would recommend it to both seasoned and new believers as a way to further develop of understanding of how we should rightly do "life together."

Insightful book into life in the Christian Church.......2007-02-17

I found this book very enlightening. Those small in size, it is not an easy read. Very thought provoking, I found myself studying and pondering it instead of just read through it. Information on the duties of pastors and how much responsiblity is carried out by the pastor was informative. I felt a compelling to empliment some of these teachings into my own personal life. Daily devotions, not new to me, were suggested for the whole family -- which used to be common practice in many Christian homes, was discussed. Confessing ones sins to other Christians vs. a therapists was discussed. Overall I would recommend this book to ones Christian library.

Sanctorum Communio - the "Communion of Saints".......2007-02-07

Life Together

INTRODUCTION:
This has been my "introductory" book to the wonderful writings of this saint, this mystic Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It made a radical change in my spiritual life, specifically it lit up my soul's hidden and unknown yearning for the fellowship of believers on Sunday, the communion of saints, the beautiful and divine liturgy (aka worship service) - something that my beloved Baptist parents criticized, since it was a book other than the Holy Writ that created in me this yearning. For too many years I dabbled in man's philosophies, being next to "the Way," ... at one point believing in Christian spirituality, but not in "organized religion." Brother Dietrich, this saint clarified for me, elucidated, explained and imprinted on my heart the importance of "Sanctorum Communio" - the fellowship of beliviers, the communion of saints. ("Sanctorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works)" is the title of his PhD dissertation which he finished at 21; see book by Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1998).

I recently purchased this book for a coworker (Christian brother, who goes to church once in a while) and wrote him "May you always see the church as the Sanctorum Communion, the communion of saints, the ekklesia of God, where we draw strength from one another's company as we worship the Holy Trinity."

EDITION:
This translation is not the most faithful the original language (German). "Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, vol. 5)" offers a better English translation, plus the added bonus of the editors notes with regards to the history and language terms used by Bonhoeffer - not to mention one of his other writings (on the Psalms).

AUTHOR:
The 6th of 8 children intellectual German turn-of-the-20th-century family, Lutheran theologian, a pastor, a renewed child of God, a pacifist, a collaborator, A martyr for Christ at the hands of the Nazis. Today he is remembered, as an inspiration for Christians and non-Christians - a testament to the power of the Gospel lived out in every stage and trial of life. Up there with C.S. Lewis, he seems to be one of the most widely read and known modern Christian writer. For me, he is my favorite theologian (a pragmatist at heart). One whose love to pastor the local parish and lead youth groups did hinder him from contemplatively writing about his struggles and God's "costly Grace" (to use one of his expressions).

CONTENT:
I think THE KEY to understanding and getting more out of this book (and some of the advice that Bonhoeffer offers - section about music), is to know that Bonhoeffer WROTE THIS BOOK IN 1 DAY, in Berlin at his parents house after the Finkenwalde seminary of the Confessing Church had been discovere by the Gestapo and as a consequence of the experienced gained being a professor, teacher, and fellow believer in that isolated community.

Chapters:
1) Community
2) The Day with Others
3) The Day Alone
4) The Ministry
5) Confession and Communion

Chapter 5) is the chapter that I learned the most from since in my Baptist upbringing experience in the church, there was not theological concept of Confession - in contrary to the NT evidence, and Communion was nothing seen as deep as Bonhoeffer explains).

CONCLUSION:
* Do you have a yearning to spend time in the house of God (Psalm 118:24), to be a living stone in the holy temple of God (1 Peter 2:4), to be a "sinner and saint" (using Martin Luther's terminology) as Christ feeds you and you edify your fellow brothers and sisters in "Word and Sacrament" (Lutheran theological phrase) ?
* Do you find church boring, devoid of spirit ?
* Do you seek more from your local church ?

As an answer, I can only say this "Do not ask what the Church can do for you, but ask, plead, contemplate, on what you thru Christ can do for His local church!"

