Ernst Bloch was born on July 8, 1885, in Ludwigshafen and died on August 4, 1977. After his exile in America, Bloch taught for several years as a professor of philosophy in Leipzig before he moved to the West in 1961, both voluntarily and involuntarily, and worked in Tübingen until his death. His works "The Spirit of Utopia" (1918), "Heritage of Our Time" (1936), "The Principle of Hope" (1954/55), "Natural Law and Human Dignity" (1961), and "Atheism in Christianity" (1968) are among the main works of German philosophy in the 20th century.

"Gert Ueding masterfully intertwines engaging storytelling with the history of science, philosophy, rhetoric, and personal reflections in his memoirs, creating a narrative that captivates and invites readers to hold on to this braid. Along it, one can not only revisit his memories of Bloch but also experience and relive more recent German history and the history of the university. The intellectual connections are vividly illustrated, and the Bloch portrait itself is lovingly rendered; crucially, philosophy is presented as a shared intellectual endeavor – yes, I sit in a boat with Gert Ueding, navigating the river of thoughts with him and his words."
Gerhard Köpf

"Among German philosophers, Ernst Bloch is probably the best storyteller; among storytellers, he is the most fascinating thinker."
Iring Fetscher.