written in blood
From Amazon
If you're going to get the W. Kaufmann translation, you might as well get the Viking Portable Library, with Twilight-Antichrist-and Contra Wagner. Otherwise, R J Hollingdale's translation is very consistent with Nietzsche's own style and wordage, whereas Kaufmann often gives the impression of a less than faithful syntax with very questionable and awkward word choice. Their translation collaborations are of consistent quality otherwise.
"My brothers, I do not exhort you to love of your neighbors:
I exhort you to love of the most distant."
"Of all writing I love only that which is written in blood
Write with blood: and you will discover that blood is spirit."
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
One of the most challenging works I have ever read
From Amazon
Thus Spoke Zarathustra (originally Also Sprach Zarathustra) is considered by some (myself included) to have been the crowning work of the nineteenth century German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900). Unlike most modern philosophical works, Zarathustra's format harkens back to the Bible and to the ancient Greek works such as Plato's dialogues. In it, Zarathustra wanders the landscape, talking to people, drawing out the fallacies of what they believe and propounding Nietzsche's philosophy.
Overall, I found this to be one of the most challenging works I have ever read. Nietzsche's use of paradox and ambiguity tends to obscure his teachings, while at the same time challenging the reader to read closely and understand what he is saying in spite of the ambiguity. But, it is well worth the effort.
In his seminal work, The End of History and the Last Man, Francis Fukuyama argues that the last philosophy standing that can possibly challenge the reigning philosophy of the West is that of Friedrich Nietzsche. And so, I do believe that it is worth understanding Nietzsche. Is this the best book to read to understand the great philosopher? I can't say. But, it is the book I started with. It is a challenging read, but definitely well worth the effort. I have had a copy of this book since college, and to this day I still periodically take it off the shelf and read it again.
Become what thou art!!
From Amazon
"But by my love and hope I beseech you: do not throw away the hero in your soul! Hold holy your highest hope!" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
You ready for some Nietzsche? Let's start with how you say the guy's name shall we? You can pronounce "Nietzsche" either "knee-chee" or "knee-cha." (I prefer the latter...sounds cooler, don't you think? ;)
With that behind us, you're ready for a warning: Be warned: The man, as they say, delivers his philosophy with a hammer. As Walter Kaufmann brilliantly articulates in the foreword, Nietzsche "is a dedicated enemy of all convention, intent on exposing the stupidity and arbitrariness of custom."
In "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," we meet the enlightened hero, Zarathustra, who has come down from the mountaintop to deliver a series of scathing rants on everything from his famous proclamation that "God is dead!" to admonitions to forget loving thy neighbor and instead learn to love the farthest.
It's written in a mock-Biblical style and features Nietzsche's undying commitment to our potential. If you're new to Nietzsche and thinking about reading the book, you'll definitely want a quiet space to read but don't be intimidated. Once you get into it, it flows.
Hail Zarathustra
From Amazon
Neitzche must've ad a lot of time on his hands (particularly chasing after his sister). This book the well written. It had some deep philosophical logic quotation that really make you say "hmmm." It's a hard, but, great read. Thus Spake the Reviewer.
A powerhouse for the open-minded
From Amazon
Note: I'm considering the Clancy Martin translation from the Barnes & Noble classics series. That edition is brilliant and inexpensive, but hard to find on Amazon.
Nietzsche considers this his masterpiece, and one struggles to disagree. To read Zarathustra is to fall into a sort of trance. Though Nietzsche alludes pervasively (largely to Christianity, classic lit, and contemporary philosophy), the core story of Zarathustra is a easy to follow: Zarathustra struggles to discover how 'common' man might evolve into the 'overman' - a.k.a. 'superman' or the German 'Ubermensch'.
The prose is gorgeous, overflowing with imagery and playful wordplay even in translation. Nietzsche argues fearlessly for an ultimate belief in man's potential, criticizing the pleasure-less religious piety that revolves around man's false hope (to Nietzsche) for the afterlife. Whether or not you are persuaded to humanism, Zarathustra's "coming-of-age" story sparkles with provocative philosophy without even a hint of clumsy philosopher-speak. It is an absolute delight for any reader willing to grapple with new ideas.