Who Am I? Poetic Insights on Personal Identity

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Heike Daut-Runger

Written while imprisoned by the Nazis in 1944, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's poem, "Who Am I?" reflects on universal questions about the uncertainly of the future, the nature of humanness, and the quest to find our purpose in life. To illuminate central thoughts within the poem, this attractive full-color book also contains excerpts from other writings. Finally, a brief biography of Bonhoeffer introduces the reader to the theologian's life, making this book a wonderful gift for those interested in Dietrich Bonhoeffer and those facing key life transitions where one might ask the crucial question, "Who am I?"

48 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2005

About the author

Works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Protestant theologian of Germany, concern Christianity in the modern world; for his role in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, people executed him.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer served as a Lutheran pastor. He, also a participant in the movement of Resistance against Nazism and a member, founded the confessing church. Members of the Abwehr, the military intelligence office planned his involvement, which resulted in his arrest in April 1943 and his subsequent hanging in April 1945 shortly before the end of the war. His secular view influenced very many people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietric...

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein wundervolles Booklet, das man auch als nicht-religiöser Mensch zu Hand nehmen kann, wenn einen Selbstzweifel überkommen. Genau dies geschah auch dem evangelischen Theologen und Widerstandskämpfer Dietrich Bonhoeffer trotz seines nach außen hin getragen stoischen Optimismus. Wie er immer wieder Stütze und innere Ruhe fand, davon kann man sich hier überzeugen.

[Phil Whittall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get sent so many books and there are literally hundreds on my shelves that I want to read but haven't yet got to, the pressure of the backlog sometimes kills the joy of reading. As a result I sometimes just pick the shortest book I can find, so I can read it quick and move on to the next one. The aim being to reduce the pile of unread books not enjoy the experience of reading. This book was one such choice.

Bonhoeffer is a theological hero of mine, his theology, his bravery, his involvement in the pains of his people and his experience of community all drew me to him. In prison he wrote among other things a number of excellent poems and this coffee table gift book reflects on just one: Who Am I? part Psalm, part deep soul searching it provides worthy material for meditation and self-reflection.

Here's a line that struck me about community:

It is infinitely easier to suffer in community than alone

Perhaps as our society becomes increasingly fragmented and isolated so our ability to handle suffering is diminished.