You are obviously very intelligent, in that being able to even know and understand that knowledge will change ones Outlook and perception, but also comprehending that anything you read, when read thoroughly with understanding, anything can change outlooks and perceptions for anybody. Picking a good author to read can be challenging, because it has been known to change man from a peasant of God, or his creation, to someone who is God, or his own creation. Be picky with anything you read, not only that, but also research the author and who he or she was as a person, and what it was they stood for, or stand for.
The list given at 4:39 1. The genealogy of morals 2. Beyond good and evil 3. Twilight of the idols and the antichrist 4. The Gay Science 5. Thus spoke Zarathustra
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
I’ve watched and learned for over a year. I’m finally halfway through Beyond Good an Evil, and feel good that I grasp more than I thought. I guess I’m hanging around the right individuals ( yes, my online RUclips buddies). Girls my age(I’m older) it’s not typically their thing.
In our school's 4-semester course on the Great Ideas, we introduce Nietzsche and then the students read significant portions of 1st the Genealogy of Morals, a bit less of Beyond Good and Evil, and then selected snippets from Nietzsche's works on certain themes. I am glad to see that we started with the right two. It seems to work. Thank you for your excellent videos.
I don't think secondary texts are unnecessary or bad, but in "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer J. Adler, he explains that "reading more about an author than reading the author's actual work" is dangerous. What he recommends instead is using the method he outlines in the book to understand the book with only your own mind, elevating your understanding. Thinking for yourself. An answer derived from this effort is worth infinitely more than one given to you by another, even if it takes longer, and is more arduous.
I agree with you. As someone who began my love of Nietzsche by beginning with This Spoke Zarathustra with no prior knowledge of he or his philosophy. But... BUT now that I have dove deep into his social life/bio and read any and all text/watched any and all video sources, and have constantly seen/heard Nietzsche so completely misunderstood/represented that for someone like him, there is (at least in my opinion, for most individuals that's is) an exception here. I couldn't agree more with the video in this isolated context.... and with you generally speaking for literature in general
yea i never understood people who want to read interpretations of a writer's original work written by someone else unless it's an addendum, translation to another language or appendix. i feel like speculating is kinda lazy, like daydreaming... when you could instead be formulating your own ideas drawing on the original work as a framework that's already been established. i dunno, doing the later just seems more scientific of a process to me.
If by reading it means actual books on his work, I think it is a good advice. But if reading involves go and read a bio or information about his life, views,etc, Nietzsche himself champion this. You have to undetstand how was the life Kant lived which ending him coming with his ideas.
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
Great advice! I began my exploration of Nietzsche with "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," but I struggled to grasp certain aspects. This led me to develop my own interpretation of TSZ to fill in the gaps in my understanding. After reading "Ecce Homo," I realized that I would benefit from starting with some other books. Already started “The Birth of Tragedy” as my third Nietzsche book. Let’s see where this route is going to take me! Haha
Most philosophy is difficult. But that doesn't mean you cannot do it. You'll struggle to understand most of the work the first time around but don't give up. Take notes and research concepts as you go through the primary works. I think going through secondary texts and biographies can add unnecessary bias. Just read, form your own beliefs, and then look at the secondary texts after.
While Human All Too Human may not be one of Nietzsche's major books, I found it to be his most easily readable. It's accessibility is great for starters, as it can then ease you into some of his more thought provoking works - which can be more challenging. Human All Too Human is easy to digest in one reading.
Consider Nietzsche's 1. Human, All Too Human work first, and then proceed to 2. Ecce Hom. as the Ecce book is close to an autobiography of the key pivotal travels, travails, observations on climate, art, music and Classical Greek and Roman philosophers that influenced him. Above all, an appreciation for all the nuances, subtleties, and distinguished tastes of Nietzsche takes time to contemplate. As Doyle Bruson said of playing high stakes poker, its a game that takes 15 minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. The prize is worth the effort a thousand fold as you will discover one of the worlds' most profound, daring, and courageous philosopher in this elite Navy Seal like intellectual trailblazer. Though he suffered in solitude and enduring pain for years, he triumphed over all as the "philosopher for the day after tomorrow" taking us all out on the leading edge, way beyond the hollow men of the philosophic old guard wasteland. Nietzsche's front sight focus and OODA Loop dynamic writing attack on all things decadent, in opposition to growth in self discovery of the will, results in a sublime intellectual tour de force. So turn on the CPU unit with the Intel semi. processor in your head, and get started ASAP with these two books,
Fantastic video. I’ve been fascinated by Nietzsche ever since I watched a documentary on him. I’m currently doing a deep dive in his work so that I can better understand how to make it fit into our currently reality and how I can use it to guide my life. Honestly, it feels great that I’ve stumbled upon a similar philosophy to Nietzsche before knowing about him. Feels like I found someone who finally understands me. Hah But anyways, the reading approach you’ve given is awesome. It’s usually the approach I take, but I also read summaries of the books and then find interpretations/analyses on RUclips before even diving into any text. This step is also useful for deciding whether a book is just fluff, stuff I already know and could be written in a short blog post or if it’s dense like Nietzsche’s books.