I highly recommend this book for anyone who faces lethargy, disinterest, non-commitment to be actively involved in a local church and thus participate in the Church of God.

True Christian Community.......2007-01-25

Bonhoeffer's "Life Together" is a classic expression of life in the community of believers!

I found my second read of this book to be more helpful in understanding the kind of life that should be celebrated within the sanctorum communio. I believe Bonhoeffer's book holds more meaning and influence in the context of a first-century styled "house church" than any other religious setting. (I use "house church" to separate our thought from the traditonally accepted "institutional church" and the religious systems of man.)

I remember reading this book several years ago when all I knew of church life was from within the institutional confines of religious rigorism. I believe Bonhoeffer's words have more depth and meaning when they are applied and understood within more of a small familial setting. Frankly, I have come to believe it is the only way this kind of community can be achieved. In Bonhoeffer's words, "In the spiritual realm the Spirit governs; in human community, psychological techniques and methods."

I benefited greatly from Bonhoeffer's plea for believers to be thankful for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed. When we focus on what our community isn't... we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow as it ought. We are bound to one another. We have no choice but to get along and learn to manifest Christ in our midst! Bonhoeffer makes plain that our actions, good or evil, in sight or in secret... effects the body life. This is not theory... it is reality.

The only way this kind of fellowship works is by embracing Christ's love instead of human love. "Human love has little regard for truth... human love cannot love an enemy." I believe this exposes the kind of love that many in the church have settled for. Bonhoeffer's own actions prove we are all capable of settling for human love and justifying our actions to get our way.

Overall, the reader will find Bonhoeffer's book (as his many others) to be Christocentric. The whole purpose of life in the community is to see our Lord manifested and glorified in our presence. In "Life Together," Bonhoeffer successfully pulls away the empty ritual and the religious ceremony to reveal a simple and clear understanding of life in the Body of Christ!

*My only points of disagreement with Bonhoeffer are at those places where his committment to reformed theology come to the surface. I know this about Bonhoeffer and simply move past it to hear his wonderful words of wisdom and insight.

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Insightful and moving letters that transcend human created myth.
An Example of Faith
Journal of a Christian
Classic Story of Resistance
A Tragic Historical Record

Letter and Papers from Prison
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684838273

Amazon.com

Letters and Papers from Prison is a collection of notes and correspondence covering the period from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's arrest in 1943 to his execution by the Gestapo in 1945. The book is probably most famous, and most important, for its idea of "religionless Christianity"--an idea Bonhoeffer did not live long enough fully to develop, but whose timeliness only increases as the lines between secular and ecclesial life blur. Bonhoeffer's first mention of "religionless Christianity" came in a letter in 1944:

What is bothering me incessantly is the question what Christianity really is, or indeed who Christ really is, for us today. The time when people could be told everything by means of words, whether theological or pious, is over, and so is the time of inwardness and conscience--and that means the time of religion in general. We are moving towards a completely religionless time; people as they are now simply cannot be religious any more. Even those who honestly describe themselves as "religious" do not in the least act up to it, and so they presumably mean something quite different by "religious."

The pleasures of Letters and Papers from Prison, however are not all so profound. Occasionally, Bonhoeffer's letters burst into song--sometimes with actual musical notations, other times with unforgettable phrases. Looking forward to seeing his best friend, Bonhoeffer writes, "To meet again is a God." --Michael Joseph Gross

Customer Reviews:

Insightful and moving letters that transcend human created myth........2007-05-10

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters & Papers from Prison was a most edifying read, primarily because it stripped away the mystery and mythical aura that surrounded him, before and after his murder by the Nazis in 1945. The fact that his reputation is so universally well known is greatly due in part to his brother-in-law, the late Eberhard Bethge.

Having been raised in a very German household myself, I would hear occasional stories from my own father, who grew up in Germany at that time, about the German pastor who was a part of the plot to kill Hitler, the one who was the moral conscience who aided the conspirators while they tried to rid Germany of the diabolical dictator and his vile atrocities that were sweeping throughout the land, for nothing was sacrosanct.

