I and Thou

Life finds its meaningfulness in relationships

Buber's main proposition is that we may address existence in two ways: 1] that of the "I" towards an "It," towards an object that is separate in itself, which we either use or experience; 2] that of the 'I' towards 'Thou,' in which we move into existence in a relationship without bounds.

Martin Buber's “I and Thou” has long been acclaimed as a classic. Many prominent writers have acknowledged its influence on their work; students of intellectual history consider it a landmark; and the generation born since World War II considers Buber as one of its prophets.

One of the major themes of the book is that human life finds its meaningfulness in relationships. All of our relationships, Buber contends, bring us ultimately into relationship with God, who is the Eternal Thou. I read this book in my religion major and it's one of the five or so books I'd take with me to a desert island.

I and Thou, perhaps Buber's most famous work, was first published in 1923 and translated to English in 1937.