Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-190-0) was one of the most influential philosophers of the 19th century - an iconoclastic, often misunderstood writer whose works have had a pervasive impact on our culture. This concise overview illuminates Nietzsche's radical pronouncements and puzzling aphorisms and provides critical commentary on major works such as The Birth of Tragedy; Human, All Too Human; Thus Spake Zarathustra; Beyond Good and Evil; and Ecce Homo.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments. 1 Nietzsche's Life. Early Education. Influences and College Years. Schopenhauer's Will. A Visit to a Brothel Has Consequences. More Bad Luck. Friendship with Wagner. Professor Nietzsche. A Medical Orderly in the Franco-Prussian War. His First Books. The Wander Years. Unrequited Love. Descent into Madness. The Nazi Sister. 2 Nietzsche's Philosophy. Nietzsche's Works. Influenced By. His Writing Style. Nietzsche's Key Works. The Controversy of Later Works. Nietzsche's Themes. The Quest for Truth. God Is Dead. Live Here, on Earth. A Life Well Lived. Life Again and Again. The Will to Power. Superman! Good versus Bad. The Herd versus the Individual. Master and Slave. Nietzsche's Impact Far and Wide. Reading Nietzsche. 3 The Birth of Tragedy. What Nietzsche Argues in The Birth of Tragedy. Setting the Stage. From Suffering to Art. Socrates and the Death of Tragedy. From Socrates to Science. Music and the Recanted Rebirth. Influence of Schopenhauer, Wagner, and Others. What Nietzsche Says in His Criticism of The Birth of Tragedy. His Questions. The Effect of His Mentors. His Criticism of Christianity. His Life View. 4 The Gay Science. The Gay Science Defined. What Is Gay Science? Structure. The Importance of The Gay Science. The Myths of Knowledge. Why Knowledge? Question the "Truth". Whose Truth? Knowledge of What? Where Is God? Whose Morality? What Purpose Life? Love This Life. Be an Individual. Laugh! What Else? 5 Thus Spoke Zarathustra. An Introduction to Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Who Is Zarathustra? How Thus Spoke Zarathustra Is Organized. Key Themes in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. It's Superman! Heading toward the "Last Man". Striving toward Superman. Finding Meaning. Your Will. Your Virtues. Your Own Way. Life Again and Again. 6 Beyond Good and Evil. About Good and Evil. Cultivating a New Philosopher. The State of Current Philosophers. The Ideal New Philosopher. The Natural History of Morals. Christianity and Morality. Herd Morality. Master and Slave. Will to Power. Nietzsche's Noble Man. Skeptics and Others. Greatness of Soul. Lesser Topics and Style Notes. 7 Ecce Homo. About Ecce Homo. About the Title and Style. Nietzsche Lives His Ideals. Nietzsche on Nietzsche. Why Nietzsche Is So Wise. Why Nietzsche Is So Clever. Why Nietzsche Writes Such Good Books. Why Nietzsche Is a Destiny. Further Reading. Nietzsche's Main Works. Collections, Biographies, and Critical Works. Nietzsche Web Sites. General Philosophy. Index.