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
I really wish I saw this video 5 years ago haha! What a short cut that would have been! I worked the opposite direction. I started my first few years being unable to understand _Zarathustra_ or _Beyond Good & Evil_ at all! Only after failing several attempts at reading either of them through, I resorted instead to online video essays, documentaries, and scholarly articles on Nietzsche for some sort of understanding. I then read through several university published introductory books, read the _Genealogy_ , and then the rest of the corpus from there. (still not done though with this last step) I always suggested _Dawn of Day_ as the best first book to read, but, looking back on it, I think your right *Weltgeist* . Secondary literature is absolutely paramount for background information, otherwise one *risks* misinterpretation. What makes Nietzsche's philosophy so volatile and dangerous is that he is very easily misinterpreted without context. The consequences of such a misunderstanding have been provably disastrous!
Thank you very much. You always have well-thought out comments. Daybreak is very underrated imo and it works as a good introduction but it's not flawless.
This video is actually well-made and very pleasing to the eyes, thank you so much for the guide to reading Nietzsche, I have been wanting to read Nietzsche since the analyses that people make based on Nietzsche are frequently insightful so I'm interested in reading his works directly, but I was always confused as to where to start. So once again thanks a lot 🙏🙏🙏 I hope you find joy in the things that you do!
Excellent video and advice ..I'd say that's an excellent order to read them in. You definitely want to read a little about him and his ideas first. Also, you're spot on about Kauffman...I prefer his understanding and translations of Nietzsche to all the others. And on a personal level I will recommend the reader allow plenty of time for The Gay Science and Zarathustra, they can be challenging
Thank you for the effort of putting this list together! I was just watching your newest video and wondering where I should in case I finally dared to read Nietzsche for myself. I thought about posting a comment asking the question but then wondered whether you had already addressed this topic in a video, and voilà, here I am! Thanks to this recommendation I think I will be picking up On the Genealogy of Morals when I find some time to read it.
Your recommendation by Michael Tanner. I have bought this book. For me, it contains a lot of concepts/ ideas, 'isms' and so on, that are completely new to me. His book is very 'wordy' with a lot of it requiring further study. So yes you could read it in one day but potentially spend a lot more days understanding what it is actually saying to you with further research. I feel that it is not a beginner book, far from it, but is a deeply concise, word restricted dissertation style of writing. Tanner is likely sticking to his idea that Nietzsche is aphoristic 'few words, a lot of meaning' and followed suit in his intro book. A far better introductory book would be one which requires no additional research outside of the book (about subjects outside of Nietzsche) to get the 'jist' and an over-viewing understanding. For now, I've given up on reading further and going back to the stoic books, good old Seneca and so on. I might try and read it again one day, or at least find a more dumbed down introduction to start off.
-Me watching this video who absolutely didn't start reading Also sprach zarathustra as my 1st work from Nietzsche I'm 100 pages in and now i see this video haha the algorithm is telling me something, thanks man! I was wondering why i was struggling so much, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN????
Thanks for this clip. I first read John Kaag's "Hiking With Nietzsche" and loved the book. I then watched BBC's "Nietzsche: Genius of the Modern World" (w/ Bethany Hughes). I then got "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (the edition with his own sister doing the preface)...I've just read the first 20 pages and am finding it heavy going! I need to rethink my path...:)
so true i started reading nietzsche's works immediately damn the words and his vocabulary was very complex you'd say, might as well read the secondary sources first
I must say, the publishers sell his book in a hefty price tag with only 200-300 pages. Money is quite important here in South East Asia that it turns me off to buy physical copy.
Couldn't agree also more with your opinion ob secondary text. I'd also recommend reading or at lest familiarizing yourself with Arthur Schopenhauer. Specifically "The World as Will and Representation."
Love this video concept. Appreciate the effort in helping people to understand him "not just read him." I haven't thought too thoroughly on this but at first thought, after you bringing it to attention, would humbly only alter reading twilight of the idols before beyond good and evil. Just for the metaphoric purpose of his overall moral themes
I'm currently writing a thesis on Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus and I'm planning to use Nietzsche's concept of eternal recurrence in The Gay Science and Thus Spoke Zarathursta (though I haven't read any of his works but I want to) as supporting reference. Is this okay?
I've never read any philosophical books before so I wanted to read Nietzsche's "Human, All-TooHuman". But now I'm confused and hope this video will help me.
I'm amazed how one person became a huge figure in philosophy like Nietzsche, it makes me think how did someone with these reflections and idea became who he is
Honestly I started reading your recommendations(short introduction) and it is already pretty challenging to understand it, I am worried if i can't even understand fully the secondary work how on earth i will understand original work?