Bonhoeffer, known throughout the Christian world for his books, The Cost of Discipleship and Ethics, among other treaties, pamphlets and sermons, was a great example in respects to how a man or woman can truly live an independent Christian life while working in the world and that heroism does not necessarily come from preaching the Gospel, but rather, living it or trying to. It also comes from incorporating nuances of those truths, big or small, into the daily activities of ones life and sharing that Christian goodness (in a healthy and practical manner) with people from all walks of life, irrelevant of class structure, education, ethnic background, et cetera.

In this book, Bonhoeffer's theological musings move from the act of suffering to the meaning of love, whether human, religious or even material, and the insights that he shares with some of his correspondents, especially Eberhard Bethge, is sometimes profoundly compelling, and one can endlessly cite the abundant source material to back that up. But while he was accepting his cross of suffering, knowing in a way that it was a gift, he had an agony for those whom he was separated from, specificially his fiance, Maria von Wedemeyer-Weller.

The overall profile of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as presented in this work, showcases an all too human man, sometimes short-tempered and impatient yet very religious, contemplative, moral, ethical and surprisingly creative. For an example of that, read his short fiction piece entitled: "Lance-Corporal Berg: A narrative" which is almost similarly reminiscent, style-wise, to that of the writer and author Erich Maria Remarque. His poems, however, were not that great, but it made him only more real.

Though I am Catholic and my interpretation of Scripture is slightly different, much of what Bonhoeffer wrote spoke volumes to me, especially in tackling the day-to-day challenges and experiences that life has to offer. I think he speaks to many people, and that is good, for what he has to say, by his life, writings, choices, down to his martyrdom can cross all ecumenical boundaries. And that is indeed a remarkable witness.

An Example of Faith.......2007-02-06

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Letters and Papers from Prison" is the account of an extremely intelligent German theologian and pastor who was thrown into prison during WWII. The correspondence Bonhoeffer shared with his family members during the time he spent in prision (over a year and a half)reveals his character in a remarkably honest way. The love and concern he has for his family and his selflessness, even while sitting in prison, are a great testament to the Christian faith regardless of your theological position.

Journal of a Christian.......2005-10-28

I bought the book looking to know more about Bonhoeffer's theology..and ended up learning more about my own. Though at times I didn't agree with his thoughts, I found myself agreeing with the man. These letters mix profound questions with small daily details of life. It is authentic and transparent in a way that typical straightforward "theology" books can't be. There is honest, articulate, and earnest faith in these unselfconscious and private thoughts.

Classic Story of Resistance.......2005-06-20

I read this book several years ago at the behest of my Pastor when I was still a man of faith. And although I've essentially fallen out of that faith in the last few years, I still consider this one of the most inspiring true stories I have ever read. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German minister who openly spoke out against the Nazis-and allegedly even participated in the plot to kill Hitler-was imprisoned in 1943 and eventually hanged by the German government shortly before the end of the war. This is a collection of his correspondence with his family and friends during his two years of incarceration.

The strength of this book is that Bonhoeffer was not only a truly courageous man who refused to abandon his principles, but as a Christian, he actually practiced what he preached. This seems to be rare these days and I think the reason that so many people resent Christians and Christianity is that they see so many of them as hypocrites. They constantly talk about God and peace, and righteousness, yet they are so quick to drop a bomb or condemn those that disagree with them. Bonhoeffer represents a pure Christianity of love and justice. This is my take at least and others might disagree with my assessment. With that said, this was a man who truly believed in his God and accepted with dignity whatever fate that God had in store for him. His courage and joy in the face of such a harsh fate is evident in his writings. So, even though I don't share Bonhoeffer's religious beliefs or some of his "ethics," I don't hesitate to recommend this truly inspiring book to believers and non-believers alike. My only warning is that there is a lot of theological discussion and those with little or no knowledge of the religion might find these parts a bit over their head.

