I and Thou

Originally published in German in 1923, I and Thou was an influential work that explained the meaning behind human existence. Buber explains that existence can be addressed in two ways: First as “I” towards “It,"&&&160;meaning our interaction with objects in our world that we use or experience. The second as “I” towards a “Thou,"&&&160;meaning our search for relationships without boundaries. This second subject is one of the main themes behind Buber’s work as a whole; humans find their meaning for life in relationships with others. In conclusion, Buber contends that the relationships we form throughout our lives ultimately bring us closer to fulfilling a relationship with God, the “Eternal Thou."

These conclusions are drawn in three sections: his two modes of engaging the world, conclusions about man’s psychology, and solutions to man’s woes. Written in a series of both long and short aphorisms, the book is not formatted as an argument, but more of related reflections, realizations, and observations.

In this new edition of Martin Buber’s translated I and Thou, discover the meaning behind human existence and see if you can find meaning through Buber’s reflections of the world and its residents.