Bombastic, Fantastic?

being a friedrich nietzsche fan, i have to say this is a curious book. he's always got the hammer close when he's writing, but in this book all tricks of literary veneer are gone and he's fully bombastic, and without any trace of irony as he lays out chapter and verse why he is: clever, wise, a great writer, pure blooded, virtuous, etc. you could trot out a few of these gems without context, but the reader would find it hard to believe.

this book reads like a diary of self adulation. i find not a lot of "philosophy" happening here , although, of course, he's a rich writer and can pack an axiom into half a sentence - ie. "that which does not kill you, makes you stronger" - found herein.

unlike his other books, this one is vertiginously self referential. he's settleling scores with newspaper critics from 1870, and telling you why you'll care in 2010 - the balls on this guy!

Nietzsche is the 19th century philosophical bete noire, and he bashes his way through your head with more lacerating truth in a sentence than you'll find in a volume of his contemporaries. read twilight of the idols / how to philosophize with a hammer if you're new to Nietzsche. and read it again!

this book is interesting mostly as a (not flattering) window to his inner personality... interesting but bizarre.

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Great book - poor reader

This cannot be what Nietzsche sounded like! This chirpy reading captures none of the grit and anger of Nietzsche. I've tried to stick with it by pretending it's an underpaid graduate student reading N's notes, but it's painful. Will someone else please record this book?

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Antidote to Christianity

I love Nietzsche. His unabashed narcissism, extravagant language, red herrings and mind games.

Does he give us enough to discern his meaning? Sometimes, and no doubt I have much of it wrong.

But, I suspect he's right in many, many things. That Christian morality is manifest in a self punishing conscience. That philosophy, particularly ethics based on Christian metaphysics and truths are fruit of the poisonous tree. That knowledge of science, naturalism and evolution invert our understanding of humanity, our place and role in the Universe, the our understanding of reality.

Sometimes, however, I wonder if Nietzsche misunderstood Darwin and other theories of evolution. The debate certainly was not settled in 1888. His emphasis on "the law of selection is thwarted" suggests a claim to knowledge unavailable at the time. We still struggle with the meaning and implications of Darwin's work.

Or perhaps he means our choices and selections? What we consider wise, true, strong and good; what and how we choose to believe, and the implications our choices have at all levels of life. Whom, what and how we will to power?

There's no free ride with Nietzsche. No spider web dialectic, no reading list beyond his own, highly praised and obfuscated, equivocal works. Think! is always the imperative, as are Feel! and Live!

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Nietzsche's Joie de vivre!

I love listening to this book. The narrator manages to capture much of the nuance of Nietzsche's voice, including the sarcasm, chutzpah, and just all around joie de vivre.

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Great book...

What made the experience of listening to Ecce Homo the most enjoyable?

Nietzsche is the best, and his autobiography is a great experience if you're interested in the man. It gives an account of his life that seems honest, and equally mysterious. Full of good advice that you think the man doesn't really live by. Typical Nietzsche. The book is worth it for the chapter titles alone. "Why I Am So Wise." "Why I Am So Clever." The man nailed it.

What about Steven Van Doren’s performance did you like?

Listen, this guy sounded like George Takei. I felt like Nietzsche was being read from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. It was much to pompous and self aggrandizing, and I understand why someone might THINK this is the way to do it. But that someone was wrong.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Sure, if I had that long to sit. Who could sit that long?

Any additional comments?

No.

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Revolutionary

It is interesting how this is also a summary of his own works, a commentary on Nietzsche by Nietzsche. It is not only a summary of the minute daily observations and habits he has worked out for his well being (despite incredible physical suffering), but how he is, in the face of suffering, nevertheless affirmative of life. However, far from focusing on the minutia of his life, he is actually founding the value of life on a revolutionary view of life as independent of classic morality which had dominated society in the form of Christianity (the dominant force of moralism at his time), and in the form of German Idealism (rationalism and moralism as reflected in the Kantian categorical imprerative). In place of historical and religious false valuation, Nietzsche advocates the spirit of Dionysus (versus Apolo), to live creatively, energetically and courageously in the spirit of Zarathustra, his magnus opus.

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The Most Amazing Performance

I've listened to this performance countless times - always at ~1.5x the speed of the original delivery. It's a breathtaking rendition of Nietzsche's final gift to posterity. Steven does a magnificent job here - as he does with Beyond Good and Evil - and I can't help but return time and again to imbibe Nietzsche's final reflections through the cipher of this unparalleled performance. Bravo!

[edit]: Here I am, many years later, and I still listen to this work at least 10 times a year! As always, Nietzsche is presenting so much here in rhetorical style – for *our* benefit. It's perfectly sublime!

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not his best work

he has some insightful lines but for the most part this books is mostly Nietszche talking about how smart and great he thinks he is. you kind of get that with a lot of his writing, but the homie definitely turned the amps up to eleven for this one. worth it it's free and you got the time and you've already read nietszche, but I wouldn't introduce someone to him with this work.

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Narcissist

This book doesn’t offer much of interest other than narcissistic ramblings. Don’t waste your time.

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Funny and reflective

Nietzsche wimsy and writing coupled with the readers presentation makes this a quick enjoyable listen for a Sunday afternoon.

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