A Tragic Historical Record.......2004-09-02

I bought this book not knowing what to expect. What I found was an odd mixture of thoughts of a man in a horrible position. The letters, poems, notes, and short stories run the gamut of emotions. In one letter Bonhoeffer is examining some theological principle and in another he is keeping up on family relations. If you read this book, you will get an idea of what it must have been like to be a Nazi prisoner and depend on others for your care. You will also learn how much Bonhoeffer cared for his fiancee and best friend. Three words of advice: 1) know a bit about Bonhoeffer's life before you pick up this book, 2) look into the new translation of this book that will be coming out soon from Ausburg Fortress Press and 3) be prepared for an emotional and moving look behind the closed doors of a Nazi prison.

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Dietrich: the Lord of Discipline

Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend
Steven Bach
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
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Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

"The finest picture-star biography I have read"
-Peter Bogdanovich, Los Angeles Times

In an achievement as grand and sweeping as Dietrich's own life, Steven Bach reveals the woman and examines her myth in a biography that will stand as the ultimate authority on a singular star. Based on six years of research and hundreds of interviews-including conversations with Dietrich herself-this is the last, best word on one of the century's greatest movie actresses and performers, an icon who embodied glamour and sophistication for audiences around the globe.

Customer Reviews:

Dietrich: the Lord of Discipline.......2002-06-26

Having read Maria Riva's book on her mother along with Dietrich's own autobiography, I didn't really expect any new revelations from this book -- but I couldn't have been more wrong! Mr. Bach is to be congratulated on his fascinating and respectable work honoring Miss Dietrich and her life. What a remarkable performer and a remarkable human being. We could sure use a few more like her in today's world. This is a must read for fans of the Lady and the Legend!!

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No "Angel"
No mere specter of a star

Blue Angel
Donald Spoto
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385425538
Release Date: 1992-07-01

Book Description

In a career that spanned six decades, as a star of stage and screen, Marlene Dietrich created an unforgettable image. She was an international icon.

But that public persona masked the very private woman we meet in this biography. Spoto's story follows Dietrich from pre-war Berlin to Hollywood, which made her a star, to the nightclub stages of the 1950s and '60s, where she polished the legend.

From an unorthodox 52-year marriage to self-imposed seclusion, from her penchant for men's clothing to a lusty appetite for both sexes (Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Maurice Chevalier and George Raft), BLUE ANGEL reveals Dietrich in all her idiosyncratic glory.

"The fabulous book that tells it all. . .a great biography, a provocative appraisal." (Cosmopolitan)

Customer Reviews:

No "Angel".......2004-04-17

Donald Spoto tends to write pleasant, sometimes very insightful biographies that tend to look at different aspects of the stars they focus on. "Blue Angel," however, is not up to par. While his biography of actress Marlene Dietrich is well-written, he seems too disconnected from his subject.

Marlene Dietrich was a dominant sex symbol alongside the distant Greta Garbo. Her big break came with Josef von Sternberg, a German director who found the struggling actress and made her his muse, lover and inspiration. Dietrich kept spreading her wings in Hollywood, and in the 1940s she entertained Allied troops for her adopted country.

Spoto does a pretty good job of covering Dietrich's many-faceted life. Hausfrau and actress, Berlin cabaret and Hollywood, he checks it all out and describes it with a fair amount of detail. And despite the varied nature of Dietrich's love life, he at least tries to keep his tone professional and detached. (Even when describing Dietrich placing a bouquet of violets in a rather, um, intimate place)

What's Spoto's biggest problem? He seems to have no idea what made Dietrich tick. When describing the real Dietrich -- the woman behind the image -- he seems genuinely befuddled by her real personality, and spends too much time speculating on her motivations. However, he sheds a great deal of light on Dietrich's mystique, and how it was created by von Sternberg.

Donald Spoto's "Blue Angel" sheds some light on the not-so-angelic Marlene Dietrich, but his lack of insight into Dietrich's mind makes it a somewhat frustrating read.

