The Value of Dedication: The Story of Albert Schweitzer

ValueTales Series

by Spencer Johnson, Steve Pileggi (Illustrator)

Presents a biography of Albert Schweitzer who based his philosophy on what he called "reverence for life" and dedicated his life to serving humanity.

Genres: Biography, Childrens, History, Picture Books, Africa

63 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1979

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Patrick Spencer Johnson was an American writer. He was known for the ValueTales series of children's books, and for his 1998 self-help book Who Moved My Cheese?, which recurred on the New York Times Bestseller list, on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover nonfiction list. Johnson was the chairman of Spencer Johnson Partners.

Reviews

[Rebekah]

In sixty-three pages, the amazing life of Dr. Albert Schweitzer was explained. His early interest in music and his belief in the reverence for life were developed for the reader to grasp what motivated him to pursue specific goals. Young Albert had a plan for his life and worked hard to fulfill his desire to serve humanity. He purposely selected the tropics of Africa as a place where people were suffering and needed medical care. He encountered many obstacles while trying to serve the poor and the sick in a very remote area. He was detained during war time and had to relocate his hospital due to flooding problems. He became famous and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his diligent work and prolific writings and reflections.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice overview of Albert Schweitzer for children. Long for a picture book, but does a good job of illustrating what dedication looked like in this man’s life. One of the better ones in the ValueTale collection.

[Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The love of money is the root of all (sorts of) evil? Maybe. But altruism is even worse. This book glorifies altruism. Read with great care.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Value of Dedication- The Story of Albert Schweitzer (Value Tale series) by Spencer Johnson, Illustrator Steve Pileggi – Children’s illustrated colour picture book- (14-01-1875- 04-09-1965) The story begins with Albert Schweitzer returning from University during vacations to his village Alsace. He greets his parents. His father is a pastor in the local church. He lays down his bag in the first floor room of his house in a church. In the morning, he goes out for a walk in the forest. He finds a fox stuck in the thorns of a bush. He helps the fox out of the thorns to safety. He sits on a log and thinks about the aim of his life. He is 21- year old. He wishes to spend his life in the service of humanity. His father has trained him in music to play the church organ. He plans that he will learn skills for 9- more years then he will dedicate his life to serve the people. He names the fox as Reynard and talks his heart’s content to her. Albert does not disclose his plan to his parents. He learnt to play the piano. He became a pastor and delivered sermons at Strasburg church. When he was 25- year old he met a beautiful girl named Helen. He informed Helen that after age of 30- years he will spend his life in the service of humanity. Helen said that she will also attend Nurse training and serve the people. Albert joined Strasburg Medical school and spent 6-years to complete education as a doctor in 1911. He went to Paris Missionary society and offered his services to Africa free of cost. Albert married Helen. He informed that his income is from Royalty of his book on great musician Bach. He was posted to Lambarene, Gabon, Africa. This city is situated on Equator. Albert and Helen, both left by ship for Lamberene. Ship dropped them at Lopez city on the mouth of Ogove river. They travelled 250 miles by boat to Lambarene. First day they rested in a hut. Next day onwards their bag and baggage of medicines arrived regularly. With the help of locals, they constructed rooms at a height so that if the river was in spate; the water would not disturb them. Patients suffered from malaria and bite by tsetse fly. Soon Joseph joined him. He knew French and other local languages. Joseph could cook for them. He assisted Albert in his hospital. Albert had settled with the hospital when in 1914 war between Germany and France broke. Albert was a German practicing as a doctor in French territory. He had to close the hospital and was order to live in Buddhist area of Piranesi hills, Bordeaux, France. After the war, his wife gave birth to a daughter. Helen resided in Strasberg to look after her daughter while Albert left for Lamberene. Albert reconstructed a new hospital 200- acre area with the help of locals. One more doctor joined him. Soon Helen also joined him. During second world war, Albert remained in Lamberene. His fame spread. Queen of England awarded him Order of merit. He was awarded Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1952. This prize was for $33000. He used this money to improve and expand the hospital. Moral of the story is that we must use our ability to help the people. Such books encourage children to think for the benefit of the society.

[Jennifer Parent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Written by my 12 year old son. Very interesting. I have never heard of the story of Albert Schweitzer before and have only heard of him through 2 Peanuts strips. I knew he was a doctor but didn’t know that he was also a musician, theologian and author. The book did leave out some parts of his life and was a little childish with the fox. I liked it though and would read it again.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing man Albert Schweitzer was. I wish there were more books on his wife!