Also sprach Zarathustra

Paperback

German language

Published Aug. 1, 2008 by FISCHER Taschenbuch.

ISBN:
978-3-596-90086-2
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4 stars (11 reviews)

Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None (German: Also sprach Zarathustra: Ein Buch für Alle und Keinen, also translated as Thus Spake Zarathustra) is a work of philosophical fiction written by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche between 1883 and 1885. The protagonist is nominally the historical Zarathustra, but, besides a few sentences, Nietzsche is not particularly concerned with any resemblance. Much of the book purports to be what Zarathustra said, and it repeats the refrain, "Thus spoke Zarathustra". The style has facilitated variegated and often incompatible ideas about what Zarathustra says. "Zarathustra speaks about stars, animals, trees, tarantulas, dreams, and so forth". Though there is no consensus with what Zarathustra means when he speaks, there is some consensus with what he speaks about. Zarathustra deals with ideas about the Übermensch, the death of God, the will to power, and eternal recurrence. Zarathustra himself first appeared in Nietzsche's earlier book …

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Review of 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

With beautiful, thunderous prose, Nietzsche prods his reader to unbind himself from obsolete social constructs such as religion and get woke. As I read this I was often reminded of Shelley's Prometheus Unbound, with its similar theme of defiance, over-the-top style, and sheer density. Indeed, I cannot claim to have understood everything exposited in this book, but I let it flow through my consciousness like the Strauss piece it inspired, knowing that one day I will read it again, and perhaps get turned on by different passages.

I highlighted this passage for its encouragement and its subtle reinforcement of the central theme of the superman: that man is but a bridge to something greater, that we are responsible for bringing it to light:

"The higher its type, the less often does a thing succeed. You Higher Men here, are you not all failures?

"Be of good courage, What does it …

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