No mere specter of a star.......2001-08-31

I found this book an enjoyable and informative read, though at times presented romantically and subjectively. The author does a fine job presenting Dietrich from many angles, truly fleshing her out (Spoto is irritatingly fond of the word "plump" to describe Dietrich's early adulthood)... Spoto seems to approach his subject with celestial reverence, as though trying to conceal his own crush behind a web of historical voyeurism (the discussion of debauched 1920s Berlin is particularly gratifying and grounding). Sometimes he speculates too much on possible motivations instead of simply offering the facts, but he also makes good use of others' reminiscences of Dietrich to back up some of his insightful conjectures. In short, a charming book, though not riveting.

A Woman at War: Marlene Dietrich Remembered (Painted Turtle Book)

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Marlene Is Eternal!

A Woman at War: Marlene Dietrich Remembered (Painted Turtle Book)

Manufacturer: Painted Turtle Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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An unprecedented look at the life of cultural icon Marlene Dietrich that brings together firsthand accounts, remembrances, and anecdotes with pictorial and historical documentation.

Customer Reviews:

Marlene Is Eternal!.......2007-03-12

This is a tremendous book on the great Marlene Dietrich. I did see her perform several times and she was unforgettable. This book is a great tribute to her war work and her entire life and career. We will not see her like again and her grandson does her proud in this beautiful volume.

The Young Bonhoeffer: 1918-1927 (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works)

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The Young Bonhoeffer: 1918-1927 (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer , Clifford J. Green , Marshall D. Johnson , Hans Pfeifer , and Carl-Jurgen Kaltenborn
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0800683099

Book Description

The first of the chronological volumes in this acclaimed critical edition of Bonhoeffer's work gathers his one hundred earliest letters and journals from after the First World War through his graduation from Berlin University. It also contains his early theological writings up to his dissertation. These seventeen works include, for example, works on the patristic period for Adolf von Harnack, on Luther's moods for Karl Holl, on biblical interpretation for Professor Reinhold Seeberg, as well as essays on the church and eschatology, reason and revelation, Job, John, and even joy. Rounding out this picture of Bonhoeffer's nascent theology are his sermons from the period, along with his lectures on homiletics, catechesis, and practical theology.

In translation for the first time, these writings show Bonhoeffer as pastor and theologian alert to his times and developing the formative themes of his religious worldview.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography
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The Definitive Bonhoeffer Biography

Bonhoeffer: Man For His Times & Ours

Christian Fortitude

A Testament to Excellence

A classic -- Bethge is indispensable

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography
Eberhard Bethge
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Eberhard Bethge's exhaustive biography of Bonhoeffer is recognized throughout the world as the definitive biography. Victoria Barnett has now reviewed the entire translation for this edition, correcting hundreds of mistakes and omissions, and adding in sections from the German, for example, on Bonhoeffer's childhood, that have never before appeared in English.

Customer Reviews:

The Definitive Bonhoeffer Biography.......2006-03-27

Bethge was Bonhoeffer's closest friend and colleague.He devoted his life to bringing Bonhoeffer to the world's attention. This expanded volume, in remarkable ways, weaves together Bonhoeffer's life and his theological insights. In this 100th anniversary of the birth of this 39 year old martyr, this long book deserves careful reading, even my those who have read Bethge's somewhat shorter version published a number of years ago.

Bonhoeffer: Man For His Times & Ours.......2005-07-08

Upon starting this book I knew very little about Bonhoeffer; I had read some of Ethics and I knew of his murder by the Gestapo. Thus, there was something new on every page for me, and despite the book's length it never seemed oppressive in detail. In fact if the author can be faulted for one thing it is his lack of information about Bonhoeffer's courtship and engagement; which is discussed almost as an aside. On every other point though, the author did a wonderful job. His explanations of Bonhoeffer's theology are clear and understandable. Considering that much of what Bonhoeffer took for granted, theologically speaking, is alien to the American intellectual tradition that is a great accomplishment. The book is also a welcome antidote to the conception of 1930's and 1940's Germany as synonymous with Hitler and National Socialism. For even under the totalitarian state there were still men like Bonhoeffer who stood up against the regime

