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What are readers saying about Beyond Good and Evil?
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-18 01:31:12.
(Language: English)
  
I use to enjoy and admire Nietzsche, and this was one of the 1st of his books that I read. Eventually I concluded he was just another philosopher whose personal issues pervaded the formulations and "axioms" of his ideas. He was possible insane (he actually was insane at the time of his death) Interesting aphorisms abound. But, to believe that "there are no moral phenomena at all, only a moral interpretation of phenomena" is a disturbing belief. In dust we trust (or at least, fred did).
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Yes (1) 
No (2)
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Keith posted a review at 2009-09-07 12:40:01.
(Language: English)
Brilliant though at times a bit masogonistic..... I'm sure I spelled that wrong.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-22 01:53:10.
(Language: English)
in my opinion nietzsches best work, as thus spoke zarathustra is more personal and the antichrist more angry and less philosphically minded. great quotes on everything. really some of the best one liners philosophy has to offer.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-03 11:27:44.
(Language: English)
Nietszche's best book, in my opinion. This book discusses judgments we make every day without being aware of having made them. The most obvious are "Good" vs "Evil," while the same sense of duality could be applied to many judgments. These ideas fly in the face of conventional morality and so attained a notoriety even in it's heyday. It is a sad twist of fate that Nietzsche's books were given to German soldiers to read, thus predisposing that war's victors even more against his philosophy. Nitzsche philosophy was grander than that.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-24 03:44:21.
(Language: English)
tHE long and short of it, from what I can see, most read to read, I quite frankly don't agree with this-why--because if you read many boring books in school, you might turn off of books quickly, or you may develop a friendship with reading- and decide to read what you enjoy, which will take you to the next step in reading, learning more and more, as well as developing your reading/vocabulary- escaping to a world of truths, somewhat shaped buy the author, however vaguely the same if the books are fact and well written, and not money maker attempts, so your reading will improve, and you will see, hey, I love to read--it may sound pompous, but many of u just don't make time, including me, to read --- choose carefully, and I think you may be the next review writer- I like this book, I bought it, it was great, I still need to finish it because I have 5 others going---but this book I highly recommend to NY fans a must read!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-12 09:55:51.
(Language: English)
Independence is for the very few; it is a privilege of the strong. And whoever attempts it even with the best right but without inner constraint proves that he is probably not only strong, but also daring to the point of recklessness. He enters into a labyrinth, he multiplies a thousandfold the dangers which life brings with it in any case, not the least of which is that no one can see how and where he loses his way, becomes lonely, and is torn piecemeal by some minotaur of conscience. Supposing one like that comes to grief, this happens so far from the comprehension of men that they neither feel it nor sympathize. And he cannot go back any longer. Nor can he go back to the pity of men.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-10 10:54:01.
(Language: English)
While his revelations were unquestionably a necessary development in philosophy, his views are outdated, and have been bested by many better philosophers, and people need to realize this. Beyond Good and Evil markedly represents an accurate synopsis of Nietzsche's philosophy - that of the self, to the extreme. Yet, his use of heightened language takes aim at the despondent, the outcasted intellectuals, and tries to enrapture them in his own jaded sentimentalities on everything from German Nationalism to Misogyny. (for the benefit of this particular hatred of his, we observe a twenty-page rant about how women aren't even cut out to work in the kitchen tactically positioned in a section titled 'Our Virtues). In the end, a worthy read, but please, please don't take him so seriously. Read Albert Camus.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-11 06:06:20.
(Language: English)
The backbone of Nietzsche's philosophy is to QUESTION everything. And his encouragement for skeptical thinking can be entertaining. "I (have) learned long ago to think differently, to estimate differently, with regard to deceiving and being deceived..." If you want to rise above the crowd-- 'think differently.' Tis true. An interesting discussion in Good and Evil is what Nietzsche posits about truth: One should question what he thinks is true because, let's face it, are't we all limited to our personal biases? What else can we do but judge things from our pre-conceived ideas of morality and laudable actions? Judeo-Christian religion tells us what is right and what is truth. He argues against simplicity in looking at motivations and rather than understanding parts of truth, dig deeper still. So basically he is a pain-in-the-ass type (no wonder the Nazis adored him) who would find a wonderful argument to shoot down anything you'd come up with. Even his questions are questionable.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-21 07:40:08.
(Language: English)
I skimmed this book. I was glad to know he opposed Nihilism; but when I learned he went mad and spent the last decade of his life in a state of pathetic insanity, I had to throw up the boundaries and protect myself from the psychological toxins that evidently destroyed him. Don't be this guy: God, good, and evil exist. Deal with them.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-13 03:48:37.
(Language: English)
I'm actually reading the Penguin edition, which I had difficulty searching for on iRead.That particular version has lots of untranslated foreign aphorisms, and a long commentary in the back with translations, but no citations to the main text. I find this very annoying. As for the actual content...I find Nietzsche hard to follow, because he seems to talk in contradictions here: criticizing something vehemently, then praising it relative to some other terrible thing the next. I am impressed by how much modern psychology takes from his "will to power". Some of his ideas are already so familiar to me that it's quite boring to go over them again, but I have to give him much credit for being the original source.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-23 06:24:47.
