Albert Schweitzer: Le Grand Docteur

Christian Heroes: Then & Now

by Janet Benge

Growing up on the French-German border, son of a Lutheran pastor, Albert Schweitzer adopted a peace-loving approach to life. He studied theology, music, and philosophy and wrote numerous books. At age thirty he felt called to study medicine and eventually became a doctor. Together with his wife, Hélène, he founded a missionary hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon.

Devoted to medical work in Africa, Albert was also a beacon of hope for a better future in war-ravaged Europe and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His impact on medical missions continues to resonate today, inspiring compassionate care to the ends of the earth (1875-1965).

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Africa

202 pages, Paperback

Published June 24, 2020

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Daniel Ray]

A writer, philosopher, 1952 Nobel prize winner, son of a pastor, and physician, he established a hospital in French Africa in 1915 where there was none. The hospital struggled to survive through both world wars. He died at aged 90 in 1965 and is buried there alongside his wife. While this history series is fun to read, this one was dull for me.

[Jodi Z]

Albert Schweitzer, is, in my opinion, one of the unsung heroes of the 20th century. As a young adult, he made a commitment that beginning at the age of 30, he would devote himself to the service of God and humanity, in whatever form God lead him to. The lengths he went to to keep that promise are inspiring indeed. This was a fabulous book to share with my children.

Two memorable quotes from the book:

"I have grown increasingly simpler, and more and more childlike, and have come to realize more and more clearly that the sole truth and sole happiness consist in serving our Lord Jesus Christ wherever He needs us." (p. 75)

"...Albert thrived on challenges. He wrote a letter to his sister outlining the medical situations he saw and ended it with, 'Evenings I go to bed dead-tired, but in my heart I am profoundly happy that I am serving at the outpost of the kingdom of God!'" (p. 114)

[Kristy Hetzel]

Not necessarily the easiest one we've read but a very interesting story of a very full life.

[Shane Hawkins]

I find it absolutely bizarre that this book was included in the Christian heroes series. Albert Schweitzer talked about God and Jesus and loving your fellow man but he didn’t hold any beliefs that would be considered Christian. He did not believe Jesus was God. He did not believe the Bible was God’s Word. He did not believe any of the miracles of scripture, meaning he did not believe Jesus rose from the dead and thus didn’t believe Jesus saves anyone. He taught that Jesus failed in his mission but was still a good moral example. This isn’t secret stuff. He’s written books about it. In this particular biography, the Paris Missionary Society even banned him from preaching in Africa because of his views on Jesus.

The Benges also wrote a heroes of history series. Maybe include Schweitzer there because of all the good work he did to care for people. But he’s not a Christian hero. I still gave three stars because as always the Benges write a good narrative. But I warn people to look into the beliefs he had before hailing him as a Christian.

[Lauren Dick]

I'm always a little conflicted when such impactful men don't seem like great family men. Super supportive wife for him to leave for years at a time. Barely knew his daughter until she was 20.
This story reminded me of Ida Scudder, mostly focused on the hospital and not a ton on evangelism.

[Hannah of the Sky]

I love this series in general but this was not my favorite book. I got the impression that much of this book was compiled from detailed journal entries, without much attempt to craft a cohesive and interesting narrative. The book tells of a medical missionary to Africa, yet in the first thirty percent there is no mention of Africa, medicine, or missions. Instead there is a detailed account of Albert's education, his love for music, and his career as a scholar and organist. He and his wife (about whom there is very little information) only set foot in Africa after 50 percent of the book has already passed. There were a few sections I enjoyed. It was interesting to see what it entailed to begin the hospital work from scratch, what illnesses he encountered there, and how both WW1 and WW2 affected the work. But overall it was a feat of perseverance to finish this book. And despite the length and the sheer amount of details I couldn't help but feel there was so much more that could have been told, or a different way it could have been told, to better give the picture of who Albert was, what his ministry was like, and the setting of Gabon.

[Ellie Hollows]

I enjoyed this biography to some extent, but there were a few things that didn't quite sit right.

I really loved the little bits of encouragement records from his writings. It is true that sole happiness and truth consist in serving the Lord Jesus Christ where He needs us ❣️. We should be ready and willing to answer Christ's call of service with a Lord, I am coming.

For the safest place to be is in the center of the Lord's will no matter if it is difficult or in the deepest jungle where Albert was called to doctor. The Christian life does require us to keep reaching higher in the Christian race.

I enjoyed all the glimpses into Albert's childhood. I also didn't know he had a daughter and grandkids, which were lovely to learn about.

The things to note that bothered my full enjoyment of the book though was that Albert went forward in confirmation, and the authors of this book interpreted that as his salvation, which is clearly not taught in the Bible. Also, he agreed not to preach so he could work at the French Mission. We are all called as believers to spread the gospel.

Other than that, it was encouraging to see the faithfulness of God and the dedication of one man to Him no matter what others believed.

CW: diseases, war

My Rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)/ 13+

I wish this biography had been a little clearer, but it did hold my interest.

[Giovanni]

2.5 ⭐️
Better than the other book I've read, but still a bit shallow and hagiographic at times.


The only thing of importance, when we depart, will be the traces of love we have left behind.

What the world lacks most today is men who occupy themselves with the needs of other men. In this unselfish labor a blessing falls on both the helper and the helped. Without such spiritual adventures the man or woman of today walks in darkness. . . . What is the remedy? No matter how busy one is, any human being can assert his personality by seizing every opportunity for spiritual activity. How? By his second job; by means of personal action, on however small a scale, for the good of his fellow men.

[Sydney]

Born 1875 in Germany. Talented organ player who loved animals and earned an undergraduate degree in theology and a PhD in philosophy by age 24. At 30, he started medical school, finishing at 38. His wife went to nursing school and together they opened a hospital in Africa. They had one child, a daughter. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1952. Died 1965 in Gabon Africa.

[Sharon Schulte]

Lots of details glossed over, but I love the stories the Benges tell of these heroes of faith.

[Lisa]

Unlike some of the other "Christian Heroes then and now," Albert S. is well-known. He won a Nobel Peace Prize. He had a brilliant mind. Kind of a contemporary of Einstein, he used his mind to study medicine as well as theology.

He setup a clinic in what is now Gabon, seeing literally thousands of patients with so many terrible maladies. His wife Helene was a nurse and served the people as much as he did.

I guess some criticize him now because of how he wrote about Africans. Yet he lived at a different time. He truly cared about these people. His critics are anachronistic.

[James]

This book discusses the life of German missionary Albert Schweitzer. This is also the final book in the series.

The audiobook was narrated by Tim Gregory.

[Kimberly]

I loved it and learned things!

(Though, I read an English version.)