Christian Fortitude.......2004-07-22

An outstanding, detailed and gripping story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Christian fortitude. Eberhard Bethge's exquisitely detailed knowledge and references about Bonhoeffer's life, from beginning to end is a wonderful tribute to Bonhoeffer. The reader asks the question what possessed Bonhoeffer to pursue the dream of a restive German society with Christianity abounding. Unless one has lived under a dictatorship perhaps this makes one restless. This book provides clear and concise answers.

A Testament to Excellence.......2000-05-03

About 20 years ago, I read an older translation of this biography. Then, as now, a reader cannot help but be impressed by the thorough and meticulous scholarship that went into its preparation. Because of its size and scope (900+ pages), it may be somewhat daunting to new readers who may be just now encountering Bonhoeffer. However, given the nature of his literary output (Bonheoffer was still a young man when he died, and many of his ideas exist only in limited or underdeveloped forms), this in-depth look at the man and his motivations by the individual who probably knew him best is essential to an informed understanding of his work. For Bonhoeffer admirers, it doesn't get any better than this.

A classic -- Bethge is indispensable.......2000-04-18

Eberhard Bethge was Dietrich Bonhoeffer's closest friend and the lifelong editor and interpreter of his life and writings. For the first time we now have the completely unabridged biography in a revised and updated English translation. This is not only a classic of twentieth century biography; it also addresses key issues not only of German and European history, World War II, and the Holocaust but also, through Bonhoeffer's theology, the church and modernity. It sharply poses the question of authentic Christian life. A big book and a challenging read!

The Collages of Kurt Schwitters: Tradition and Innovation

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Thoughtful and informative
Very disappointing

The Collages of Kurt Schwitters: Tradition and Innovation
Dorothea Dietrich
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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At the end of World War I, the German artist Kurt Schwitters dramatically broke with dominant artistic traditions by adopting collage as the primary medium for his literary and visual production. In The Collages of Kurt Schwitters: Tradition and Innovation, Dorothea Dietrich demonstrates how collages function for the artist. Characterising Schwitters’s work as the product of the deep social and political crises of the Weimar Republic, Dietrich challenges the prevalent outlook that twentieth-century art can be reduced to a revolutionary struggle of avant-garde artists against an entrenched artistic tradition. The Collages of Kurt Schwitters argues for a more nuanced view, in which revolutionary art forms are exposed as containing much that is traditional and, indeed, reactionary.

Customer Reviews:

Thoughtful and informative.......2001-10-04

A informative discussion of Schwitters work that is both scholarly and accessible. If you want critical analysis and historical perspective, then this is the book for you (it is NOT a superficial, coffee table book with pictures). Thoughtful and thought provoking. I'd recommend this book to anyone in learning more about Schwitters.

Very disappointing.......1999-10-20

I wish I hadn'd bought this book. There is very little to see

Conspiracy And Imprisonment, 1940-1945 (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works)

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Conspiracy And Imprisonment, 1940-1945 (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works)

Manufacturer: Fortress Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Bonhoeffer Legacy: Post-Holocaust Perspectives

ASIN: 0800683161

Book Description

This volume, published in the year of the one hundredth anniversary of Bonhoeffer's birth, documents Bonhoeffer's life under the increasing restraints and fateful events of World War II Germany.

In hundreds of letters, including ten never-before-published letters to his fiancée, Maria von Wedemeyer, as well as official documents, short original pieces, and a few final sermons, the volume sheds light on Bonhoeffer's active resistance to and increasing involvement in the conspiracy against the Hitler regime, his arrest, and his long imprisonment. Finally, Bonhoeffer's many exchanges with his family, fiancée, and closest friends, demonstrate the affection and solidarity that accompanied Bonhoeffer to his prison cell, concentration camp, and eventual death.

