Customer Reviews

The Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ: or How to Philosophize with a Hammer (Penguin Classics)

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Two excellent works. However, it might now be the best idea to deliver them in one package, as twilight is an awesome introduction to, and synopsis of, Nietzsche's philosophy and hence a good read for a first encounter with Nietzsche (and a parallel lecture to Zarathustra!), whereas Anthchrist is best understood with the background of Nietzsches other major works, hence more of a last or later read.

Nonetheless 5 stars for the quality of the content:

Twilight: It is extremely rare that a philosopher manages to write such a precise, witty, deep and to-the-point synopsis of his own ideas as Nietzsche did in Twilight - some of the best aphorisms and metaphors in modern philosophy!

Antichrist: Don't be fooled by the polemic style of the book: This is a brilliant psychological and historical analysis AND criticism of christianity. Under the skillful but fierce rhethoric it stays grounded in historic research and observations and substantiates its points with sound arguments. Christians who feel brave enough to think for themselves and test their faith must read this book, as it is a mindblowing exposition of the religion's underlying mechanisms and thoroughly challenges the belief with arguments that Christianity has yet to find answers to.

"Twilight" is the book i always recommend to first-time readers of Nietzsche: It is the most concise statement of his most important ideas. If you read only one book by Nietzsche, make it this one. Both Hollingdale's and Kaufmann's translations are readable and try to be as faithful to the original as possible in style and substance.

If you were raised Christian or have been a Christian, "Antichrist" is quite important as an exposition of dangers in the philosophical underpinings of Christianity (or "Paulism") as world view and praxis, beyond ordinary criticisms that usually focus on the hypocrisy of the Church, etc, which are ultimately less useful. A less important read for those who have never been Christians, especially as N deals in "Twilight" with the "undercover Christianity" (Kantianism, etc.) one is likely to encounter outside the church.

By the way, a previous reviewer cautioned readers that these books were edited by Elisabeth, Nietzsche's sister-- that reviewer was mistaken. She edited only "The Will to Power," which despite her claims was not a book at all but a collection of unconnected notebook entries not intended for publication. Avoid that book until you've read all the rest. "Twilight" and "Antichrist" were written in the prolific year before N became ill and were certainly intended for publication.

Hollingdale's translation of "Twilight of the Idols" and "The Antichrist" is a standard in the classroom. H.L. Mencken, who wrote what I believe was the first American study of Nietzsche in 1908, also translated "The Antichrist" (Mencken's title is "The Anti-Christ") in 1917. I cannot say which of the two translations is the more "accurate." But I can say that Mencken's recently re-issued translation (see Amazon.com listing) is the more interesting and compelling read of the two, and definitely deserves a look.

Ours is a time not that very different from that of Nietzsche's. We too live in a kind of Victorian hell, a genteel time of right thinking professors who would make Nietzsche feel as unwelcome as did his "betters," who recognized he was a genius but didn't want him around. "Twilight of the Idols" is a lot of fun to read. It is exhilarating to read such frankness, without the American way of combining honestly with profanity. It is straight talk on the decline of German culture. I will leave it to the reader to decide if this may be applied to our once great country. Nietzsche's great insight in his time was to return to the Greeks, but to cast Plato aside, in favor of the great historian Thucydides, who immortalized the rhetoricians, such as Pericles, and sang the praises of the speaker and doer of deeds in contrast to the "armchair" thinkers such as Socrates. Nietzsche seems to be the ultimate heavy, but he is a hoot to read and seems to have had as much fun writing this work as I have had reading it.

The two books nicely translated by Hollingdale are among Nietzsche's last four books. The other two being "Ecce Homo" and "The Case of Wagner." But it is this volume that presents Nietzsche's most blatant challenge to the foundations of Western thought, namely, rationalism and Christian values of love, hope, faith, and compassion. Nietzsche is in his most strident in "The Anti-Christ." He clearly saw himself as a world-transforming figure, who was to supplant the figure of Jesus, as he is presented in the Bible.

"The Anti-Christ" poses a difficult challenge to the critic. What aspect of the book is the most important one? By Nietzsche's own account, it is his desire to revaluate all values. If that is the ultimate goal of the book, then Nietzsche fails rather miserabley, as his version of new values offers little more than ruthlessness and principled denial of anything that stands in the way of raging power. However, if viewed as historical criticism, "The Anti-Christ" stand up as an interesting and, at times, insightful, read. Nietzsche continues to probe the psychological depth of the human soul, just as he did in the "Twilight of the Idols."

All in all, this is a must read for any student of philosophy, history, or politics. And here you will see an insightful philosopher and a literary master who, scandalized by the imiplications of Darwin's theory of evolution, constructed a nightmarish visions that would be used and misused by his pseudo-disciples, including the Nazis, to justify cruelty and absurdity. Of all 19th century philosophers, Nietzsche has the greatest impact on the intellectual developments in the humanities in continetal Europe. These two books will give you a taste of the strident and uncompromising genius, tortured by narrow-mindedness and abusrdities of the world, as well as by the bitterness that comes for the total lack of recognition.