Fantastic advice. I also made the error of reading Zarathustra first and couldn't really quite get the hang of it. I read a short introduction and a book about Zarathustra that gives a lot of references to Nietzsche's other works. I then went on to Ecce Homo and am currently reading "The Dawn", since he seems to regard it high in Ecce Honour and it seems that this is where he stared attacking Christianity. I will then follow your recommendation here and finally revisit Zarathustra. Should be worth the journey
Hello , this video was very useful , i didnt know how to start reading Nietzsche so i watched 4-5 hours of videos on youtube after that i read "Twilight of the idols" and i just finished "Thus spoke Zarathustra" now im halfway through "Beyond good and evil " , soo my approach wasnt the best . I cant wait to read the other books from Nietzsche . If you can please make a video like this about Schopenhauer or Kant . Thanks for the great videos ! Keep up the great work !
I just started read Michael Tanner's Nietzsche but I'm having a bit of problem about understanding the book. Michael Tanner introduce us to Nietzsche by using his own ideas about Nietzsche's works. But there is where the problem begins. I didn't read any of Nietzsche's therefore I can't understand Michael Tanner too. I'm planning read after I read Michael Tanner's as you suggest. I'm having a trouble to start reading Nietzsche. Is anyone have any advice to help me?
Download the cheat sheet: weltgeist.tv/nietzsche If someone asks "where should I start with Nietzsche?" this is the answer we'd give. Remember, it's just a piece of advice, and there will be disagreement for sure. If you recommend an other order, definitely tell us in the comments! Like & Subscribe if you found the video helpful. It really helps. Thank you!
my ethnic studies teacher gave me The Gay Science to read and i havent read any other work by Nietzsche, but i’m quite enjoying and understanding it, as well as relating to it. Nietzsche’s philosophy tends to mirror my own. quite the cool dude, i must say.
What's really interesting is Nietzsche intended Genealogy of Morals to be read after Beyond Good and Evil. He specifically wrote Genealogy of Morals as a supplement to Beyond Good and Evil.
Hello, I just finished Kaufmann's Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, and Antichrist. I just recently bought his The Portable Nietzsche, but the first primary text on there is Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Do you think I should skip it and read his other works? Or do you think I can tackle TSZ? I plan on rereading Nietzsche either way since every good book should be reread, but I'm not sure what to do.
Im trying to look for the textbooks used in universities & all im finding are university courses with no explanation of books they use OR a list of Nietzsche's books come up.
I'm going for zaratustra ! Diving in head first ! I don't wanna read others opinion of his work. I wanna bellyflop into it ! if he can get my attention in his best. Then i'll work my way backwards and read the rest. Wish me luck !
Hey, I found your video super useful and genuine, not just a list of books, so thanks for that. Also, do you know if kaufmans book is translated to Spanish? I can’t find it. If not, is it a complex read or is it okay for a more less good lvl of English?
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
Thankyou, but also, damn you. I bought a lovely copy of Thus Spoke Zarathustra and then decided to watch this video. Ive got 4 more books on the way! A slight hit to the wallet, but I know ill be better off for it. Since, well, im not that smart and I dont read much.
I disagree with many of the recommendations here. Regarding the University Method, the university I attended started Nietzsche with Beyond Good & Evil, which is a terrible place to start…maybe even the worst. Background is extremely important, and I agree with the recommendation for Tanner (1994) and Kaufmann’s (1950) books, but Kaufmann’s book is old and lacking information; and Tanner’s book is mostly Tanner Contra Nietzsche. An invested reader would benefit highly from reading - Individuality & Beyond by Benedetta Zavatta, - Nietzsche Humanist, and - Nietzsche’s Naturalism (with the caveat to focus on the natural-scientific background provided and take lightly the author’s own agenda of making Nietzsche into a Neo-Kantian). And perhaps - Conversations with Nietzsche A Life in the Words of His Contemporaries, for an even better view of the actual human being behind the Mask. And I would suggest that a reader completely avoid: - Salome’s “Nietzsche” and - Anything by Heidegger Instead of the recommended list, read Nietzsche in chronological order…it is the only way to get a sense of the development of his thought and method over time…which is one of the main features of his work. So start with: - The Pre-Plantonic Philosophers - On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense - which essay you can read for free online. - Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks And then go from there. If you are going to read Zarathustra, most definitely get an annotated version (Kaufmann’s will do). While Zarathustra was Nietzsche’s self-purported “masterpiece,” it is a work of art, and can be hard to follow. Read Adrian Del Caro’s book “Grounding the Nietzsche Rhetoric of Earth” afterward. And remember that Nietzsche’s thought continued to develop very much after that book was written. If you were to pick JUST ONE book of Nietzsche’s to read, pick “The Twilight of the Idols,” about which Nietzsche himself said - “This style is my philosophy in a nutshell-radical to the point of criminality..." Again, you will want an annotated version (and again, Kaufmann’s is probably best). But just reading Twilight is like just listening to the climax of your favorite song, or watching the climax of your favorite film, or sitting at a table with your favorite meal and only being allowed to smell it. Some of the flavor and feeling, and an appreciation for its creation and the preparation that led up to it, will be lacking, and those parts are so important - especially to Nietzsche.
