The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr

"This collection, which brings together Niebuhr's most penetrating and enduring essays on theology and politics, should demonstrate for a new generation that his best thought transcends the immediate historical setting in which he wrote. . . . The anthology is ably edited by Robert McAfee Brown, whose introduction succinctly presents the central features of Niebuhr's life and thought."—Library Journal



"A useful introduction . . . concentrated on Niebuhr's theological essays; most of those collected here had gone out of print. . . . Wise and humanistic essays."—Publishers Weekly


"This splendid volume has very great potential as ecumenically significant, useful to Catholics and Protestants alike."—Choice



"This volume is certain to take its place alongside other notable collections of Niebuhr's work."—Douglas F. Ottati, Interpretation


"For the person interested in religious interpretations of human life and satisfied to rest in paradox, this book will be most rewarding."—Ethics



"[A] useful, accessible collection."—Thomas Johnson, Christian Science Monitor



"No one interested in theology, politics or human nature can afford to pass over [this] book."—Roger Haight, America


"An extremely useful volume."—David Brion Davis, New York Review of Books


"[A] judiciously selection of Niebuhr's essays, addresses, sermons and prayers. . . . Niebuhr is presented accurately and powerfully."—Robert Benne, Los Angeles Times


"A fine collection of largely theological essays."—Ernest W. Lefever, American Spectator


"This fine anthology makes available to a new generation the thought of one of the most penetrating and rewarding of twentieth-century minds. Reinhold Niebuhr remains the great illuminator of the dark conundrums of human nature, history, and public policy."—Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.



"Sparkling gems . . . brought from the shadows of history into contemporary light. Beautifully selected and edited, they show that Niebuhr's fiery polemics and gracious assurances still speak with power to us today."—Roger L. Shinn, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary


"A long-needed and skillfully chosen introduction to the writings of an influential theologian who left a lasting impact on American political thought."—Ronald Steel


"An excellent selection of Niebuhr's essays. Brown's perceptive introduction poses the key questions for interpreting Niebuhr's work. This collection will relieve a large number of Niebuhr's followers who have been unable to get hold of the out-of-print works included here and will spark an interest in younger readers who know little about Niebuhr."—Richard Fox, author of Reinhold Niebuhr: A Biography


"The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr is a treasure of little-known essays and sermons framed by a brilliant introduction. It reminds us, once again, how eloquently Niebuhr speaks to the problems of our age."—Peter Beinart, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (on the new edition)