The Will to Power [Paperback]

I would only recomment this book to people who have read Nietzsche for a number of years, and only then with a large disclaimer that this book isn't meant to be taken AS a book. Walter Kaufmann, in the introduction, states that this book should be seen only as a collection of notes. Furthermore, I would also like to point out that the notion of die Ubermensch ("the overman", or in less exact translations "the superman" is not necessarily supposed to be taken within a genetic context. Overcoming onesself constantly, learning to think for onesself and read for onesself is something that Nietzsche seems to prize. Of course, these ideals don't really fit within what we know of Nazi ideology. Nietzsche did value hardness, he did critique Judaism and the mediocre. However, he also critiques anti-semitism, Christianity, modern science, women, men, men's depiction of women, etc, etc, etc. He often contradicts himself, so as to make the reader grapple with the subjects he discusses. One must always be careful about saying that one "understands" Nietzsche--the more one studies Nietzsche, the more one comes to realize how little one really understands Nietzsche.

I believe Nietzsche was a genius and I don't use that lightly. He's a master at I believe the human condition and discovering why people do what they do. Psycho-Analysis begins here.

He didn't advocate Socialism, Democracy, Communism, he didn't like the state of Germany which was the building ground to Nazism and anti-semitism.

I think the more you educate yourself the more you will appreciate his work. When I first read his work (he was one of the first philosophers I read)... he seemed ruthless and harsh. I know some will disagree with me but I think the more you understand economics and libertarian thought the more you'll like and understand him.

Many things which he attacks so do "TRUE" libertarians,not the watered down ones. From the state, to egalitarianism,socialsm,utilitarianism, despotism, and democracy( which can degenerate to mob rule...which actually has happened)for some reason when people think of democracy they think freedom....but it's not. India's a democracy and it's poor as hell because they have no freedom. It can exploite just like anything else.... and eventually without proper checks on government will turn to a form of socialism or fascism.

Well some say nietzsche is the father of postmodernism I think he would have despised postmodernist thought.WHo all advocate socialism, entitlement, eternal victimhood and just plain absurdity.

I actually believe Nietsche would have embraced a classical liberal stance if he new more about economics(i could be nuts). Not utilitarianism(a la John Stewart Mill) which destroyed classical liberalism and was the beginning of Socialism.Mill in his early years was better, when he embraced Locke more. Mill went looney when he made happiness for the greatest number of people the goal of society, this took the eye off individual rights and brought about the "equality" of results rather then opportunity. This also influenced Marx( along with the french revolution and Rosseau) and led to communism. Now, Nietzshe says he hates liberal thought... but I think what he meant by this was undeserved hand outs(weakness)... which is what christianity,(as much as people knock christianity it was also a big reason why individual rights first came about,it then degenerated like every institution)socialism,the french revolution and rosseau were about.This is the liberalism he hated. This is not "real liberty" though... like originally was in the U.S.(now a mess) Real liberty is freedom for all with no helping hand...and government is only there to protect your rights, or to stop violence to you or your property. Not to give you welfare, medical, school, jobs or security... this is the disintigration of society that nietzsche hated. Where the 'weak" (i.e. the politicians run society by peddling to the average persons weaknesses) he says this about the state in thus spoke zarathusta.

He also says that a truly stong person does not need to "rule" others, but to master themslves. Or the more we like ourselves the less we cultivate the feeling to hurt others. This is in line with a libertarian society that the supposed "rulers"or business owners ( who aren't really rulers because you're actually their master, you make them rich, you decide with YOUR money) would be the "motors" of society. With no government hand outs no business owner could restrict competition by paying a govenment official.... i.e: campaign money

Government would only be around for no more than protection with armed forces,police,law, and upholding human and property rights, and free banking (no fed) so we are not dependant on government for money, and the government can't run debts and tax compulsively to pay for it. No pseudo rights...or pseudo jobs or anything else. It is the people's clammer for security that gives them slavery, ther's no middle of the road.

The problem is people don't want freedom, they want security, even though it's an illusion...so they'd rather be slaves by having the government control their lives with educating their kids and controling thier money supply.

Now I know my ideas aren't perfect considering Nietzsche advocated war and many other things. But, he also said the strong are the individualists. A ruler who loots from creators and producers is actually the incompetent one because he needs the producers to survive. So who's stronger?

Anyways that's my two and halfs cents.

Now--I can't comment on whether Nietzsche himself was an anti-semite, or intellectual father of German National Socialism, or if he was mean to his cats. I don't know, and really couldn't care. Nor am I delusional enough to say "This is what Nietzsche really was thinking when he said X." In fact, I couldn't care less that this "book" wasn't "written" by Nietzche, but instead was culled together and translated by Walter Kaufman, who tried to separate out some of the [...] manipulated by the loving (sic) sister. No, I love this book because of the ideas in it, just as they are written.

This book is not a ripping good yarn, like "Gone with the Wind." This book reads like Hegal's "Philosophy of Right," in that it posits an idea, then has several corollaries to that idea, and then several conclusions based on that idea, all following a process. To get this books flavor, run the "search inside" function on "Nihilism," and begin reading at page 5.

I'm good at underling parts of sentences, so I can quickly go back, skim only the underlined parts, and keep the continuity moving. That helped me stay focused, and build on each new part. So what--Nobody else is going to care what I do to my books.

"Will to Power" begins as a discussion of "nihilism" meaning that the highest values devaluate themselves; There is no answer to the question "Why?" From that initial statement, Nietsche goes on to point out the death of a "god" based or god inspired (or revealed) morality: blind faith in a god is no longer a satisfactory basis for moral authority, nor is the concept of a moral authority dictated by a secular government a sufficient replacement. As the basis for morality collapses, a person confronting this specture may become more "moral," or adhere more closely to the behavioral rules and aspects of a moral order that the person rejects.....

I love this stuff....I never get invited to parties (big surprise), so this is a great way to spend those rainy afternoons. And it's not just me. National Public Radio's "Philosophy Talk" featured a program on Nietsche. If that's not mainsteam america, I don't know what is.

So--if you're interested, get this book. And don't worry if you don't know anything about Nietsche, or are worried that you'll instantly hate your mother and your girlfriend (yourself, if you're a woman), you'll become an over night nazi, (...) None of that will happen (...)