Twilight of the Idols and the Anti Christ (Penguin Classics)

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Summary: A Summary and A Polemic
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: Question of thought
Review: How would Nietzsche criticize Ramana Maharshi's philosophical
and ethical system of thought?

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Summary: The First Rock Star outguns the Christians
Review: The perfect album from Crazy Freddie? This is a rip-snorting read - delivered in punchy three minutes bursts of exhilarating energy. Much of Nietszche can, for today's eyes, be pretty impnenetrable stuff (Thus Spake Zarathustra, for example, is a tough read: a bit like Freddie's old sparring partner Dickie Wagner, it has wonderful moments, but some dreadful half hours), but The Antichrist suffers no such lag: Here Continental philosophy's very own Johnny Rotten puts it all together, buzzsawing headlong through the sacred cows, and BOY the band is on song. This is a deconstruction, not of God, not even of the Bible, but of Christanity AS practiced. And what a demolition job it is. Make no mistake, this is no points victory; it's a rout. Christianity has NEVER been beaten up this badly before, but it has never had to fight according to the rules. OK, I'm changing metaphors here, now - Nietzsche is Mohammed Ali, dancing around the Ring (sorry Dickie W, no pun intended) taunting this corpulent, drugged up, pale, pasty opponent, darting in with a vicious jab, ducking out again. There's blood on the floor. The fall guy never stands a chance. Champion of the World, Nietzsche glistens, fizzes, grandstands, and struts round the ring, belt held high above his head, while someone wipes the floor up and bundles off the poor Christian dude to get his face fixed up - it's beautiful, its systematic, and it's unanswerable. But most of all it is so stylish, even in translation. I could quote some of this boiling invective, but I fear it may upset delicate sensibilities. Wonderful stuff!