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The Portable Nietzsche (Portable Library) by [Friedrich Nietzsche, Walter Kaufmann]

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Friedrich Nietzsche

Walter Kaufmann

The Portable Nietzsche (Portable Library) Kindle Edition

by Friedrich Nietzsche (Author), Walter Kaufmann (Introduction, Translator) Format: Kindle Edition

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Part of: Portable Library (19 books)

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The works of Friedrich Nietzsche have fascinated readers around the world ever since the publication of his first book more than a hundred years ago. As Walter Kaufmann, one of the world’s leading authorities on Nietzsche, notes in his introduction, “Few writers in any age were so full of ideas,” and few writers have been so consistently misinterpreted. The Portable Nietzsche includes Kaufmann’s definitive translations of the complete and unabridged texts of Nietzsche’s four major works: Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Nietzsche Contra Wagner and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. In addition, Kaufmann brings together selections from his other books, notes, and letters, to give a full picture of Nietzsche’s development, versatility, and inexhaustibility. “In this volume, one may very conveniently have a rich review of one of the most sensitive, passionate, and misunderstood writers in Western, or any, literature.” —Newsweek

Print length

708 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

January 27, 1977
Reading age

18 years and up
File size

1031 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was born in Prussia in 1844. After the death of his father, a Lutheran minister, Nietzsche was raised from the age of five by his mother in a household of women. In 1869 he was appointed Professor of Classical Philology at the University of Basel, where he taught until 1879 when poor health forced him to retire. He never recovered from a nervous breakdown in 1889 and died eleven years later. Known for saying that “god is dead,” Nietzsche propounded his metaphysical construct of the superiority of the disciplined individual (superman) living in the present over traditional values derived from Christianity and its emphasis on heavenly rewards. His ideas were appropriated by the Fascists, who turned his theories into social realities that he had never intended. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001R9DI3Y
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; US Ed edition (January 27, 1977)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 27, 1977
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1031 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 708 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #159,395 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #19 in Individual Philosophers (Kindle Store)
- #44 in Modern Philosophy (Kindle Store)
- #99 in Individual Philosophers (Books)

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608 ratings

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Erin

Know what you are buying so you are not dissapointed.

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2019

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Walter Kaufmann gives the best translation. This book gives you 3 full translations on Nietzsche books. Twilight of the idols, the Antichrist, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. (TSZ is arguably his best book.) I would also recommend that you pick up "Basic Writings of Nietzsche" that book contains 4 more full translations by Kaufmann. They are The Birth of Tragedy, Beyond Good and Evil, On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo. The only three copies that are missing from these two books are Human, All Too Human, The Antichrist, and The Will to Power. ( The Will to Power Nietzsche didn't finish. So it's more about product of his sister who pieced it together.)

90 people found this helpful

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Rick

A True Genius

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2019

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Nietzsche was undoubtedly a gifted genius; but I am not convinced that he really had a coherent philosophy. Nietzsche's genius consisted of being able to make very insightful (and usually sarcastically critical, but very witty) comments about human nature, philosophy, psychology, history, literature, and religion. He was recognized as an intellectual prodigy at a very young age, but, unfortunately I believe his eventual decay into dementia was becoming apparent in his writings for quite a while before his actual collapse. His wide range of grandiose statements is why Nietzsche was taken as a philosophical "thought leader" of so many other diverse figures. I believe most of them were taking snippets out of context with no real appreciation of Nietzsche's actual positions.

19 people found this helpful

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BMR

This is It

Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2011

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If you're looking to read Nietzsche -- either superficially or deeply -- there are only 2 books you really need: Kaufman's Portable Nietzsche and Kaufman's The Basic Writings of Nietzsche.

Of course, you're getting different works from both of these anthologies.

If you're looking to read Thus Spake Zarathustra (as well as letters, Twilight of the Idols, the Antichrist, and selections from many of his other works), buy the Portable Nietzsche reader

If you're looking to read Beyond Good and Evil and the Geanology of Morals (or the Birth of Tragedy / Ecce Homo, etc.) buy the Basic Writings.

