Composed in four parts between 1883 and 1885, Thus Spoke Zarathustra is the most famous and influential work of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The work is a philosophical novel in which the character of Zarathustra, a religious prophet–like figure, delivers a series of lessons and sermons in a Biblical style that articulate the central ideas of Nietzsche's mature thought. Key to the philosophy of Thus Spoke Zarathustra is a rejection of traditional systems of religious morality, the idea of the will to power, and a vision of a new, higher mode of being, the "übermensch" or "Superman," one of Nietzsche's most famous and controversial figures. As innovative stylistically as it is philosophically, Thus Spoke Zarathustra is both a literary masterpiece and an enduring classic of moral thought. This version of Thus Spoke Zarathustra is the translation by Thomas Common.
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"This is a difficult read but rewarding. A wise hermit believes he has all Wisdom and goes forth from his cave to share with the world only to discover that the world is full of confused people disinterested in wisdom. Also his journey to wisdom only. Whims when he leaves his cave."
— Fred (5 out of 5 stars)
" Nietzsche is brilliant here. The elegance of his thought captured in a narrative parable rather than a dry discourse or a collection of aphorisms is truly wonderful, and allows his points to be made much more artfully and transparently. "
— Mark, 2/15/2014" I prefer the Walter Kauffman translation for english. "
— Ned, 2/4/2014" i hate it sometimes and want to burn it. it's my favorite book. "
— Patrick, 1/23/2014" I owe Nietzsche for this text on how to deal with weakness. Although my personal philosophy has diverged i will never forget the ubermensch and his will to power. "
— Kevin, 1/10/2014" la debilidad es causada por los sentimientos las pasiones "
— Isabel, 12/27/2013" Brilliant, if slightly self-indulgent. Lots of talking animals, which is kind of cool. "
— Joseph, 12/21/2013" My copy is sitting in a trash can in Frankfurt Germany because I was afraid to carry it around, and didn't need to hold on to it after first read. "
— Dean, 12/20/2013" I would have enjoyed spending more time on this. "
— Kathryn, 12/10/2013" English version of course, thus spake zarathutra... "
— Col, 11/18/2013" enjoying it... but I find it best to read small sections at a time in order to allow for sufficient reflection and digestion of the material within the context todays social parameters, constructs and ideologies. "
— Mo, 11/17/2013" maybe it's the translation - there are parts that were inclined to be anti- feminine. particularly towards the end I was left feeling a kind of burn out with his ideas, as to why then that's something to think about and this must be the essence of this book. "
— Iza, 11/14/2013" A parody of the bible? A tribute to the Bible? An attack on the bible? Probably all of these, but we will never know. One of the most important contributions to modern philosophy, this work is honestly an essential work for anyone who is willing to go deep into what makes life the way it is. "
— Israel, 6/30/2013" The launch point of the Ubermensch and the misunderstanding of this concept and how it was later to be misused by the Nazis because of the antisemitism of Nietzsche's sister. "A book for all and a book for none." "
— Rex, 5/14/2013" The unveiling of Nietzsche philosophy "
— xhodi, 8/14/2012" Neither God nor Nietzsche are dead. "
— Gerald, 7/16/2012" One of the most insightful books I have read. Slightly difficult in form and language for those not inclined towards philosophy, but rewarding nonetheless. "
— Gaurav, 6/5/2012" It's the kind of book that you can take anything and everything away from after you've finished. It's a change in your life waiting to happen. A breath of fresh air when compared to contemporary literature. "
— Alysha, 3/15/2012" If not the most lucid of philosophical works, Zarathustra is certainly one of the most poetic. "
— Stuart, 12/18/2011" I carried this around in my bag for years. Neitzsche needs no introduction. "
— Jill, 9/1/2011" I picked this book up as one of those "I really should read this" books. A difficult read, one I agonized over for at least a year, but I've never been much for isolationist, self-indulgent, philsophies, and I'm still trying to get through it. "
— Paul, 6/2/2011" A book to read and re-read. Beautiful ! "
— Louis, 5/18/2011" Too much telling, not enough showing. "
— Thadd, 5/17/2011" "maybe that is why zarathustra kept going back into the cave" <br/><br/> "
— Kelly, 5/14/2011" is it possible to rid yourself of the culture you have been raised in? do we relive our lives? inspiring and depressing at the same time. "
— joe, 5/6/2011" Teve passagens que me encantaram mas muitas delas pouco percebi... Segundo consta, não é por este livro que se deve começar a ler Nietzche, os outros são precisos para contextualizar e perceber as parábolas e metáforas que abundam no Zarathustra. Vou continuar a ler Nietzche, sem dúvida. "
— Sara, 4/21/2011" unexplainable without reading his other works "
— Friedrich, 4/15/2011" The only book you will ever need to read. The key is to read it often. "
— Matthew, 4/10/2011" This book was very difficult to get through but did really help me a great deal. The illusion of stars in Nietzsche's work is great for those who see them selves as having a greater calling. I would suggest working through this with a group or a class. "
— Ecatarina, 4/8/2011" Need to sit down with Friedrich and find out what the hell this book is about. "
— Jed, 4/7/2011" La obra mas importante de Friederich Nietzche donde se condensa todo su pensamiento y filosofía sobre la voluntad de poder y el súper hombre, indispensable leerlo como parte fundamental de la filosofía del siglo XIX. "
— Diego, 3/7/2011Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a nineteenth-century German-born philosopher and classical philologist. He wrote critical texts on religion, morality, contemporary culture, philosophy, and science, using a distinctive German language style. In 1889 he exhibited symptoms of insanity and lived his remaining years in the care of his mother and sister. His ideas exercised a major influence on several prominent European philosophers, including Martin Heidegger, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre.
John Lee is the winner of numerous Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He has twice won acclaim as AudioFile’s Best Voice in Fiction & Classics. He also narrates video games, does voice-over work, and writes plays. He is an accomplished stage actor and has written and coproduced the feature films Breathing Hard and Forfeit. He played Alydon in the 1963–64 Doctor Who serial The Daleks.