The incendiary tone throughout separates this book from most other wellregarded philosophical texts. Even the most unfamiliar with philosophy have it in their library, or have. Nietzsches famous adage that there are no facts, only interpretations is among his more debatable propositions, but it applies perfectly well to his own infuriating, invigorating body of. Friedrich nietzsche biography famous people famous people. The best nietzsche books five books expert recommendations. And even though it has remained one of his most popular books, it is. Nietzsches best 8 books gay science, ecce homo, zarathustra. Its a very good resource for scholars but not a delightful book for beginners. A primer of the philosophy of nietzsche the art of manliness. He was widely known for his ideas and concepts like death of god, perspectivism, the ubermensch, eternal recurrence, and the will to power. Friedrich nietzsche 18441900 was a german philosopher and cultural critic who published intensively in the 1870s and 1880s. He is famous for uncompromising criticisms of traditional european morality and religion, as well as of conventional philosophical ideas and social and political pieties associated with modernity. Hes not the most literal translator but he is the most evocative.
The books written before the dawn 1880 are not as mature as those written later. Nietzsches thus spoke zarathustra, book one common errors. The case of wagner 1888 and nietzsche contro wagner 1888 are too narrow in scope. The last time i devoted an entire course to nietzsche, the first assignment was ecce homo. Friedrich nietzsche stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. He accomplishes the same in this book, while takingon the daunting task of centering his fictionalized account around some of the most famous names in the history of philosophy and psychology. Full of provocative ideas, nietzsche was a master of. He urges his reader to abandon their attachment to divinity. Nietzsches most popular book, thus spake zarathustra 18831885, went ignored at the time of its appearance. However, i was suggested by a friend to read his essay truth and lies in the extramoral sense first and i definitely think it helped with understanding bgae. His most famous viewsthe will to power, the eternal recurrence, the ubermensch, the master moralityoften seem incomprehensible or, worse, repugnant. The will to power, eternal recurrence, the ascetic ideal, and so on.
Friedrich nietzsche, german classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture, who became one of the most influential of all modern thinkers. Nietzsche used the phrase to express his idea that the enlightenment had eliminated the possibility of the existence of god. Nietzsche put his most famous words into the mouth of a madman in the gay science, a book published in his late 30s. Prominent elements of his philosophy include his radical critique of truth in.
The best nietzsche books as selected by expert philosopher brian leiter. Full of provocative ideas, nietzsche was a master of aphoristic form and use of contradictions. This book established nietzsches legacy as unique, not only philosophically, but also stylistically. Friedrich nietzsche was a famous 19th century german philosopher and philologist, known for his critical texts on religion, morality, contemporary culture, philosophy, and science. We are perpetually on the way thither, being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind. This was because i wanted to set up the question why read nietzsche.
Oct 12, 2016 nietzsches thus spoke zarathustra, book one october 12, 2016 elizabeth. It was a slanted look at ancient greek culture, and even nietzsche had some second thoughts about it when he republished it. Friedrich nietzsche books list of books by author friedrich. The famous book, the will to power 1901 is a collection of tentative. The greatest books of all time written by the author friedrich nietzsche. The nietzsche love of fate series contains the full texts of nietzsches eight best and most mature works. Influential german philosopher friedrich nietzsche 18441900 is known for his writings on good and evil, the end of religion in modern society and the concept of a superman. A decade later his work began to find readers, but by then he had himself. One of the most famous philosophical book of the last 150 years was published in 1892. German philosopher and critic of culture, who influenced a number of the major writers and philosophers of the 20th century germany and france. Apollo was the sun god who brought light and rational clarity to the world. Top 25 quotes by friedrich nietzsche of 2485 az quotes.
For nietzsche, those who view things through an apollonian lens see the world as orderly, rational, and bounded by definite borders. Arguably the most systematic and coherent of nietzsche s works. Nietzsche was the youngest ever to hold the chair of classical philology at the university of basel. Start by marking nietzsches best 8 books gay science, ecce homo, zarathustra, dawn, twilight of the idols, antichrist, beyond good and evil, genealogy of. Nietzsche s best 8 books gay science, ecce homo, zarathustra, dawn, twilight of the idols, antichrist, beyond good and evil, genealogy of morals kindle edition by nietzsche, friedrich, bill chapko, bill chapko. The antichrist 1888 christianity remains to this day the. Nietzsches life and works stanford encyclopedia of. In 1882, nietzsche published the first part of the gay science. One of nietzsches most popular and oftquoted books. The gay science is not only my favorite book from nietzsche, its also in my opinion the clearest one, and its really the. These days nietzsche is even viewed as a postmodernist visionary. Nietzsche stood at the beginning of his most productive period. Prominent elements of his philosophy include his radical critique of truth in favor.
