Customer Reviews
Fascinating insights - By: C. Harman, 20 Aug 2008 
This is a fascinating book, a crucial theme of which is the support for a grown-up way of existance that has sadly been overshadowed by that of lesser minds. Another thread running through the book is the idea of the 'will to power' as the key to understanding our lives. Along the way, we also get opinions on the woman's relation to the kitchen; what it means to be a recluse; flashing criticism of the English & academics; criticism of Kant & other philosophers; a brilliant investigation of the 'master' morality, & just about anything else you could possibly imagine. Nietzsche's use of language is masterfulin its creativity, colour, allure & entertainment value. His insights are profound & always accurate (perhaps with the exception of when he is talking about music). This really is a wondeful book.
Go with the Cambridge version - By: R. Watts-Huston, 30 Jan 2008 Our college accidentally bought the Penguin version of BGE, & as a student of languages I can tell you that the translation quality is very poor. Some passages seem to lose their meaning entirely for lack of a feeling for the overall text on the part of the translator. Eventually I gave up on the Penguin copy & went for the Cambridge one - the difference was immense. I would definitely recommend the Cambridge copy.
In terms of the text itself, BGE is one of the most important books ever written, & one of the most fun.
Best place to start with Nietzsche - By: Mr. Peter Coville, 12 Mar 2007 Many start with the better-known "Thus spoke Zarathoustra" but this book is a clearer & more accessible exposition of Nietzsche's mature philosophy. The book is organized under chapter headings dealing with the main areas Nietzsche was concerned with : philosophy & philosophers, religion, art, the genealogy of morals etc. as well as various brilliant aphorisms. Above all, do not believe the bitter reviews of those who were probably looking for a manual of traditional or religious morality - Nietzsche's aim was precisely to attack these & replace them with something better. But beyond his polemical aspect, Nietzsche is an ESSENTIAL philosopher for our self-understanding because he reintroduced the body into the western philosophical tradition, thus reversing the idealistic tradition which started with Plato. Thus he is of the highest importance whether or not one agrees with all of his conclusions. This is the best & clearest introduction to his thought.
A DISSERTATION ... IN APHORISMS AND CITATIONS - By: alaskadoggie, 31 Oct 2004 After his "Zarathustra" & "Ecce Homo" this MASTERPIECE is very probably the most read book that is signed with the unique pen of Friedrich NIETZSCHE. We can define the ESSENCE of this work as a radical form of criticism towards modernity. With the well known fury of this master - & his so particular style, "HIS" way of writing & thinking - he opposes & attacks "modern" science, politics & arts, without even the slightest bit of mercy. However "HIS TIME", people of that period were so proud (even still today) of that modernity. CONCEPTS like "scientific objectivity", "sympathy" & "ethic responsability" are minutely dissected here & "downsized" to their REAL ORIGIN: THE WILL FOR POWER.
It wasin fact Nietzsche's intention, even his deepest wish that the book would be read as a programmatical discourse with which he tried to reach his spiritual "relatives", the "free" spirits, PEOPLE OF THE FUTURE, who saw Nietzsche as "one of them", or rather: wanted to see him as their spiritual leader & guide.
This quite "special book" is built, constructedin 296 paragraphs (some only a few lines some several pages) & can be seen as the PENDANT of his "ZARATHUSTRA", which he had accomplished the year before &in which the author made his first attempt to resume his way of philosophical reasoning & thinking. As "Thus spake Zarathustra" excellsin symbolism & literary presentation, his "Beyond Good And Evil" is famous thanks to the numerous concise aphorisms than can extremely well be cited, quoted again & again, above all with an extraordinary ease.
THIS IS LITERATURE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND RANKING, very well readable for all human beings (sic!!!). What is more: this wonderful, magnificent book STAYS being read & re-read all over again. Very much so because of THE SPLENDID APHORISMS AND QUOTATIONS. IT IS AN UNEQUALLED, UNFORGETTABLE WORK IN ITS GENRE. A GREAT AND TRUE PLEASURE TO READ ... FOR EVERYBODY.
RECOMMENDED MASTERPIECE TO ALL OF YOU: TO BE READ HOWEVER WITHOUT CHEAP PREJUDICES.
Life-changing - By: Oliver Jackson, 23 Sep 2004 As a philosophy student it was compulsory for me to read this book, & soon after starting I realised why the subject is such a joy for me. Beyond Good & Evil is compulsive, written throughoutin the acerbic prose & (necessarily) non-linear structure that characterises Nietzsche's writing. Whether or not you agree with his strong, controversial assertions, you will certainly question the foundations of your knowledge throughout. A general knowledge of philosophy is certainly helpful before reading, as the author references, invariably polemically, a good many of the philosophical canon throughout. However, the aphoristic nature of the text also allows for readers perhaps struggling with the text to skip parts without losing too much - Nietzsche's key themes are fairly evident throughout. A staggeringly iconoclastic work essential for anybody interestedin philosophy, ethics or 20th century social historyin general - Nietzsche's work would go on to have profound influence on Freud, Derrida & Sartre, to name just three prominent followersin the continental tradition. Unreservedly recommended.