Lols. I am committed to read Zarasthusra first. But I will consume Nietzsche content outside as a supplementary I plan on journaling down my read thru as I dive deep into the book. Will be very interesting to read my notes after a year when I have studied Nietzsche and now gained contexts. I plan to be very open minded but not too much that the book end up manipulating me to some extent. Just to read it as a mere interest of this piece of literature
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
Hey weitgeist. I wanted to start reading Byung Chul Han. I even read The Transparency Society. I did not follow the steps u mentioned here. And I cant find any secondary resources like you mentioned here abt Byung Chul Han. Can you give me an advice. He is a new philosopher. Or can u find me some materials. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Does anyone have recommendations on a university textbook in English to get an overview of Nietzsche? I’m having a hard time finding one from the top schools.
If one has little general philosophical knowledge selective reading of a history of philosophy book like A New History of Western Philosophy for background. A decent philosophical dictionary to supplement unknown terms and concepts. A full reading of Oxford’s Handbook on Nietzsche.
@@drotalk5055 i found myself intensely moral and much too prideful. Mexican catholic conditioning was a lot for me to work out of myself. Depression. Drug abuse. Isolation. It got out of hand quickly 😥
1.on the genealogy of morals
2.beyond good and evil
3.twilight of the idol & the antichrist
4.the gay science
5.thus spoke zarathustra
What if I start with the gay science ?
@@distheone9120 it will make you bi-curious
@@arryacc LOL nah I'm serious
@@arryacc 💀
Only women can be gay. Amirite?
I’m kind of scared to read Nietzsche’s work. I feel like it will completely change my outlook on life and how I perceive everything.
That’s good!
Same feelings but also i have something in me that craves reading his books specially beyond good and evil by him
@@solosolo6440 I wouldn't start with that one. Nietzsche is easy to misunderstand
You are obviously very intelligent, in that being able to even know and understand that knowledge will change ones Outlook and perception, but also comprehending that anything you read, when read thoroughly with understanding, anything can change outlooks and perceptions for anybody. Picking a good author to read can be challenging, because it has been known to change man from a peasant of God, or his creation, to someone who is God, or his own creation. Be picky with anything you read, not only that, but also research the author and who he or she was as a person, and what it was they stood for, or stand for.
Noone's so gullible or dedicated, maybe you'll get a "post-read existential crisis" but you'll get over it
"Step One: Don't start with Thus Spoke Zarathursta"
Me, having just bought Zarathursta: 👁👄👁
Same ahaha
Same lol
same lmfaoooo
First thing I do after i buy the book: let me see what RUclips says about the book before I start reading it hahaha
"One usually confuses the purchase of books with the acquisition of its contents" - Arthur Schopenhauer
The list given at 4:39
1. The genealogy of morals 2. Beyond good and evil 3. Twilight of the idols and the antichrist 4. The Gay Science 5. Thus spoke Zarathustra
You missed the Gay Science after the Antichrist and before Thus Spoke Zarathustra
@@jbbronshteinI fixed it
Guy makes some really good and important points throughout the video but y'all will just ignore it and skip over anyways to get the list lol
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
I’ve watched and learned for over a year. I’m finally halfway through Beyond Good an Evil, and feel good that I grasp more than I thought. I guess I’m hanging around the right individuals ( yes, my online RUclips buddies). Girls my age(I’m older) it’s not typically their thing.
Thank you!
Love it
In our school's 4-semester course on the Great Ideas, we introduce Nietzsche and then the students read significant portions of 1st the Genealogy of Morals, a bit less of Beyond Good and Evil, and then selected snippets from Nietzsche's works on certain themes. I am glad to see that we started with the right two. It seems to work. Thank you for your excellent videos.
me coming here after purchasing Thus Spoke Zarathustra 😬
I don't think secondary texts are unnecessary or bad, but in "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer J. Adler, he explains that "reading more about an author than reading the author's actual work" is dangerous. What he recommends instead is using the method he outlines in the book to understand the book with only your own mind, elevating your understanding. Thinking for yourself. An answer derived from this effort is worth infinitely more than one given to you by another, even if it takes longer, and is more arduous.
I agree with you. As someone who began my love of Nietzsche by beginning with This Spoke Zarathustra with no prior knowledge of he or his philosophy. But... BUT now that I have dove deep into his social life/bio and read any and all text/watched any and all video sources, and have constantly seen/heard Nietzsche so completely misunderstood/represented that for someone like him, there is (at least in my opinion, for most individuals that's is) an exception here. I couldn't agree more with the video in this isolated context.... and with you generally speaking for literature in general
yea i never understood people who want to read interpretations of a writer's original work written by someone else unless it's an addendum, translation to another language or appendix. i feel like speculating is kinda lazy, like daydreaming... when you could instead be formulating your own ideas drawing on the original work as a framework that's already been established. i dunno, doing the later just seems more scientific of a process to me.
