Customer Reviews

Reading the New Nietzsche

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There's a blurb by Athur Danto on the back cover of this book that says that this is the only book that Nietzsche himself would have endorsed. I think Danto may be right. Allison gets past all the landmines in Nietzsche's writings, and doesn't fall for the overly simple right-wing reading of Nietzsche that's so popular with the Ayn Rand types. Instead, he gives us a subtle interpretation of Nietzsche's theory of knowledge (yes, Nietzsche did believe in knowledge, he was just very careful about making an absolute claims) and morality (and yes, Nietzsche did believe in morality...he's just very critical of what has passed for morals in the western world). It's impossible to summarize Allison's conclusions, but they're incredibly well supported by the texts, and Allison's writing is crystal clear. A real pleasure to read, especially if you're a Nietzsche fan who's been disturbed by all the misreadings of Nietzsche. I think this would also make a good intro book for someone just beginning to explore Nietzsche's thought.

Like a good friend who knows and understands you and your moods, Dr. Allison has an informal, conversation tone that enables him to relay an uncommon combination of scholarly material with passion. He is comfortable with his writing and it was a pleasure to read the formulations that appear astoundingly obvious with his guidance. Most of Nietzsche's work requires many readings, cross-referencing and an intense commitment to grasp the essentials and comprehend the concepts being presented. Dr. Allison's book makes these difficult journeys so enjoyable. I experienced an empathy with Nietzsche's work within Dr. Allison's framework. Anyone who has read Nietzsche will truly appreciate this wonderful book and for those who haven't, this is an outstanding introduction which allows you to "feel" the journey to some great ideas! I envy those people who get to discover "Reading the New Nietzsche" by David B. Allison for the first time!

Allison's text is a refreshing and well-written analysis of Nietzsche's most famous works. Devoid of the usual shibboleths of contemporary writing, Allison offers a penetrating look at the main features and problems of the Nietzsche corpus in a manner accessible to any sensitive reader. A must read.

This is a good piece of scholarship, worthy of the editor of THE NEW NIETZSCHE.

Alison's 'Reading the New Nietzsche' is a great way to more-than familiarize yourself with the often difficult to comprehend German philosopher. It is probably the best "introduction" to a philosopher's work I have yet to read, and this is saying quite a bit. Nietzsche is a thinker who is abnormally difficult to write about because of his style and methods of work. For a writer to not only explain his main ideas is an achievement; but Alison does so with an ease and clarity which makes the read almost seem like that of a book of history, but encompasses the bulk of the philosopher's sometimes incomprehensible thought. The book is highly recommended to all alike.

Allison's work does manage to avoid postmodernist jargon, but not the rest of the pomo tendencies. His Nietzsche is an irrationalist with no contributions to knowledge or philosophy worth remembering. The book is tiresome and the prose tends toward moralism, pedantry and saccarine pride at being a postmodern moralizer. The industry review supplied here at Amazon is innacurate: the chapters are on Birth of Tragedy, The Gay Science, Zarathustra and the Genealogy of Morals ONLY! There is no chapter on Beyond Good and Evil, not on The Antichrist, nor on Twilight of the Idols, nor on the autobiography. I disagree that Allison has covered the principal works since he ignores so many of them.

If you want another Heideggerian-Derridian "reading" that is more about living people than about Nietzsche, then maybe this is for you. But if you want to learn about Nietzsche's ideas and what he means for the real life of the mind today, this book will not assist you.