Rating: 
Summary: A brief comment
Review: I just had a brief comment to make on TSZ, which, although not my usual sort of reading in philosophy, I still enjoyed and found thought-provoking in many ways.My philosophical interests are mainly in 20th-century analytical philosophy and the philosophy of science, but I've read a few books here and there specifically about Nietzsche and his philosophy, and although I sometimes wonder if the exhortatory, highly personal and idiosyncratic, and epigrammatic (not to mention contradictory) approach to expressing his ideas that Nietzsche takes in Zarathustra really does justice to them, there is no doubt the book strikes a responsive chord in readers in a way that none of his other typically more academic-sounding books have. I will say, however, that I do agree with a couple of the things he says in the book. I liked the parts where Zarathustra says that "Man has killed God with his indifference," and also, on a more sociological note, "It is not that our institutions are no good anymore; it is we who are no longer any good for our institutions." I can sort of relate to those sentiments, at least, and whether one agrees with many of Zarathustra's statements or not (and actually, despite my reservations about the book's style and presentation, I found I often agreed with what Zarathustra says) the book certainly stands as one of the most dramatic, visionary, and uniquely personal philosophical works ever written.
Rating: 
Summary: Recommending not to begin with Zarathustra
Review: I would like to advise new readers of Nietzsche to not read Zaruthustra until you have read a number of his other works. The book is cryptic, metaphoric, and employs heavy symbolism that will be easily misinterpreted by those who have not invested in Nietzsche's thinking. Better to begin with Genealogy of Morals, or even Beyond Good and Evil (which recounts Zarathustra, but is more accessible), or Kaufmann's "Philosopher, Psychologist, Anti-Christ," or begin from the beginning with Birth of Tragedy and follow the chronology of his writings. A quick introduction to the style and nature of Nietzsche can be had through his Untimely Meditations, or the Gay Science.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth Reading
Review: Nietzsche has been said to be one of the greatest influances on modern philosophy, especially the existentialist movement and Zarathustra shows the reader just why he was a large influance. Nietzsche's works are truly like no ohter writer's, however, his philosophy seemed to be ignorant and sexist at times to myself, but none the less I do feel that everyone should read some of Nietzsche's works (or any philosopher's works for that matter). I do enjoy Nietzsche's argument against modern Christianity and the herd mentaility of the masses, but I think those two things would have to be my favorite philosophical views of Nietzsche. I give this book and Nietzsche in general, three stars because, while he will be an influance and is a good read, his philosophy is not the greatest at many points and is often misunderstood by people.
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Summary: The "New" Repulic.
Review: The only other western philosophical text as importnat as this book is Plato's "Republic." We have once again arrived at the cross-roads of Heraclitus v/s Paramendides. I wouldn't recommended jumping into it without a good knowledge of the Western philosophical traditon and religious traditions. (Zarathutra himself calls learning ALL this backround information "the spirit of the camel" or first taking on the burden of knowledge before going about anything else. To not take on this "burden of knowledge" is the main flaw of most Nietzsche critics and mis-understanders.) Also, Nietzsche was an anti-systemic philosopher so it demands to be viewed/critiqued in a different way than traditional philosophy. To begin to grasp Nietzsche's "Zarathustra" I would to recommend first reading his earlier works starting with a couple of short essays. The first one is "Truth and Lie in a Non-Moral Sense" which is about human language, logic and the all-too-human need for these "lies." The other essay is "Homer's Contest" which reveals his legacy as starting from the early Greek tradition.
Some important things to know about this book to avoid the common misinterpretation that Nietzsche is just a Atheist/Nihilist with a superiority complex:
-pay very close attention to his critque of mind/body dualsism and what he proposes otherwise.
-The "Overman" is a conception that only looks toward the future. Later in the book Zarathustra supercedes the "Overman" idea with the cyclical concept of "Eternal Recourence." Even Zarathustra himself has a hard time confronting this view of life and existence. Also, don't make the mistake that eternal reccourence is just a "telos," it is not. Zarathutra speaks in parables not absolutes.
-One of Nietzsche's most favorite authors was Emerson (who also used the name "Zarathutra" in his some of his writings) and their ideas/project have mainy similarities.
-The idea of the world/life not being worthy without a metaphysical world behind it is exactaly what Nietzsche was aimed at overcoming.
-Don't over-simplify will-to-Power as will-to-Overpower.
-Think hard about this being a "book for all and none," think very hard.
-Plato's "Sun" is replaced with "sun" of the Self. This "sun" is the "dancing star." For some odd reason, I see few people mention the signifcance of Self-love in "Zarathustra." This is KEY in understanding where Nietzsche is going/taking us.