(Language: English)
This little book is probably Nietzsche's most famous, if only for its infinitely provocative title. It's also most likely his most comprehensive and accesible; outside of Thus Spoke Zarathurstra, it is the closest he comes to a systematic outline of his enitire philosophy, and unlike that other work, it is presented in familiar philosophical argument. Of course, familiar and Nietzsche go hand in hand in a unique way, and one of the book's charms is its often polemical and overtly normative character. A summation of the book is difficult, since even though it is short (about 200 pages) there is a lot of ground covered. The first half consists of a primitive genealogical and psycholigcal deconstruction on the concept of morality as found in Occidental and Indian cultures. The complexity of the argument here should not be underestimated by those who disagree with him; there are many conclusions that are quite moving and often stunning, and most moralists would concede that the terrain hasn't been the same since Nietzsche. The second half of the book is a (brief) outline of the "free spirit" who is not necessarily the Ubermenshe-the "superman" but is certainly a step towards that. The philosophy of human perfectionism maintained in this half has been more controversial (and I would argue is less philosophically commendable) than in the former. This hardly does justice to the book, which may well be Nietzsche's best. I have never been a huge fan of this thinker since I feel that Kierkegaard diagnosed many of the pitfalls of epistemology and morality earlier and far more profoundly. He also, quite frankly, spoke to me more as a thinker-though that need be true for me alone. Beyond Good and Evil is none the less a rare book, one that is easy to read and yet complex, inviting and yet demanding at once. Much like the philosophy within. To my mind, it is the best and most thorough work by Nietzche, though it should not preclude the serious reader from going through his self-acknowledged masterpiece: Thus Spoke Zarathurstra.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-17 03:16:35.
(Language: English)
I suppose attaching a value-judgement to this book would be counter to the author's intentions... or would it? This book exemplifies my dual reaction to Nietzsche: at best he makes me want to be myself more completely and live life to the fullest, while at worst he sounds like a frothing-at-the-mouth would-be tyrant. I think that he is too important of a thinker to be ignored. The scope of his influence is so vast that it scares me think what portions of it we can't even quantify.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-27 05:15:01.
(Language: English)
This is an amazingly difficult read and in fact it requires more than one reading to pick up even half of what Nietzsche is saying. But its difficulty forces one into reevaluating one's understanding of what one believes. It is worth the struggle. Even though Nietzsche is difficult to understand he will cause you to think and to think hard. Give it a shot.
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Gareth posted a review at 2009-11-04 10:40:19.
(Language: English)
The easiest and most quotable philosopher going. Simle truths
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Ray posted a review at 2009-02-12 04:12:57.
(Language: English)
“…we are going to travel beyond morality.” - Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good & Evil, I, 23
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-19 02:22:48.
(Language: English)
What's the point in figuring it all out when no one will understand what you are saying when you get there.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-14 11:37:17.
(Language: English)
There's a lot in this book I don't agree with - Nietszsche attitudes towards women, the idea that morality is merely protection for "the weak," and the notion that certain people exist only to be used by others - but I think he has some pretty profound points. I really like the idea of creature (material, mass, chaos) and creator (order, discipline, will) in one being and I share his belief that suffering defines who we are. Nietzsche is rightly a controversial philosopher, but even if you don't agree with what he says, it's an interesting read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-05 01:58:10.
(Language: English)
For the content. He actually was quite progressive and modern. A disgrace that he was hijacked by the Nazi.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-04 12:59:58.
(Language: English)
The premise of this book is that there are two types of people: the strong and the weak. The weak are resentful against the strong. Therefore, the weak group's only recourse through resentment is to create a philosophical belief system where the strong will be punished and the weak will ultimately prevail. In order for this system to work there needs to be a greater Power that will do the meeting of justice - i.e. God. Think of "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." I disagree myself - for the main reason that you can't take anything with you. We all die and lose all our possessions at some point. Why kill and maim to gain temporary re-shaped dirt? But his theory on resentment is psychologically sound and does explain much of our judeo-christian punishing God type system. A lot of insights in this book and a fascinating read.
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Thom posted a review at 2011-06-19 09:35:15.
(Language: English)
After much thought I have decided to revaluate this contribution to Western Philosophy. Its unrecognised genius lies in the rigidity with which the average reader approaches the text, with a prejudice cultivated from a familiarity with the erstwhile immutable systems of valuation that human civilizatin has abided by since Socrates. Nietzche unleashes an attack upon all aspects of Western civilization in this work, critiquing the foundations of knowledge and morality. His argument stems largely from the erroneus importance placed upon objective thinking; that what suits one person can also suit another is complete anathema to Nietzsche. The notion of a 'common good' he argues is contradictory, unpalletable and altogether damaging to humankind. His emphasis on the importance of subjective living, a 'Will to Power,' is the ideal that should replace the great levelling and mediocrising that he identified at the end of the Nineteenth Century. Whereas those who approach this work with a socio-cultural prejudice already in mind might slander nietzsche as elitist or obscurantist, what they fail to realise is at a fundamental level Nietzsche's phlosophy promotes a great sense of liberty, the liberty not to have to abide the cage of civilization into which we have locked our instinctual basis.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-17 11:38:43.
(Language: English)
Ya know, sometimes your right, and sometimes your right. How could I ever debate what has been written in this book? Simple, I will not, but it was one great read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-13 01:20:01.
(Language: English)
Far too brilliant to be ignored
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-29 09:37:42.
(Language: English)
I like it
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-14 12:40:25.
(Language: English)
In a lot of respects, this book can be terribly unsatisfying. It will make grand, often peculiar statements, without much reasoning. However, it presents some engaging and often entertaining points. The issue of academic honesty when behaving as if one is beyond taint from bias is delightful, his criticisms of philosophy entertaining and generally it is laden with brilliantly worded quotes and unique thoughts that one would be hard-pressed to encounter elsewhere. The chauvanism that litters the book is perhaps almost shocking and entertaining in the sense that he fails to examine his own views, when self-examination is something he argues for more of. Highly entertaining, full of wit and uniquely styled this book is well worth the read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-13 08:47:12.
(Language: English)
Ahead of his time, to be sure. Nietzsche is capable of both profound insight and honesty. Occasionally the book delves into a rant (sometimes about controversial topics with out dated views) but nonetheless qualifies as a masterpiece.
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