Hans Hotter: Memoirs
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Hans Hotter an inspiring artist and human being

Hans Hotter: Memoirs
Hans Hotter , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , and Zubin Mehta
Manufacturer: Northeastern
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1555536611

Book Description

Hans Hotter (1909-2003) was one of opera's most influential and profoundly moving artists of the twentieth century. His imposing frame and austere, high-browed profile made him an ideal figure of tragic dignity, unequaled in his era as Wotan, Amfortas the Dutchman, Scarpia and the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo, and several Strauss roles, including three world premieres of that composer's works. Hotter made his debut at age twenty-one in Troppau, Germany (now Oppava, Czech Republic), and by the age of thirty was a leading artist at the prestigious Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Although he never joined the Nazi party and avoided appearances at Bayreuth while under Nazi control, Hotter remained active in German theaters throughout the war. He achieved his vocal prime after the war and was a featured performer in Munich, Vienna, Bayreuth, New York, San Francisco, London's Covent Garden, and Salzburg. In addition to his long and acclaimed opera career, Hotter was also a distinguished stage director, teacher, and an incomparable lieder singer, celebrated for his mastery of Schubert's song cycle Die Winterresise.

Translator and editor Donald Arthur conducted a series of interviews with Hotter during the final years of his life. The result is not merely an English translation of Hotter's memoirs (originally published as Der Mai war mir gewogen in Germany in 1996), but a significantly more critical, probing, and engaging account of the great singer's life. In particular, Hotter now confronts both his personal resistance to, and professional concessions toward, the Third Reich, and he speaks in greater detail about his musical and theatrical insights and his associations with such European luminaries as Richard Strauss, Herbert von Karajan, Otto Klemperer, and Clemens Krauss, to name but a few. Accompanied by more than seventy photographs, some never before published, this volume is a cause for celebration among his fans and general opera lovers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Hans Hotter an inspiring artist and human being.......2006-09-08

In the book Hans Hotter: Memoirs, Donald Arthur captures with tact the life, courage and humor of this incredible singer. In his informative introduction Mr. Arthur gives sincere keys elements about Hotter's conception in art and as a person. Hans Hotter who had a diversified career which is transcended here does not unfortunately always witnessed on records due to lack of music directors' initiatives or either due to unfortunate circumstances. The fact that Hans Hotter would sing operas and then diminish his voice volume to interpret German lieder was quite unusual at this time (singers would sing melodies after having a lasting career in operas and after loosing part of their voice). For the first time and perfectly illustrated in this book not only stylistically Hans Hotter was among the very first to acknowledge the importance of melodies as a Major art form but also avoiding the usual pitfalls of being excessive in expression like most of his colleagues.
As a teacher Hans Hotter had the phenomenal faculty of inspiring his students, musically of course, technically with very healthy tips and eventually metamorphosis a student in just a couple of days. Text and conception was always part of his interpretation in forming only one but without forgetting the expression.
The modesty throughout the book and Hotter's personality are very well represented and with taste. Also underlined is his generosity and I had the very good fortune to assist many of his master classes and witnessed his endless share of knowledge. His knowledge was always to help and guide a singer and in a constructive way.
In master classes, he would Very often propose options to singers but then as he said: "you need to demonstrate". To do so he would enlighten these sessions with mini-recitals. Having been thought very early on, how to teach, it was natural for him to forward his experiences to others. In main occasions the book explains how life and art are bounded together and how it was crucial for Hans Hotter to act in life and music with the same honesty.Mr. Arthur emphasis also the fact of how crucial encounters can be in the artistic development of an artist's career and how human relationships are equally important for Hans Hotter. These elements make this book a must, not only for the anecdotes which is full of funny stories but helps the reader to understand what tools is necessary for a complete artistic development.
The book is so lively written that sometimes you would think that you are in the room with Hans Hotter. Luckily for us and as it is explained by the author in his introduction highly unexpected circumstances gave birth to the book.
Emmanuel Benador

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