Really, you SHOULD own both. One is certainly not a substitute for the other. However, if you're thinking about what to read first.... let me put it like this:

Read Thus Spoke Zarathustra first if you're looking for something more laconic and literary (buy Portable Nietzsche)

Read Beyond Good and Evil first if you're looking for something more aphoristic and philosophical (buy Basic Writings)

All in all, I reference them both about the same.... and once you've worked your way through these you can touch The Will to Power.

Good Luck!!! He really was brilliant man. Hopefully you won't be one of the many who have egregiously misunderstood what he was saying.

173 people found this helpful

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Good Book, Bad Printing

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2019

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I haven't yet had a chance to read this book--the printing was too disappointing. I bought a hardcover to have a long term, good quality book--and the one I received from Amazon directly was like a mass market paper book (typical lightweight grey tissue like mass market paper) sandwiched between a hard cover. Returning and hope the next one will be better.

11 people found this helpful

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Intro To Nietzsche

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2013

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This anthology of works by Nietzsche includes "Thus Spake Zarathustra", "The Antichrist", "Twilight of the Idols" and "Nietzsche contra Wagner" in there entirety, as well as many letters, excerpts, notes and insights from translator/editor Walter Kaufmann. The translation is easy to read, and Kaufmann takes necessary liberties with the translation to make the book more understandable and reader-friendly to the English reader. He notes these liberties in the notes, and the information presented flows well.

Nietzsche's works are arranged in the book in chronological order. As a reader, you are able to see him slowly slipping into an angry, troubled darkness which marked the last decade of his life. Whether taking on the state, Christianity, German philosophers and theologians, or Richard Wagner, Nietzsche exudes passion and intelligence that the translation effectively transmits to the reader. Many of his arguments against religion and Christianity (in particular - "The Antichrist") as well as his concept of the "superman" in "Thus Spake Zarathustra" underpin his consistent belief that man should not be held back by religion or state, and that "equal" isn't "fair". His philosophy that equality will drive man to the lowest common denominator in his abilities underpins most of his works.

Nietzsche was a brilliant and troubled philosopher, and this anthology provides a great feel for the man and his works with superior editing, commentary and translation. If you want an intro, this should be strongly considered.

42 people found this helpful

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Darkman

Love of Fate...

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2020

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Complete translations of selected books are fascinating reads. One wished Kaufmann should have translated all of the books instead of just a handful. One can realize it’s a lot of work but still... Also Sprach Zarathustra is definitely a good read, even if you’re scratching your head, so what? If one can read Pilgrim’s Progress, one can jolly well read Zarathustra. However, The Antichrist is a very provocative anti-Christian screed, half of it agreed, yet the other half, not so much. The translator had pointed out like Birth of the Tragedy, The Antichrist is not a scholarly work. I would personally stick to the facts, not guesswork.

2 people found this helpful

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Tony R.

This is a great small collection of Nietzsche's works

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2017

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This is a great small collection of Nietzsche's works. I took this with me on a 7 month deployment overseas and it was great enjoying some of his best works without having to carry multiple books. The translation is the usual trusted Kaufmann, so it's hard to make this any better.

11 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Jack

A great collection of Nietzsche's important works

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2019

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Sadly, it does not include full versions of each work, but for the ones it does provide in full, such as Thus Spoke Zarathustra, it has a good selection

4 people found this helpful

Paul Reynolds

Good old Nietzsche

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2014

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This is probably one of the better Nietzsche compilations out there, given the number of complete works inside it. While I'd argue 'Beyond Good and Evil' might be a better starting point, if only because it provides a good look at Nietzsche's style, this is most likely the next step along. Nietzsche is definitely my favourite philosopher, and I really enjoyed reading through this book.

9 people found this helpful

Apollonia.

Absolute rubbish. Have to give it one star !

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2020

Verified Purchase

Boring to the extreme.
I suppose that because the author suffered from nausea and was ill , he sought release in writing. Well, his frustration paid off , boring nonsense.

Jarvious

this book is now my bible

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2012

Verified Purchase

Nietzsche challenges every aspect of traditional life and distrusts all reasoning in the world. very interesting read. christians & philosophers beware. you will enter the depths of your soul that youd rather not come across. this being said, im in love with it. 5 stars.

5 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Good condition

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

Great condition and speedy delivery.