Nietzsche: A Critical Life

by Ronald Hayman

Reappraises the life and works of the German philosopher, finding continuity in his apparently inconsistent opinions, and characterizing Nietzsche's state of mind during his final illness

Genres: Philosophy, Biography

424 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1982

About the author

Ronald Hayman is a critic, dramatist, director and writer best known for his biographies.

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Granted, this was the first biography of Nietzsche I have read, so It's going to be a little near-sighted, but I can't help but absolutely praise the magnificent work that Hayman has done in Nietzsche: A Critical Life. First off, let it be said that this is actually viewed as one of the top biographies of Nietzsche in English; remember, biography and not an introductory one volume to Nietzsche's philosophy. What's more, is this is actually out of print, so I was lucky enough to pick this up at a used book store near the University I attended my undergraduate at.

Nevertheless, Hayman's treatment is vividly captivating, writing in narrative style, not wresting Nietzsche's life and suffering from his philosophy insofar Hayman wanted to capture the biographical and literary movements of Nietzsche's life as best understood through the lens of his relationships and suffering. Make no mistake, Hayman isn't trying to be 'objective' in any sense of the term--how can one be when writing a biography--but this is a good thing, as he is constantly and fluidly discussing this Nietzsche thought in relationship to it's past, and also to it's influence on the future, citing people voluminously throughout the work was ease and clarity in relationship to Nietzsche and his thought such as Foccult, Dostoyevsky, Freud, Jaspers, etc. This was wonderfully illuminating for me, as Hayman highlights not only where Nietzsche had been influenced from the past, Schopenhauer, Goethe, Rousseau, Voltaire, Spinoza--and also writers who Nietzsche had never read previous to him, but men that carried along ideas alike in nature such as Blake, etc.--but also Nietzsche's connection with the future.

It's hard to quite pinpoint the nature of Hayman's biography, but whatever it is, combining elements of critical biographical, philosophical, psychological, and historical information into one fluid piece made for a masterpiece of a work. Hayman, again, is careful to view and consult the previous and current scholarship (at least for the time, I believe this book was written in the 80's) concerning hotly debated issues about Nietzsche's life, and these are brilliantly woven into the biographical fabric. Hayman is exhaustive also with the citations and endnotes, incorporating dozens of scholarly sources and tons of primary sources which are quoted in novel like fashion--especially Nietzsche's diary entries and letters between friends, etc.--making this biography truly come alive.

As far as the actual substance of the book itself I can only say that I was moved to the point of tears on numerous occasions for reading through this biography I felt as if I was watching Nietzsche suffer before my eyes in real time. I had no idea how deeply, powerfully, and painfully this great philosopher suffered on a day-by-day basis, and reading though this also has helped bring alive my understanding of Nietzsche to the most full it has ever been hitherto. That I have read all of Nietzsche's major works, save Daybreak: Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality and The Will to Power, and then finally reading the Hayman biography, I know have a solid background and historical understanding of what exactly Nietzsche was dealing with. Not only that, but who he was dealing with, understanding now his friends, family, and foes, and how they all fit into his works.

For anyone who has an affinity for Nietzsche and is even relatively acquainted with his works, I would suggest this biography as a foundation for diving deeper into understanding the world of Nietzsche. For all the praise about the Kauffmann translations as authoritative, the best for citations in scholarly work, etc., I have read more than once about the untrustworthiness and slant that he paints in Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist. Although I still am planning on reading the Kauffmann biography, I am very glad I read the Hayman one first.

[Bibliomantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume, the philosophy of Nietzsche takes a back seat to a narrative about his physical life. In a way, it’s a history of his body, rather than his mind. It is a history of his mind only in the sense of its being imprisoned in a sickly shell that dictated the conditions under which it could operate. There are occasional discussions of his works, but for the most part it’s a book about what happened to Nietzsche. While a biography such as this is necessary, the unfortunate thing is that it presents a picture of Nietzsche that makes one wonder how anyone who was so incapacitated most of his life could ever manage to put anything worthwhile on paper, not to mention be such a keen observer of humanity. So there is something wrong here, for despite days on end staying in bed, recurring vomiting spells, periods of incapacitation, blinding headaches and fevers that, it appears, rendered him incapable of thinking, or doing anything for that matter most of the time, he nevertheless managed to write and carve out a name for himself as one of the great 19th century thinkers, forerunners of a good deal of 20th century thought, etc. So I do appreciate Hayman’s biography of Nietzsche, but I’m not sure whether I would recommend this book for those who want to know what the man was about.
Note: the goodreads listing mentions the correct publisher (Oxford UP), though the page count is a little off (mine was just under 400 pages). However, the narrative description of the book refers to a 60-page Routledge mini-book entitled, “Nietzsche”, not the longer Hayman from Oxford.

