Who the Hell is Friedrich Nietzsche?

For students, teachers and curious minds, our carefully structured jargon-free series helps you really get to grips with brilliant intellectuals and their inherently complex theories. Written in an accessible and engaging way, each book takes you through the life and influences of these great thinkers, then takes a deep dive into three of their key theories in plain English. Smart thinking made easy!

Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas were so revolutionary and explosive that they mark the beginning of the Modern World. But who was Nietzsche? How did he come to see the world in such an extraordinary way, and why did he want to overturn and throw out everything - even God?

This book looks at Nietzsche's life and the world in which he lived, so that the reader has a sense of the man and the times before taking a deep dive into some of his most groundbreaking ideas. Why did Nietzsche believe that 'God is dead'? Who is the Superhuman? What is the Will to Power?

Engaging, easy to read, and nonetheless text-book accurate, this book is a thrilling ride through one of history's wildest but crystal-clear minds. If you've ever wondered, Who the hell is Friedrich Nietzsche? - here's your answer.

Reviews

"Who the hell is Friedrich Nietzsche? by Oliver Dixon shines light on the history and thought of Nietzsche in an accessible and unambiguous manner...Where the book particularly excels is in presenting some of the big theses that Nietzsche presents in his works...Dixon does a great job of presenting three of the key themes of Nietzsche's work with both clarity and accuracy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone getting into Philosophy or anyone who just wants to learn more about one of the most misunderstood figures in modern Philosophy."
Jamie Corish, The Philosophy Foundation

"A snappy, readable overview of Nietzsche's life, key concepts and, most interestingly for me, influences and relevance to contemporary issues."
Glenn Skelhorn, Philosophy 4 Schools @ The Royal Institute of Philosophy

"There are many misunderstandings about who Nietzsche was and the nature of his ideas. In 'Who the Hell is Nietzsche' Oliver Dixon challenges the myth of Nietzsche as a 'prophet of doom' unpacking his life-affirming philosophy. Dixon reflects the richness of Nietzsche's multidisciplinary approach to philosophical problems and demonstrates the nuanced interpretations of Nietzsche in an undaunting and accessible style. This helps the reader to understand why the philosopher has been cited by figures of varying political shades as a key influence, from anarchists to conservatives to fascists.
In unpacking the pivotal events in Nietzsche's life in the first chapter, Dixon signals the factors that led to his philosophy that is both confrontational with 19th-century German society whilst at the same time very much being a product of it. With great insight, Dixon also looks to the present and how Nietzsche's ideas continue to find relevance in our modern world. As well as reminding us to think more critically about how our value systems are constructed, Nietzsche promotes a scepticism towards the notion of absolute truth and the ideas that there is one morality and only one path to living a fulfilled life.
If you're looking to understand who Nietzsche was, the prime elements of his philosophy, and what he might have to say about our current predicament, then this is an excellent place to start."
Benedict O'Connell, Philosophy teacher and tutor, Brighton