Review
"This book will have a major impact in both rhetoric and Nietzsche studies. Thomas does not settle for standard or accepted ways of approaching Nietzsche. He understands, respects, and carefully articulates Nietzsche's substantive contribution to rhetoric. Equally important, Nietzsche himself is read as a rhetorician--one who does not just theorize rhetoric in relation to Western philosophical traditions, but who also exploits its potential in posing alternatives for thinking and living. Nietzsche scholars and newcomers to his thought will benefit immensely from this ambitious book." --Carole Blair, Professor of American Studies, University of California, Davis
"The first full-length treatment of a Nietzschean rhetoric, this book fills a void in contemporary rhetorical scholarship. Thomas provides a superb analysis that confronts Nietzsche on his own terms. The result is a reading that illustrates the rich texture of Nietzsche's theoretical perspective while illuminating his marked influence as both rhetorical theorist and master rhetorician. Comprehensive and eloquently argued, the text will have a range of uses in advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses. It is written in a highly accessible style, making it possible for students with little or no prior exposure to Nietzsche, or to classical rhetoric, to understand the central arguments and gain a deeper appreciation for the role language plays in negotiating our relation to the world around us." --Raymie E. McKerrow, Professor, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
"Reading Nietzsche Rhetorically is a timely, crossdisciplinary contribution. Thomas has disclosed an extremely accessible route of entry into the labyrinth of Nietzsche's thought. Students of rhetoric and philosophy will find Thomas to be an amiable and teacherly guide." --Daniel W. Conway, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University
"In important ways, Reading Nietzsche Rhetorically explores the key issues that are at the heart of deconstruction and postmodern thought. Douglas Thomas provides a commanding account of how Nietzsche used a rhetorical theory to combat the metaphysics of Plato and its hold on the Western tradition. He explores Nietzsche's reversal of Platonism, critique of representation, and philosophical style in a way that offers insight into the sensuous quality of language and that affirms the rhetorical process by which human truth is created." --Gerard A. Hauser, Professor of Communication, Univeristy of Colorado at Boulder
From the Back Cover
This book will have a major impact in both rhetoric and Nietzsche studies. Thomas does not settle for standard or accepted ways of approaching Nietzsche. He understands, respects, and carefully articulates Nietzsche's substantive contribution to rhetoric. Equally important, Nietzsche himself is read as a rhetorician/m-/one who does not just theorize rhetoric in relation to Western philosophical traditions, but who also exploits its potential in posing alternatives for thinking and living. Nietzsche scholars and newcomers to his thought will benefit immensely from this ambitious book (Carole Blair, Professor of American Studies, University of California, Davis).