@@env0x lol what it is extremely useful
The title of this book makes me think its super fishy, but thats indeed a great advice
If by reading it means actual books on his work, I think it is a good advice.
But if reading involves go and read a bio or information about his life, views,etc, Nietzsche himself champion this. You have to undetstand how was the life Kant lived which ending him coming with his ideas.
This video: Don't start with Thus Spoke Zarathustra, it's cryptic and too hard to understand.
My egotistic brain: 😏 I know exactly where to start.
if you are too much like him it will destroy your life. carl jung sensed this
You can read the first part. And at the end you will clue in and read something else. This was at least the case for me.
Sigmund Freud entered the chat.
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
Great advice! I began my exploration of Nietzsche with "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," but I struggled to grasp certain aspects. This led me to develop my own interpretation of TSZ to fill in the gaps in my understanding. After reading "Ecce Homo," I realized that I would benefit from starting with some other books.
Already started “The Birth of Tragedy” as my third Nietzsche book. Let’s see where this route is going to take me! Haha
Did you enjoy it?
Most philosophy is difficult. But that doesn't mean you cannot do it. You'll struggle to understand most of the work the first time around but don't give up. Take notes and research concepts as you go through the primary works. I think going through secondary texts and biographies can add unnecessary bias. Just read, form your own beliefs, and then look at the secondary texts after.
While Human All Too Human may not be one of Nietzsche's major books, I found it to be his most easily readable. It's accessibility is great for starters, as it can then ease you into some of his more thought provoking works - which can be more challenging. Human All Too Human is easy to digest in one reading.
We’ll cover it in due time
Consider Nietzsche's 1. Human, All Too Human work first, and then proceed to 2. Ecce Hom. as the Ecce book is close to an autobiography of the key pivotal travels, travails, observations on climate, art, music and Classical Greek and Roman philosophers that influenced him. Above all, an appreciation for all the nuances, subtleties, and distinguished tastes of Nietzsche takes time to contemplate. As Doyle Bruson said of playing high stakes poker, its a game that takes 15 minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. The prize is worth the effort a thousand fold as you will discover one of the worlds' most profound, daring, and courageous philosopher in this elite Navy Seal like intellectual trailblazer. Though he suffered in solitude and enduring pain for years, he triumphed over all as the "philosopher for the day after tomorrow" taking us all out on the leading edge, way beyond the hollow men of the philosophic old guard wasteland. Nietzsche's front sight focus and OODA Loop dynamic writing attack on all things decadent, in opposition to growth in self discovery of the will, results in a sublime intellectual tour de force. So turn on the CPU unit with the Intel semi. processor in your head, and get started ASAP with these two books,
Fantastic video. I’ve been fascinated by Nietzsche ever since I watched a documentary on him. I’m currently doing a deep dive in his work so that I can better understand how to make it fit into our currently reality and how I can use it to guide my life. Honestly, it feels great that I’ve stumbled upon a similar philosophy to Nietzsche before knowing about him. Feels like I found someone who finally understands me. Hah
But anyways, the reading approach you’ve given is awesome. It’s usually the approach I take, but I also read summaries of the books and then find interpretations/analyses on RUclips before even diving into any text. This step is also useful for deciding whether a book is just fluff, stuff I already know and could be written in a short blog post or if it’s dense like Nietzsche’s books.
Good luck!
@@WeltgeistYTcheal tamer, nietzsche, a very short introduction, if I read this book would it help me to understand the primary works of nietzsche??
Fck! This is the thing, I wanted. I’ll buying all of nietzhsche’s books next week. And I don’t know where to start, thank you!❤️
Glad it helped
Have you made progress?
All books 🤨🤨🤨
so far did you understand nietzsche?
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
I really wish I saw this video 5 years ago haha! What a short cut that would have been!
I worked the opposite direction. I started my first few years being unable to understand _Zarathustra_ or _Beyond Good & Evil_ at all!
Only after failing several attempts at reading either of them through, I resorted instead to online video essays, documentaries, and scholarly articles on Nietzsche for some sort of understanding.
I then read through several university published introductory books, read the _Genealogy_ , and then the rest of the corpus from there. (still not done though with this last step)
I always suggested _Dawn of Day_ as the best first book to read, but, looking back on it, I think your right *Weltgeist* . Secondary literature is absolutely paramount for background information, otherwise one *risks* misinterpretation. What makes Nietzsche's philosophy so volatile and dangerous is that he is very easily misinterpreted without context. The consequences of such a misunderstanding have been provably disastrous!
Thank you very much. You always have well-thought out comments. Daybreak is very underrated imo and it works as a good introduction but it's not flawless.
