What would be the best first book to read by Nietzsche?

Question

I'd like to familiarise myself with his work, but I don't know where to begin.

Thank you. :)

Answer 1

His most popular work are his zarathustra, and beyond good and evil. Some people often go straight to these, but these are also some of his more complicated work. When you read about Nietzsche you will often be tempted to dive in into his zarathustra, but it is often recommended to put this one off along side beyond good and evil until you get a better understanding of his philosophy. Nietzsche himself recommends "the twilight of the idols" to those unacquainted with him, that's where he has some of his central ideas. I too would recommend this one, but I would also recommend a companion book like "What Nietzsche Really Meant", or "The Cambridge Companion to Nietzsche". Public libraries often carry these. It is also recommended to have a general understanding of philosophy, and philosophers like Plato, Descartes, Spinoza, Schopenhauer, and Kant, otherwise you might run to some conflicts.

Answer 2

Oy my god...that's quite enterprising of you.  It will be great if you're an insomniac.  Good luck.  It's very difficult reading, mainly because of the german penchant for extremely long, run-on sentences.

Answer 3

Not to be condescending - But, I went through my Nietzsche "phase" and in hindsight - it was really a waste of Time.

"Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is very interesting and influential, but the rest of his Stuff (while creating a Buzz and Loyal Followers) is really just a bunch of Depressing, Negative Shiite.

I'd recommend Babette Babich's, "Nietzsche's Philosophy of Science."

It explains HIS "Belief System" that Life is Worthless -

A Subject that He "Ran Into the Ground" in So Many of His Books.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............

Just my Arrogant Opinion.

If this helps Gauge my Perspective for You -

I also think "The Catcher in the Rye" is the Most Overrated Tome in History -- Salinger has managed to create the MOST BORING Character, ever - in Holden Caulfield.

So, if you worship THAT Book - Then you should NOT take my Advice :)

.

Answer 4

"Thus Spake Zarathusthra" would be a good first choice.

"Beyond Good & evil" is a brilliant read, but very, very heavy going, is  great to get into for some very deep thought.

Answer 5

Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Answer 6

Ecce Homo

It's more autobiographical than his other works.

Or, if you want a general understanding of Nietzsche, along with a few profound ideas thrown into the work, read the "Portable Nietzsche".

Answer 7

Beyond Good and evil is a good place to start, however On the genealogy of morals is better

thus spoke zarathustra is much more interesting but i consider Beyond good and evil Essential to understanding Nietzsche.  

Answer 8

I think the Portable Nietzsche is a good one to start with, you can read chapters one at a time as you get used to his style of writing.  I think I started with Will to Power which is mostly a collection of letters he wrote put together after his death by his sister.

Thus spoke Zarathustra was short and a relatively easy read, and considered one of his personal favorites.  but Ecce Homo is also short and sweet, and in my opinion pretty direct to what Nietzsche was all about.  Good luck!  Enjoy his wisdom!

also, I think it was the portable Nietzsche that infers a dedication to others who appreciate "joyful wisdom", which made me identify with nietzsche in a personal way.

Answer 9

Beyond Good and Evil

The Anti Christ

Ecce Homo

The g*y Science

The Birth of Tragedy

This is heavy, heavy reading material. But I really liked these.

Answer 10

I began with Thus Spake Zarathustra -- in German. Well, actually I began with the Hollingdale translation, but when I saw during a magic mushroom trip that it consisted of fake plastic jewelry, I switched...

I was hooked immediately. But if you can't read German, the first question is: which translation? My favourite is now the Thomas Common translation (Thus SpAke Zarathustra), whose mock-King James Biblical language reflects the original German's mock-Luther Biblical language. It's not perfect, though.

Nietzsche himself, by the way, recommended against beginning with TSZ. He recommended Twilight of the Idols, then TSZ (in one of his letters from the time he'd just written Twilight).