This Paperback Book item from Penguin (Non-Classics) was reviewed on 15-Oct-2008.
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1) Paperback Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All by Penguin (Non-Classics). Many will link Nietzsche to the idea of nihilism, that once god, morality and all values have been emptied out and thrown out of their pedestals, there´s very left to hold on to, and life itself becomes meaningless. Well for Nietzsche, the glass is half-full, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra is a guide on the way to overcome, on how to absolve the self from imposed value systems, seing their limitations and the reasoning behind their existances. What Nietzche preaches trought his precepts is for a continuous redefinition of values, eventually to see them as arbitrary, normative patterns.
Nietzche sees this transvaluation as the way to free oneself from ALL power structures, Zarathustra himself teaches in the hope that his students eventually overcome the definitions he gives them. Thus Spoke Zarathustra mixes philosophical enquiries within the narrative of a prophetic journey, but Zarathustra´s prophecy is the end of all prophets. The overman breaks away from all forms of divine order and social structuralism, but also from his own definition.¤ 2) Paperback Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All by Penguin (Non-Classics). I am not educated in philosophy, so I read this book slowly with the help of Sparknotes and ended up really enjoying the book, not only for its philosophy (not all of which I found agreeable, however, tremendously interesting) but also for its creativity, humor and its literary energy and complexity. It is always a treat to read writings of such a brilliant thinker of our time.¤ 3) Paperback Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All by Penguin (Non-Classics). This is an amazing, but also sometimes amazingly difficult to access, work. It is unfortunate that Kauffman´s is the most widely used translation, because his translation is clunky and ponderous. T. Wayne´s translation, in contrast, is very lyrical and frequently simply makes more sense. In some places it does appear that Mr. Wayne tries too hard to distinguish his translation from that of Kauffman, meaning his difference in word choice does not improve the work but rather makes it worse. However, to be fair, that is rare and the vast majority of the differences mark a substantial improvement. The most disappointing thing about this edition is that the publishers/editors (Algora) did a pretty sloppy job, so there are a number stupid typographical errors that will hopefully be corrected if Algora ever re-publishes it.¤ 4) Paperback Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All by Penguin (Non-Classics). Nietzsche was controversial (and reveled in it), but he was also grossly misunderstood. To pigeonhole his philosophy as simply about glorifying barbaric agresssion does a grave disservice to his quest for uplifting the human soul. Nietzsche was a man who absolutely ABHORRED mediocrity, and dedicated his work into helping man reclaim the "star" that he always potentially possesses, provided he is willing to free himself from the shackles of dogma and conventionality. "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is Nietzsche´s manifesto on how to get there.
The concept of the "last-man" is brilliant, and unbelievably prescient!! This smug. self-satisfied, herd-like man exists today in overwhelming abundance!! The "last-man," to quote Nietzsche "has no shepherd and one herd! Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse." When you look around and see the mindless banal dreck on televison, in newspapers, and throughout society in general, you see the deleterious effects of the contented "last-man" who can no longer have contempt for himself, therefore, he cannot and will not strive to advance himself!!
One may not agree with everything in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," but it is unquestionably a brilliant work that will open up new vistas of the mind and have you examining man´s spiritual condition in an utterly profound way. And Nietzsche´s writing style is, at its best, almost lyrical!!¤ 5) Paperback Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All by Penguin (Non-Classics). 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.¤ 6) Paperback Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All by Penguin (Non-Classics). No modern philosopher has been more completely misquoted and misrepresented than Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). His phrase, "God is dead", his insistence that the meaning of life is to be found in purely human terms, and his doctrine of the superman and the will to power were all later seized upon and unrecognizably twisted by, among others, Nazi intellectuals. This translation of "Thus spoke Zarathustra" a spiritual odyssey through the modern world, enables the reader to judge for themselves an original thinker who has had a powerful influence upon such 20th century writers as Shaw, Mann, Sartre and Camus.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 12-Nov-2008, 01400474849780140047486, 840-3X0-710-590-930-151-8 
Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for None and All, Book, Image © Penguin (Non-Classics)
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