This video is actually well-made and very pleasing to the eyes, thank you so much for the guide to reading Nietzsche, I have been wanting to read Nietzsche since the analyses that people make based on Nietzsche are frequently insightful so I'm interested in reading his works directly, but I was always confused as to where to start. So once again thanks a lot 🙏🙏🙏 I hope you find joy in the things that you do!
Excellent video and advice ..I'd say that's an excellent order to read them in. You definitely want to read a little about him and his ideas first. Also, you're spot on about Kauffman...I prefer his understanding and translations of Nietzsche to all the others. And on a personal level I will recommend the reader allow plenty of time for The Gay Science and Zarathustra, they can be challenging
Thank you for the effort of putting this list together! I was just watching your newest video and wondering where I should in case I finally dared to read Nietzsche for myself. I thought about posting a comment asking the question but then wondered whether you had already addressed this topic in a video, and voilà, here I am! Thanks to this recommendation I think I will be picking up On the Genealogy of Morals when I find some time to read it.
Your recommendation by Michael Tanner. I have bought this book. For me, it contains a lot of concepts/ ideas, 'isms' and so on, that are completely new to me. His book is very 'wordy' with a lot of it requiring further study. So yes you could read it in one day but potentially spend a lot more days understanding what it is actually saying to you with further research. I feel that it is not a beginner book, far from it, but is a deeply concise, word restricted dissertation style of writing. Tanner is likely sticking to his idea that Nietzsche is aphoristic 'few words, a lot of meaning' and followed suit in his intro book. A far better introductory book would be one which requires no additional research outside of the book (about subjects outside of Nietzsche) to get the 'jist' and an over-viewing understanding. For now, I've given up on reading further and going back to the stoic books, good old Seneca and so on. I might try and read it again one day, or at least find a more dumbed down introduction to start off.
-Me watching this video who absolutely didn't start reading Also sprach zarathustra as my 1st work from Nietzsche
I'm 100 pages in and now i see this video haha the algorithm is telling me something, thanks man!
I was wondering why i was struggling so much, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN????
Please make a video on hegel:where to start
U never start with Hegel, Hegel starts with you.
@@ncrtrooper1782 😂
Don't
Era lo que iba a decir: no lo hagas
The best way to prepare to read Hegel is with massive cranial trauma.
Thanks for this clip. I first read John Kaag's "Hiking With Nietzsche" and loved the book. I then watched BBC's "Nietzsche: Genius of the Modern World" (w/ Bethany Hughes). I then got "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (the edition with his own sister doing the preface)...I've just read the first 20 pages and am finding it heavy going! I need to rethink my path...:)
so true i started reading nietzsche's works immediately damn the words and his vocabulary was very complex you'd say, might as well read the secondary sources first
This video is what i genuinly wanted...thank u so muchb
I must say, the publishers sell his book in a hefty price tag with only 200-300 pages. Money is quite important here in South East Asia that it turns me off to buy physical copy.
Dont let that stop you from reading. You can always get the Pdf formats for free on the internet.
Try Z Library. I read half of Deluze's stuff from there. I am sure we can find Nietzsche too.
Couldn't agree also more with your opinion ob secondary text.
I'd also recommend reading or at lest familiarizing yourself with Arthur Schopenhauer. Specifically "The World as Will and Representation."
That never hurts but certainly no need to study the entire text imo. Yes secondary literature is very underrated!
Love this video concept. Appreciate the effort in helping people to understand him "not just read him."
I haven't thought too thoroughly on this but at first thought, after you bringing it to attention, would humbly only alter reading twilight of the idols before beyond good and evil. Just for the metaphoric purpose of his overall moral themes
Thank you so much! Super helpful! I am glad I Googled where to start. :)
You're so welcome!
I'm currently writing a thesis on Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus and I'm planning to use Nietzsche's concept of eternal recurrence in The Gay Science and Thus Spoke Zarathursta (though I haven't read any of his works but I want to) as supporting reference. Is this okay?
I've never read any philosophical books before so I wanted to read Nietzsche's "Human, All-TooHuman". But now I'm confused and hope this video will help me.
When do you recommend I read his journals called "The Will to Power"??
The primary texts are spoken about at 4:12.
I'm amazed how one person became a huge figure in philosophy like Nietzsche, it makes me think how did someone with these reflections and idea became who he is
Pls do the same with other writer and philosopher. Thank you for this video btw
Honestly I started reading your recommendations(short introduction) and it is already pretty challenging to understand it, I am worried if i can't even understand fully the secondary work how on earth i will understand original work?
Keep trying!
Thanks for this and happy holidays-whichever way you celebrate it👍🏼🌈Greetz &respect,from the Netherlands!
So grateful you made this! This will help me immensely. By the way why don't they have paragraphs in Nietzsche's and Schopenhauer's books?
Thank you for making this video. I have known Nietzsche is difficult to read and this video serves as a really good guide.