-Nietzsche isn't worldly political like the Republic, instead he symbolically speaks of the battle of modern human soul in political terms. As far as translations go, I prefer Kaufmann over Holingdale because he pays more attetntion to the nuances of Nitezsche's word play. But I would recommend reading more than one translation and getting the best out of all of them. I also would recommend getting some familiarity with the symbols of alchemy and other mystery traditions. Just as Nietzsche turns Plato's "Theory of the Line" and "Allegory of the Cave" upside-down, he also turns these "mystery" symbols inside-out. No longer is it a connection with anything "beyond" the world that makes it valuable. Instead,It becomes conections with body and the world. "The mind is a herald of the body." For example, consider the "ouroboros" as a symbol of "Eternal Recurrence." In some sense, Zarathutra was very much a prophet of holism as opposed to strict dualism. Carl Jung's 1,500+ page incomplete study of "Zarathura" is a testement to the richness of Zarathustra's symbolism. If you can catch a deep enough glance, this book will change your life. And if you keep re-reading it, it will keep on changing your life.
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Summary: Nietzsche and Socrates
Review: Thus Spoke Zarathustra, which was distributed among the German army and read by Hitler, has been long misunderstood. Walter Kaufmann, whose translations of Nietzsche's works are the best available, has been somewhat successful in helping us interpret this great book. Friedrich Nietzsche tried in this book and others to undermine the prevailing ethics, namely those of Christianity. Christianity, Nietzsche (and later, Martin Heidegger) believed, stemmed from the moral teachings of Socrates; even modern science is derived from them. Nietzsche is the great critic of modern times. He worried that communism would lead to a horrible homogenization of culture and an overextension of the bourgeoisie (which he hated). Throughout Zarathustra, he praises war, the warrior's spirit, cruelty, vanity, etc.- all things denounced by Christianity. This is not so much to bring about "new" values but rather a re-evaluation of all values! Both Nietzsche and Heidegger went back obsessively to the pre-Socratic philosophers, searching for alternatives. But Nietzsche does not scorn Socrates; on the contrary, he praises him as the "pied piper" full of "prankish wisdom," terms Nietzsche also applies to himself. And Nietzsche really is on the level Socrates: both are great, prankish, wise, critics of their times and both are philosophers. Both help us understand how to live (and, more importantly, how to die), though there are disagreements between the two. But Nietzsche brings up the great questions of our times: are OUR values the best? should we find others? should we begin anew? Read Zarathustra if you care to explore these things. Also, for those interested, I recommend Werner Dannhauser's "Nietzsche's View of Socrates," the section from Allan Bloom's "The Closing of the American Mind" called "From Socrates' Apology to Heidegger's Rektoratsrede," Heidegger's "Being and Time," and of course, the rest of Nietzsche's books.
Rating: 
Summary: sad
Review: This man inspired such twentieth century visionaries as Hitler and Marilyn Manson! Oh, But I forgot, I have to be politically correct. Why is everyone so cushy over over this guy? And why do people always have to say that his philosophy was "misinterpreted by so and so"? It would seem more appropriate to simply say he influenced people, like we do with every other writer. Besides, Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy already dealt with ubermench(aka The Grand Inquisitor, aka Napoleon) in much more convincing fashion.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best books ever written
Review: this is nietzsche's best. Kind of hard to understand unless you haven't read any of his other works. In here he's an optimist. Looking for new values, questioning and creating. Nietzsche is contracictory and a paradox. He's influental and original. I think it's funny that he helped create a world he would have despised. One ruled by " the political elite of peddling to the masses" and postmodernism. You can't understand his side though,,,,he's not congruent. He thinks trade is borgouise but hates socialism. He loves war but doesn't like the state. So all we have is a ruling king...or something. Nietzsche was sort of a fatalist and believed in "blood" or genetics in modern terms. But at other times says that "not were you're from from but were you're going is what matters" or something along those lines.Plus the camel,lion, and child story seems like slave, warrior, thinking conscious being to me...or free will. I also see a very confused ...emotional man. He was influenced by people he shoots down, and he influenced many others. It seemed German philosophers (except Kant) didn't believe in free will(this could be because of the lutheran influence.) But nietzsche sometimes isn't even consistent here. Hegel and the "geist" and Marx and communism thought they "knew" where
society was going....marx with socialist,utilitarian, and possibly subconscious christian beliefs was going to create utopia. Nietzsche is right here too... atheistic individuals not examining past values( upholding altruism) and creating heaven on earth or "equility" is hell on earth. Nietzsche new this would happen... "the state.... where the slow suicide of all is called life" I don't think think neitzsche was nearly as 'evil" as anyone thinks....some say to take him at his word. I judge people by their actions,and he was a peaceful man. And he hated anti-semites. I think he was just looking for new values... realizing the current ones where a joke. Way ahead of his time
Rating:
Summary: The ascension of the "overman"
Review: What a wealth of ideas Nietzsche presents, from a man with a excessively intense mind. Philosophical, poetic, psychological, sociological, and social Darwinism all juxposized into a amazing free flowing work of fiction from a philosopher and self proclaimed psychologist. I would warn anyone with a weak heart and subtle ideas not to read this book beacuse it will change you. Nietzsche had a torn yet brilliant mind, who along with Arthur Schopenhauer predicted and wrote about theories that Sigmund Freud later popularized. In fact, Freud did not want to read Nietzsche because he wanted to keep his psychoanalytic findings as pure as possible.