Nietzsches best 8 books by friedrich nietzsche goodreads. His first was the birth of tragedy published in 1872. His incomparable, fierce literary style and tenacious will to question all orthodox beliefs and institutions have captivated and perplexed readers for over a century. The best book for you will depend on your preferred learning style and the amount of time that you want to spend reading about him. Friedrich nietzsche biography list of works, study guides.
In the second part of the book clark does take up many of the famous themes from nietzsche. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. An 800page scholarly overview is unlikely to be best for someone looking for a short beginnerfriendly introduction. Lets take a glimpse of his life through his famous quotes. Just to be clear, there is no single best book on nietzsche. Zarathustra is really difficult to understand because of its very poetic style. Jung cites this as his first introduction to nietzsche in his autobiography memories, dreams, reflections 1989, page 102, and claims to have been carried away by its enthusiasm. He shall overcome nietzsche, philosophy and madness books. I get that most mathematicians modern day are not also philosophers.
He discusses the way buddhism survived as a religion, and he states gods death and points observes the fact that god will still be followed for millenniums yet. The ten best books on or by nietzsche the daily idea. In 1872, nietzsche published his first book, the birth of tragedy. Both an introduction to nietzsches moral philosophy, and a sustained commentary on his most famous work, on the genealogy of morality, this book has become the most widely used and debated secondary source on these topics over the past dozen years. Beyond good and evil, 1886 a critique of the faith in opposite values, the tendency to divide the world with simple, dualistic interpretations. Her account of the will to power makes a very good contrast to richardsons in my next book choice.
The gay science concludes with one of the most famous vignettes from nietzsches early. There are no facts, only interpretations, was one of his famous declarations, along with god is dead. Books 5 essential texts by friedrich nietzsche you. Theres a famous quote in beyond good and evil where nietzsche says that despite philosophers. More than eighty years after his death, nietzsches writings and his career remain disquieting, disturbing, obscure. Friedrich nietzsche poems by the famous poet all poetry. Beginning with human, all too human in 1878, nietzsche published one book or major section of a book each year until 1888, his last year of writing.
Nietzsches famous attack upon established christianity and religion is brought to the reader in this inexpensive and compact edition of the antichrist, introduced and translated by h. His attempts to unmask the motives that underlie traditional western religion, morality, and philosophy deeply affected generations of intellects. Eros is the pope right that it is a widelyheld perception that the church, with all their commandments and prohibitions, turn to bitterness the most precious thing in life. Oct 10, 2014 both an introduction to nietzsches moral philosophy, and a sustained commentary on his most famous work, on the genealogy of morality, this book has become the most widely used and debated secondary source on these topics over the past dozen years. Friedrich nietzsches most popular book is thus spoke zarathustra. I hesitate to share a list of quotations from his work, knowing full well that without. One notable exception is found in the work of friedrich nietzsche 18441900, a 19thcentury german thinker who was known for his unconventional approach to philosophy. The standard german biography of nietzsche, by this guy curt paul janz, is a threevolume tome that is exhaustive but its also exhausting. The birth of tragedy from the spirit of music, marked his emancipation from the trappings of classical scholarship. The gay science is not only my favorite book from nietzsche, its also in my opinion the clearest one, and its really the height of nietzsche along probably with beyong good and evil and on the genealogy of morality, although they are maybe a bit too technical. If you have not read yalom, i would encourage you to buy this book but do so along with a purchase of one of his nonfiction works. Friedrich nietzsche is one of the most misinterpreted philosophers the world has ever seen. Nietzsche resigned in 1879 due to health problems that plagued him most of his life. May 07, 2018 german philosopher, classical scholar, poet and philologist friedrich nietzsche is one of the most influential modern thinkers, best known for his writings on religion, good and evil, and the concepts of the superman and will to power.
I think beyond good and evil is the most obvious and common answer. Nietzsche alexander nehamas harvard university press. And she has very interesting expository chapters on each of these. Beyond good and evil by friedrich nietzsche, thus spoke zarathustra by friedrich nietzsche, on the genealogy of morals by fri. This word to nietzsche is the desire for pleasure, especially from sexual pleasure. Friedrich nietzsche has 940 books on goodreads with 903432 ratings. Nietzsche s best 8 books an ebook to search the spirit of friedrich nietzsche edited by bill chapko contents editor notes introduction to nietzsche s life and writings the gay science ecce homo thus spoke zarathustra the dawn twilight of the idols the antichrist beyond good and evil genealogy of morals appendices a timeline biography. Nietzsches father was a lutheran minister who died in 1849 from a brain disorder. Whats the best book of nietzsches to start out with. Friedrich wilhelm nietzsche was a german philosopher, cultural critic, composer, poet, and. Together, nietzsche argues, these two ethoses birthed one of the worlds most famous art forms the athenian tragedy. Friedrich nietzsche s saying yes to life attitude, getting notoriously acidic with other philosophers, and a fondness for ironies and metaphors is visible in his work. But thanks to a growing interest in nietzsche, the riot of popular misconception around him has.
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