Fantastic advice. I also made the error of reading Zarathustra first and couldn't really quite get the hang of it. I read a short introduction and a book about Zarathustra that gives a lot of references to Nietzsche's other works. I then went on to Ecce Homo and am currently reading "The Dawn", since he seems to regard it high in Ecce Honour and it seems that this is where he stared attacking Christianity. I will then follow your recommendation here and finally revisit Zarathustra. Should be worth the journey
Hello , this video was very useful , i didnt know how to start reading Nietzsche so i watched 4-5 hours of videos on youtube after that i read "Twilight of the idols" and i just finished "Thus spoke Zarathustra" now im halfway through "Beyond good and evil " , soo my approach wasnt the best . I cant wait to read the other books from Nietzsche . If you can please make a video like this about
Schopenhauer or Kant . Thanks for the great videos ! Keep up the great work !
Thank you! And thanks for the video suggestions
I was in confusion,where to start Nietzsche books. Tqs for proving info..
Thank you for the recommendations, i did read the last recommended first
About to dive deep into this
the book "all works in one book" is very unknown but it catches my attention, when should I read it?
Make a video about nihilism from his book the will to power.
That's a big video. But it's coming
I just started read Michael Tanner's Nietzsche but I'm having a bit of problem about understanding the book. Michael Tanner introduce us to Nietzsche by using his own ideas about Nietzsche's works. But there is where the problem begins. I didn't read any of Nietzsche's therefore I can't understand Michael Tanner too. I'm planning read after I read Michael Tanner's as you suggest. I'm having a trouble to start reading Nietzsche. Is anyone have any advice to help me?
much needed information,thank you
Download the cheat sheet: weltgeist.tv/nietzsche
If someone asks "where should I start with Nietzsche?" this is the answer we'd give. Remember, it's just a piece of advice, and there will be disagreement for sure. If you recommend an other order, definitely tell us in the comments! Like & Subscribe if you found the video helpful. It really helps. Thank you!
my ethnic studies teacher gave me The Gay Science to read and i havent read any other work by Nietzsche, but i’m quite enjoying and understanding it, as well as relating to it. Nietzsche’s philosophy tends to mirror my own. quite the cool dude, i must say.
I bought The Will To Power, is this a good place to start?
Skip to 4:30
What's really interesting is Nietzsche intended Genealogy of Morals to be read after Beyond Good and Evil. He specifically wrote Genealogy of Morals as a supplement to Beyond Good and Evil.
Hello, I just finished Kaufmann's Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, and Antichrist. I just recently bought his The Portable Nietzsche, but the first primary text on there is Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Do you think I should skip it and read his other works? Or do you think I can tackle TSZ? I plan on rereading Nietzsche either way since every good book should be reread, but I'm not sure what to do.
What your views on Will to Power penguin edition?
And yes, I have struggled a bit with Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
Penguin is fine
I love the sh*t out of this channel and what you do. Thank you!
Haha thank you, that's nice to hear
Im trying to look for the textbooks used in universities & all im finding are university courses with no explanation of books they use OR a list of Nietzsche's books come up.
What are the secondary texts do you recommend to start with nietzche?
Loved the video!
what translators/translations do you recommend for reading neitzsche ?
Duidelijk te horen dat je Nederlands bent. niks mis mee natuurlijk ;). Goeie video!
Ik had het niet door tot ik deze reactie las 😅
I’m have trouble with the university method and having trouble finding textbooks that cover neitzsche, anyone recommended any textbooks on him ?
I'm going for zaratustra ! Diving in head first ! I don't wanna read others opinion of his work. I wanna bellyflop into it ! if he can get my attention in his best. Then i'll work my way backwards and read the rest. Wish me luck !
Hey I was wondering, which release/translation of his works do you recommend? There seems to be many available
The original German
@@thomasfischer9259what a smartass answer, answer his question smh
Hey man can you suggest me the best book for the 2nd step
Which university book do you recommend? Philosophy 101 can be rather broad in what it covers. What about something like Oxford handbook of nietzsche?
Also, imo(And I think most people agree) Kaufmann's translations are the best.
Would you recommend Richard Schacht's Nietzsche?
BTW...what is your view on "I Am Dynamite" by Sue Prideaux? I am very intrigued by that book and thinking of getting it...
Hey, I found your video super useful and genuine, not just a list of books, so thanks for that. Also, do you know if kaufmans book is translated to Spanish? I can’t find it. If not, is it a complex read or is it okay for a more less good lvl of English?
But what translations to read, specifically what translation of Thus Spoke Zarathustra?
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
Watch my video
Can someone recommend me the university material which should be read before starting
I don’t understand
So someone tell me about step 2 what university book should I read
For Step 2 is the Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy okay?
Yes, perfect
@@WeltgeistYT should I read the whole book
Exactly what I needed!!!
Thank you so much 😍😍
Welcome
thing is my first book is zarathustra and i enjoyed it as a 22yo
What about the best one Sword of The Spirit?
Thanks for the video!