[Notes Between Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just finished A Critical Life Nietzsche by Ronald Hayman, and it’s difficult to put into words how deeply this book has moved me. This was my first real introduction to Friedrich Nietzsche—not just to his work, but to the man himself. I wasn’t prepared for how profoundly this book would affect me, leaving me with a deep sense of admiration, sorrow, and awe for such a complex and tragic figure.

Ronald Hayman masterfully brings Nietzsche to life on the page, offering an intimate and humanizing portrayal of a man whose life was as remarkable as it was tragic. Nietzsche’s immense suffering—both physical and emotional—was shocking to learn about. From his debilitating ailments to the heartbreaking decline of his mental health, Hayman paints a vivid picture of a life marked by struggle. And yet, amid all this, Nietzsche’s genius, insight, and visionary thinking shine through. His works, which challenged conventional thinking and pushed the boundaries of philosophy, are all the more extraordinary when seen in the context of his personal hardships.

What touched me most was Hayman’s exploration of Nietzsche’s relationships—the people he met, the connections he forged (and often lost), and how these interactions influenced his life and work. The book also delves into his personal struggles with relationships, his ill health, and the incredible legacy of his writings, offering a balanced and multifaceted view of the man behind the philosophy.

Reading this book was not just an intellectual experience, but an emotional one. I felt compelled to go for a run afterward, just to give my mind the space to wander and process everything I had just read. Nietzsche’s story is one of profound insight and creativity, but also of loneliness and pain, and it’s hard not to feel deeply affected by it.

I can’t recommend A Critical Life Nietzsche highly enough. Whether you’re new to Nietzsche, like I was, or already familiar with his work, this book offers a compelling and accessible introduction to his life and legacy. It’s a beautifully written, thought-provoking biography that will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Bernard English · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is truly depressing, not as one might think because of Nietzsche's pessimistic philosophy or anything like that, but because of his countless ailments which got progressively worse since he was in Gymnasium. Vision problems, migraines/headaches, sleeplessness, stomach aches, and so on. Turns out his case history is one of the most detailed known due to his constant references to his diet, walks (frequency, duration) and much else which he included in his letters to friends. This is not a medical case study, but it's impossible not to come away thinking Nietzsche's health impacted his intellectual life, as the author suggests, and can easily ruin a reader's mood with Nietzsche's ultimately unsuccessful attempts to cure himself. And of course, as everyone knows the physical problems eventually were followed or even led to megalomania and madness.

[Neil White · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of Nietzche's philosophy but he is incredibly influential for 20th century philosophy and beyond and I have attempted to understand the impact of his work. Learning more about his life did not lead to a greater appreciation of his work. From Ronald Hayman's description, Nietzche sounds like a person who was intelligent but bad at life. I am glad to learn that some of the things attributed to him may have come from the distribution of his unpublished works by his sister and that Nietzche did resist the antisemitic leaning of both Wagner and his sister. Maybe the line between genius and madness is a fine one and with better medical care for both eyes and digestion he may have lived a better life, but he still seemed to be a deeply unhappy man with a delusional sense of his talent in both writing and the arts.

[Veraveida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had tried reading Thus Spoke Zerathustra--as an intro to his works (not the brightest idea)--which I put down, upon finding this biography in a Little Free Library (turned out to be a wise decision).

Throughout the text, Hayman oscillates between his own commentary and various quoted texts of Nietzsche's...it's as though I've been granted a dip in a pond without getting wet.

There are many notes, and it is very well researched from what I've gathered. I feel comfortable to begin reading some of Nietzsche's works--and to appreciate them--now having been introduced to this soulful life in this way.

One [biased] criticism: Hayman seems to have slightly missed the mark with Nietzsche's take on the existence of God, from how I had previously come to understand such. Seems Hayman was against allowing the audience to believe Nietzsche held much of any weight in there possibly even being a God later in his life; my understanding of Nietzsche's 'God is dead' sentiment was more along the lines of the people of Earth having killed God, by forgetting about the moon, staring only at the finger.

[Friedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, by far, this is the best critical biography of Nietzsche in English, notwithstanding that it came before the Colli-Montinari edition of his works. No, I take that back; Hayman had at least part of the C-M edition to work with when he published this outstanding biography in 1980. If you want to get a handle on Nietzsche, this book is where to start. It's out of print unfortunately, and so far there's no e-book edition, so check it out from a good library.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nietszche...hmmm. He's like...hmmm. To me he is...uh. It's like talking about a girl that disturb your nights. But, ok I'd say he's one of my basics...(sigh) But, things has to be clear with him. And he's not always that clear. I gotta know my position first. I gotta make sure first. Coz it's Nietszche. I'd 5 stars him

[Richard Cubitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not read many biographies, however I found this very informative. A great thinker who suffered greatly of ill health and ultimately preferred isolation.

[Lloyd Fassett]

wsj 7/13/13 from the 5 best column. Author has written alot of biographies