I have read this book three times and I never read a book more then once. Nietzsche was so full of angst and passion that I have to read Zarathurstra in short bursts in order to come down from the high he creates in my head.. I highly recommend this book for the srong willed those with "the will to power."
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Summary: Nietzsche¿s audience is the 21st Century Reader
Review: Nietzsche presents an argument against the will of the 'last man' so effectively, many scholars substitute his pure genius as mere hell-raising. One point in time, one moment in present, past, or future, one recognizes the inevitability of death. Certain aspects and beliefs on how immortality can be attained are thrown out like garbage by Nietzsche; thus, many people are upset by his disregard for the immortal. In his work Thus Spoke Zarathustra Friedrich Nietzsche possessed by Iranian Prophet Zarathtustra, yes possessed, instructs the reader on how to attain the position of the 'over man.' This position requires much self-sacrifice of the willing and directs the reader to "let go" of the control of the ego on conscious reality. The constant battle between the unconscious Id and conscious Ego is also recognized by Sigmund Freud, other than Nietzsche. Three metamorphosis stages that include the camel, the lion, and the child are required by the individual seeking enlightenment towards 'over man.' To "let go" of the past, the last man must realize that everything he is given must be given back to his fellow man, without respite or lament. The serpent and the eagle represent the ego and the spirit of the will of everyman; thus, to reach the 'over man,' an individual must live for the present like the animal. Most important, his ego must go under. The four sections within Thus Spoke Zarathustra define every standpoint Zarathustra selects for the reader to recognize. If an individual accepts the position to forgo justice and vengeance and discern there is no true justice, then the pinnacle of 'over man' becomes more clear. The 'last man' is consumed by the past and cannot 'let go' of regret, ultimately causing the 'spirit of revenge' to take hold. Time advances constantly against the 'last man' and his conscious reality. Recognition of a timeless unconscious begets the 'over man,' because time is only with us in our conscious state Have you ever had a dream where you have done so little in such a great amount of time slept? Nietzsche's most controversial and unique statement "God is Dead" should not be taken literally. Of course God is not dead. God is dead in the mind of man whose soul dies along with the body, thus, leading to the 'despiser of the body.' The person who despises the body because of its mortality has elevated the ego to force repression upon the body. This repression of natural instinct and belief in temperance only works if equilibrium can be kept between body and earth. If equilibrium cannot be attained between body and earth, the 'despiser of the body' only lives for what, he can gain without giving back. To be able to give and give without receiving like the sun that lights the earth, precipitates to the status of 'over man.' Nietzsche's unique view of humanity at the end of the 19th Century exhibits many perspectives on posturing by the 'last man.' Thus Spoke Zarathustra delivers great innuendo and prospect for the reader. Nietzsche's main audience is the 21st Century reader looking for answers to questions posed by technological and enlightenment advance. Nietzsche's controversy remains a barrier for many artists looking to express forms of nihilism in their work. Probably the most accurate description of contemporary life seen through the eyes of nihilism comes in the form of Fight Club, but every secondary source, or idea on any philosopher must be taken with caution.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Quality and clarity have always been the hallmarks of the Penguin series, and they extend to this one also. Unlike the other translations, dense with tedious bombast and medieval suffixes, the Hollingdale translation is focused and one couldnt ask for a more keen choice of words. With this superb translation I could at least concentrate on the philosophy, rather than trying to decipher the difficult language. While reading this, the words danced rather than gravitated, making reading this book all the more enjoyable.
As for the content and Nietszche's philosophy, it was intelligent and convincing. However one mustn't take this book literally. The transformation to Ubermensch is figuratively speaking, so is "dancing" and "laughter". In the context of this book one might interpret them as symbols of liberation and ascention. To best explain this one might take a scientist as an example. At first, the scientist burdens himself with study of the discoveries of his predecessors, in which he resembles a camel (1st transformation). After his vigorous study he must assert himself and his independence from others, in which he resembles a lion (2nd transformation). And thirdly, he must develop a distnctive personal style which will distinguish him from the others, in which he becomes like a child (3d transformation). In the 3d and final stage he is liberated from any signs of struggle, giving freedom to his spirit.
However engaging Nietzsche's philosophy is, it is at times vague and sadly laconic, e.g. his account on the battle of the virtues was not expanded enough and didn't explain what one might do when those battled for supremacy. Also, some might find his philosophy callous and ruthless, as it persuades leaving the helpless behind for the sake of the ascention of few. Ruthless it may be, but accurate and very relevant. In addition, some might find it especially offensive and absurd as it sorns mercy and pity. Regardless of this aspect of it, I would say this book is permeated with the influence of Enlightenment: striving to improvement and liberation. It is slightly atheistic which will deter fervent believers in god, but the atheistic thread is so subtle it would idiotic to sacrifice Nietzsche's philosphy for religious principles. Overall, an outstandingly written book.
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