I've never read Nietzche but Viktor E Frankl references him a lot so i wanted to understand him but Thus Spake Zarathustra is way too advanced for me.
Thankyou, but also, damn you. I bought a lovely copy of Thus Spoke Zarathustra and then decided to watch this video. Ive got 4 more books on the way! A slight hit to the wallet, but I know ill be better off for it. Since, well, im not that smart and I dont read much.
Good luck!
I disagree with many of the recommendations here.
Regarding the University Method, the university I attended started Nietzsche with Beyond Good & Evil, which is a terrible place to start…maybe even the worst.
Background is extremely important, and I agree with the recommendation for Tanner (1994) and Kaufmann’s (1950) books, but Kaufmann’s book is old and lacking information; and Tanner’s book is mostly Tanner Contra Nietzsche.
An invested reader would benefit highly from reading
- Individuality & Beyond by Benedetta Zavatta,
- Nietzsche Humanist, and
- Nietzsche’s Naturalism (with the caveat to focus on the natural-scientific background provided and take lightly the author’s own agenda of making Nietzsche into a Neo-Kantian).
And perhaps
- Conversations with Nietzsche A Life in the Words of His Contemporaries, for an even better view of the actual human being behind the Mask.
And I would suggest that a reader completely avoid:
- Salome’s “Nietzsche” and
- Anything by Heidegger
Instead of the recommended list, read Nietzsche in chronological order…it is the only way to get a sense of the development of his thought and method over time…which is one of the main features of his work.
So start with:
- The Pre-Plantonic Philosophers
- On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense - which essay you can read for free online.
- Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks
And then go from there.
If you are going to read Zarathustra, most definitely get an annotated version (Kaufmann’s will do). While Zarathustra was Nietzsche’s self-purported “masterpiece,” it is a work of art, and can be hard to follow. Read Adrian Del Caro’s book “Grounding the Nietzsche Rhetoric of Earth” afterward. And remember that Nietzsche’s thought continued to develop very much after that book was written.
If you were to pick JUST ONE book of Nietzsche’s to read, pick “The Twilight of the Idols,” about which Nietzsche himself said - “This style is my philosophy in a nutshell-radical to the point of criminality..."
Again, you will want an annotated version (and again, Kaufmann’s is probably best).
But just reading Twilight is like just listening to the climax of your favorite song, or watching the climax of your favorite film, or sitting at a table with your favorite meal and only being allowed to smell it.
Some of the flavor and feeling, and an appreciation for its creation and the preparation that led up to it, will be lacking, and those parts are so important - especially to Nietzsche.
what books should i read on Greek society ? to learn more abt the Greeks
What about starting with beyond good and evils??
I bought the spoken Zarathoustra and i want to read it first now i have to buy another books to started by :(
Lols. I am committed to read Zarasthusra first. But I will consume Nietzsche content outside as a supplementary
I plan on journaling down my read thru as I dive deep into the book. Will be very interesting to read my notes after a year when I have studied Nietzsche and now gained contexts.
I plan to be very open minded but not too much that the book end up manipulating me to some extent. Just to read it as a mere interest of this piece of literature
Update?
I have bought " The geneology of morals". This is my first book on nietzche.. I can't even understand the introduction part.. I fell like I'm stuck. What can I do??
Nietzsche himself liked the idea of the Babylonians as a startling point. World of senses.
Is the Oxford handbook of Nietzsche alright for step 2?
I personally find ‘The Gay Science’ his most accessible and thus his most enjoyable work
Start with Zarathustra if you are intelligent. All others can follow the advice in the video.
Hey weitgeist. I wanted to start reading Byung Chul Han. I even read The Transparency Society. I did not follow the steps u mentioned here. And I cant find any secondary resources like you mentioned here abt Byung Chul Han. Can you give me an advice. He is a new philosopher. Or can u find me some materials.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Thanks!
Welcome!
Does anyone have recommendations on a university textbook in English to get an overview of Nietzsche? I’m having a hard time finding one from the top schools.
If one has little general philosophical knowledge selective reading of a history of philosophy book like A New History of Western Philosophy for background. A decent philosophical dictionary to supplement unknown terms and concepts. A full reading of Oxford’s Handbook on Nietzsche.
Why shouldn"t we follow the chronological order of Nietzsche 's works?
He wrote Zarathustra, then people didn’t understand it, so the next two books are meant to explain it. Makes more sense to start with those
Hmm how about start with beyond good and evil?
I began with beyond good and evil. A big mistake for me personally.
@@drotalk5055 i found myself intensely moral and much too prideful. Mexican catholic conditioning was a lot for me to work out of myself. Depression. Drug abuse. Isolation. It got out of hand quickly 😥
I wonder why he adds (a book for all and none) in the title of "Thus spoke Zarathustra"!
It's his message to humanity at large (all) while also recognizing no one (or only a select few) are ready for it (no one)
Well, what order did he pen them?