Customer Reviews

Jung's Seminar on Nietzsche's Zarathustra

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Wonderful analysis, completely devoid of logical gaps or special requests from the reader: everything said, every assertation, is capable of hitting home and clarifying what was before a quirky throw-back of Nietzsche's. And *interesting* to boot -- this book is no long-winded scrutiny of Zarathustra, but rather the transcription of a private group analysis led by Jung, so it never loses itself in the lofty kingdoms of thought that are the bane of so much criticism.

There's a definite sense of total respect for Nietzsche from Jung . . . almost as though Jung himself (one of the more exceptional intellects of our species) was struggling with the great, monstrous geist of Nietzsche for understanding. Which is a nice touch, having so often seen the man debunked as a megalomaniac, or, worse, a run-of-the-mill madman. This book is a must have for any Nietzsche scholar (no matter what the age or education) and, I imagine, quite useful in understanding Jung as well.

Two great minds meet - or clash perhaps? Jung offers an incisive, discerning, lucid understanding of the writings of the great philosopher. To anyone who has been baffled by Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Jung elucidates many obscure points. Requires basic understanding of Jungian psychology, though.

Reading Nietzsche can be quite euphoric (it's the deepest stuff I've ever read.) But Jung offers a balanced view - and disentangles Nietzsche's psychology, or which he himself was apparently unaware.

Jung was fascinated by Nietzsche, and then distanced himself from him, fearing Nietzsche's ultimate downfall, a 10 year spell of insanity.

Very satisfying read.

why in the world would Bollingen add this ABRIDGED version in its Jung Series is anyones guess...perhaps for those ona budget that can not afford the $200 complete 2 Vol set? Still its not in anyones interest, to those who are serious in Jung's studies.
This book is 350 pages, all chopped out f a 1500 page complete 2 vol seminar.
thus one ends up losing track of Jung's ideas , you will never come to grasp Nietzsche's intentions on his most difficult and enigmatical work, Zarathustra.
AVOID BUYING THIS BOOK.
Save you $'s and buy the 2 vol set
Read my comments on the Complete Seminar set.
paul Best
July 29,2008

...was simply incredible, as you see it applied here to Nietzsche and his most famous work. Jung goes step by step through it, explaining and amplifying. To his diagnosis of Nietzsche as an inflated and ungrounded intuitive, a slow death by syphillis should perhaps be added. Anyway, a remarkable two-volume exposition.

As always it is amazing to experience C.G.Jung's depth of knowledge of religious systems. Searching for symbols of individuation in his patient's dreams while interacting with these patients might be acceptable, but doing the same thing based on a work of poetic philosophy is a completely different thing. However, here they are treated as being identical- Zarathustra is reduced to an unconscious byproduct of "Nietzsche's revolt against god".
While I am impressed by C.G. Jung's pattern matching abilities, this is also what makes this book ridiculous- Jung's seeing hints and references that are not at all obvious in the analyzed text and even contrary to the author's opinion & stated intent.
This book is useful for getting some inspiration on how to reinterpret Zarathustra- but for a more reliable interpretation, based on the actual text and Nietzsche's other works you should turn to a philsophical book instead.

Unfortunately analytical psychology & psychoanalysis are non-scientific systems making any attempts of discussion futile. This book is very helpful in showing this fact, as you can read how seminar attendants offer equally (im-)plausible interpretations that are simply ignored by Jung without much of a refutation.