1: More about Berman than Schweitzer...
In the fall of 1960, Edgar Berman visited West Africa in Lambarene to meet with the famous humanitarian, in order to gain an understanding of his motivations and inspirations, but more particularly, why a man with so many talents, chose to live and work in such primitive and debilitating conditions for over fifty years. Berman's reasons for going to Africa were in no way altruistic; he wasn't there to help necessarily, but to pick Schweitzer's brain. Over the few months of his visit, Berman worked hard, performing surgeries on the natives, in exchange for conversations with the old doctor. Berman, to his benefit, was entirely honest with Schweitzer from the beginning, declaring his true motivations from the start. Schweitzer made a deal with him - if he worked hard and proved competent, he would answer his questions. This book is largely a `record' of those conversations, covering Schweitzer's comments concerning his religious convictions, his philosophy and the reasons for his long service at Lambarene. Berman claims that most of these conversations were taken `verbatim' as he kept a diary during his time at the hospital. He also admits that `some' of the comments are `distilled versions' of those conversation, memory exercises taken from his wife's recollections and his own. As Berman didn't speak German and had a little knowledge of French, while Schweitzer spoke little English, these conversations required an interpreter. Taking these facts into consideration, the reader should be warned that Schweitzer's comments are second or even third hand, and should not be viewed as things he actually conveyed to Berman. These conversations are Berman's interpretations; written years after the event, and anyone reading this text should keep this firmly in mind. Bottom line, I found this book to be disappointing, as it is a memoir predominately about the illustrious Dr. Berman himself - his conservative views on politics, religion, his interpretations of Schweitzer's Reverence for Life philosophy and his final judgements about the great man and his work at Lambarene. Berman name-drops throughout the narrative. Famous people he has known such as the famous Zen scholar, Daisetz T. Suzuki; Father Teilhard the Jesuit writer and Pope Paul VI. Name-dropping is a shallow effort at self-promotion, an ego-puffing exercise to prove one's self-importance. It was evident that he took great pains to drop these names in a relevant context, but to my mind, without success.(In some cases, his name-dropping had a rumour-monger tone to it.) This text may claim to be about its subject, but the subtext is all Berman. In the end, did Berman find the answers he was looking for? Not really. Schweitzer was an anomaly before he visited Lambarene and remained one after. Berman simply didn't get it; Schweitzer's deep spirituality and integrity to follow his calling, sacrificing the `good life' to work in primitive conditions, went way over Berman's head. Berman is a surgeon, and allegedly a good one, with a knack for self- promotion, which made it more than clear he prefers the high life, (See Chapter 23) and hobnobbing with the rich and famous. To gain an understanding of Schweitzer, read `Out of My Life and Thought'. However, if you want to know about Dr. Edgar Berman, and his dubious and wholly sentimental musings about Schweitzer over a few months period, read this memoir. Otherwise don't waste your time.
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