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masoncarter's review against another edition
5.0
I taught it in class and my students loved it. It presents a different view on life and society. The theory of Superman and going beyond good and evil to proceed forward in human evolution.
The text is in form of sermons that Zarathustra delivers which makes it look like a religious book and that is so clever of Nietzsche how he uses the character of Prophet Zarathustra -who introduced ethics in ancient times- to go beyond good and evil.
The text is in form of sermons that Zarathustra delivers which makes it look like a religious book and that is so clever of Nietzsche how he uses the character of Prophet Zarathustra -who introduced ethics in ancient times- to go beyond good and evil.
nsabbadin's review against another edition
Was reading parts for a philosophy course.
kerri_strikes_back's review against another edition
I suspect this is going to send me down a rabbit hole. oh well! read bc going to the symphony to see the Wagner and thought it would be fun to have some more context for the source material (as it were)
my pithy interpretative review is something like: Kerouac meets Tim Ferris? And I am interested to see if I stand by that after I read up a bit more on mr friedrich
I liked Walter Kaufman's notes in this version - they added to my experience. can't exactly rate the translation without being fluent in German so won't opine on that, tho Walt makes a pretty good case for himself being an improvement on translator Common.
As a story... interesting enough? (Another recurring thought I had, she-who-must-not-be-named gave me a tiny bit of knowledge around Balzac and sanctimonious novels in the one Galbraith book with the author - the fucked up Pilgrims progress. that seemed to be interspersed/flipped in this. zarathustra goes between meeting people and talking to them, and then retreating into his solitude)
As a philosophy - I do think I can see the influence Nietzsche has had on our modern society after reading this. I, at least, took from this that he believed pretty firmly that the solitary man would be the one who could "ascend". But I think our would-be overmen have definitely missed the parts about creation for creation's sake, the necessity of humour including the ability to laugh at oneself, and the necessity of joy. I'm also pretty sure that he's trying to advise that evilness is required insofar as it allows one to detach from the world and focus on one's important personal pursuits instead of adhering to a society's given value of virtue - not taking that lack of care and then using it to justify subjugating others. Zarathustra is actually pretty vehemently opposed to being a leader of men.
and of course, as Kaufman notes "his remarks about women are surely, more often than not, second-hand and third-rate"
my pithy interpretative review is something like: Kerouac meets Tim Ferris? And I am interested to see if I stand by that after I read up a bit more on mr friedrich
I liked Walter Kaufman's notes in this version - they added to my experience. can't exactly rate the translation without being fluent in German so won't opine on that, tho Walt makes a pretty good case for himself being an improvement on translator Common.
As a story... interesting enough? (Another recurring thought I had, she-who-must-not-be-named gave me a tiny bit of knowledge around Balzac and sanctimonious novels in the one Galbraith book with the author - the fucked up Pilgrims progress. that seemed to be interspersed/flipped in this. zarathustra goes between meeting people and talking to them, and then retreating into his solitude)
As a philosophy - I do think I can see the influence Nietzsche has had on our modern society after reading this. I, at least, took from this that he believed pretty firmly that the solitary man would be the one who could "ascend". But I think our would-be overmen have definitely missed the parts about creation for creation's sake, the necessity of humour including the ability to laugh at oneself, and the necessity of joy. I'm also pretty sure that he's trying to advise that evilness is required insofar as it allows one to detach from the world and focus on one's important personal pursuits instead of adhering to a society's given value of virtue - not taking that lack of care and then using it to justify subjugating others. Zarathustra is actually pretty vehemently opposed to being a leader of men.
and of course, as Kaufman notes "his remarks about women are surely, more often than not, second-hand and third-rate"
nsabbadin's review against another edition
5.0
Love this. Let it wash over you so the metaphors, exuberance for life, idea of will to power can invigorate your love of life!!
jmeschia's review against another edition
2.0
Plain not good. The first 40 were the only worth reading. Even then the moral structure that is laid out has little to no substance, does not flush out any of its base premises, and is wholly built on a foundation of sand.
It is 2 stars instead of 1 due to there being a meditation for those who believe in a God. It happened to be quite nice.
It is 2 stars instead of 1 due to there being a meditation for those who believe in a God. It happened to be quite nice.
christineunabridged's review against another edition
1.0
Worst book ever! I got 20% in and had to stop. I have never read a book so drench in self-importance in my life. The author beats a dead horse with his point that God is no longer in society. No wonder the most famous quote is in the first chapter, hardly anyone can stand finishing this book without daydreaming of other ways to more effectively spend their time. I understand Nietzsche was kind of a big deal in philosophy/psychology but nope, just nope.
sandizzle's review against another edition
3.0
The first three part was way too hard for me to understand. The part four, however, made up for it and was amazing! I would recommend to read a longer summarized version of the book rather than read it in full. Neitzsche loves to play with words and their readers :(
nicktraynor's review against another edition
5.0
An admonishment to live, rather than a palliative for the interminably suffering and inexorably dying, Zarathustra is a masterpiece of existential philosophy. A poetical triumph and a singular affirmation of life, it pinches the moral nerve as much as it caresses the imagination. Replete with paradox, ambiguity and inconsistency, it is not an easy read but as such it embodies the philosophy it espouses. Every word is chosen with a fearsome intelligence and a delicate sensibility; Nietzsche asks the reader to read as he asks them to live: with creativity, courage and originality. This book is only for those who want to be free.