Encounter on the Narrow Ridge: A Life of Martin Buber

By Friedman, Maurice
Paragon House, 1993, Paperback, 512 pp., ISBN: 1557785961, $18.95

Buber, the most noted Jewish philosopher of the 20th century, has had a profound influence on contemporary thought through his theory of an inspired and direct dialog between man and God.

In this biography, Friedman, a recognized authority on Buber, contributes a clear and lucid analysis largely based on his three-volume Martin Buber's Life and Work ( LJ 4/1/84). He traces Buber's career showing the pivotal events in his life as well as the influences of Judaism, Christianity, general philosophical thought, and linguistics on his writings and lectures. Friedman analyzes succinctly, but with great care, Buber's responses to the important events of the 20th century: the two World Wars, the Holocaust, postwar Germany from 1945-61, and the establishment of Israel and the Jewish-Arab problem.

He also deftly explores Buber's differences with Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, Carl Jung, Jean Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Dag Hammarskjold. This is highly recommended to all libraries. Library Journal