Through Fire and Water: The Life of Reb Noson of Breslov by Chaim Kramer

Through Fire and Water: The Life of Reb Noson of Breslov by Chaim Kramer is definitely the book for you if you want to know about Reb Noson, the man who led the Breslov Hasidim after the death of their founder, Rebbe Nachman.

As Rebbe Nachman died at the age of thirty-eight, Reb Noson became his spiritual executor.  This book explains how he was the de facto leader of (most) Breslov Hasidim, although he never wanted the title of Rebbe.  This in itself was odd: in an age where Hasidic groups were led by dynastic heads or charismatic leaders, early on Breslov never replaced their founder .  

But this became the Breslov way and ultimately part of their appeal.  Other groups derided them for this – but since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the Rebbe’s grave has become a major event on the Jewish calendar.  This book makes a great case that this legacy exists because of the work of Reb Noson.  He was Plato to the Rebbe's Socrates.