These books are not for the light minded, or the closed minded... or for the severly openminded. they are for those who are ready to get on a bull of philosophy that just might throw you to the mat. But, having said that, it is a great read, and could very well be better for you 'in the long run'.

Not recommended for children or republicans.

In this powerful work of philosophy, Nietzsche ponders the value of nearly everything. In the first text Twilight of the Idols, he offers a compelling attack on the prevalent beliefs of his time, including such thinkers as Hegel and Kant, as well as Socrates, theology, morality, and all things German. In the second text, the Anti-Christ, Nietzsche brilliantly and energetically provides his counter-arguement to Christianity and the ways the institution has distorted and murdered the teachings of Christ. His writing is breathtaking and his arguments are made in brief, explosive flashes of immense genius. However, his work can be exhausting as he continues to negate all thought besides his own, and his ability to draw references can be formidable. I'm sure the latter essay will not be palatable to devout Christians but it is necessary that you read it, for it will surely shake the foundations of your belief.

Like so many others I have long been captivated by Nietzsche's powerful writing style. But in looking at this work again I became impressed with another dimension of Nietzsche which I believe is not so much talked about. His bombast. And how his exaggerations( which some dismiss as playful madness) can truly mislead and injure. I read a passage on his celebration of War and I am appalled for it is obviously written by someone whose wars have all been inner ones. The broken, the bleeding, the lamed, the terrible pain and injury of the battlefied is not something Nietzsche knows firsthand- and so he can romanticize it.
In the 'AntiChrist' Neitzsche makes his well- known critique of Christianity.
Nietzsche's brilliance is indisputable but the re-evaluation of values, the celebration of the ' superman'the praising of strength and power contributed to historical consequences he had no control over.
I recommend reading this book but with an extremely critical mind.

I had a hard time trying to come up with a concise rating and review of this 2-in-1 book. On the one hand, Nietzsche sums up and elucidates some fantastic points about the general state of Christian morality and Church teaching (and thus about the human tendency to "hate thyself and one's own nature"). On the other hand, he does appear to suffer from some misunderstandings concerning some particulars of Christianity and Buddhism, worsened to say the least by rampant generalizations and a notable lack of syllogistic explication.
Nietzsche definitely broke ground with many of his other contemporaries of the Modern Era in Western Philosophy by not working in syllogisms and theoretical tabulations. Nietzsche is a man who passionately makes stabs at his opponents without worry of backlash or micrological scrutiny. And this is what makes these two works so fun to read!
Twilight of the Idols is basically a summation of many of his ideas - anyone wishing to gain an overall sense of Nietzsche's position on humanity's relation to the world and itself would do well to read this work.
The Anti-Christ is his most ferocious attack on institutional Christianity and it's many hypocrises. I believe the material still holds relevant today, not as an affront to Jesus' teachings, but on the establishment and growth of Paulism over the last two millenia.
Anyone who is looking to get a good sense of Nietzsche's philosophy and/or a dynamic view of religious law-practice would do well to read this pair of essays, bearing in mind that generalizations run rampant in his writing. I myself found this to be an enjoyable read, although I noted some inaccuracies in content.

"Twilight of the Idols" and "The Anti-Christ" are excellent works. There's no problem with them. Only there may be with my review, given that I read "Twilight," Saint Augustine's "Confessions," and "The Anti-Christ" in that order. It's not a good combination. And it may have motivated my negative (and now deleted) review of the "Confessions." You see, I'd just had Nietzsche explain to me that "the complete woman perpetrates literature in the same way that she perpetrates a little sin." Nietzsche takes a while to get used to.

In "Twilight," Nietzsche makes the point that there are four great logical errors: confusion of cause and consequence, false causality, imaginary causes, and free will. His illustration of the first is the claim that virtue causes happiness.

Another fine point is made in reference to liberal causes. While they are being fought for, they often promote freedom. But once they are attained, there is a restoration of the herd mentality, and freedom is a thing of the past at best. And one final point right before I read the "Confessions": "nothing is rarer among moralists and saints than integrity."

In "The Anti-Christ," Nietzsche strongly condemns Christianity. Nietzsche soon makes an important point which I happen to disagree with. He says that in condemning Christianity, he does not want to "wrong a kindred religion," namely Buddhism. After all, Buddhism's "supreme goal is cheerfulness, stillness, absence of malice, and this goal is achieved." He's right about Buddhism's goal, and he's right that it is achieved. But I think he's wrong about this being completely desirable: I think it removes so much emotion that it takes away some of what makes being human worthwhile.

Nietzsche is outraged by the fact that Christians have made a hero of Jesus, and uses words to describe it such as "an instinctive hatred of reality." He analyzes Christianity from this point of view: as a constant opponent of truth. And he concludes that it has caused distress, and that it has been a conspiracy against health, beauty, bravery, intellect, and life itself.

I think those who have a vague feeling that monotheistic attitudes are a natural part of the human spirit ought to read this book.