Nietzsche: A Biographical Introduction

by Janko Lavrin

Book by Lavrin, Janko

Genres: Philosophy, Biography

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Janko Lavrin was a Slovenian literary historian, essayist, novelist, translator, poet and editor.

He was the editor of European Quarterly, a member of International PEN, and the founder of the Slavic Department at the University of Nottingham, where he was professor of Russian literature.

Reviews

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro. Think I've got the gist.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

In summary, Nietzsche refused to settle for the Christian teachings of a transcendental world, which only served as a misleading, life-denying philosophy for its followers. In place of Christianity, he imagined the superman as the peak of his new framework. However, Larvin does well to point out that this alternative still risks positing dogmatic values in a morally relative world: "The dangerous formula of 'all things are lawful' is thus by no means eliminated: it lurks behind the very back of the superman."

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and illuminating short biography. The description of Nietzsche's health problems and the way they are linked with his thought lend a different perspective to his philosophy. There is also an interesting short chapter on the political use and misuse of his thought.

[Max Eness · Rating 3 out of 5]

not a terrible overview, but too short to really give a satisfying look at nietzche's ideas. A bit short on the textual analysis

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

[Thomas Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look into Nietzsche, the man and his philosophy. I highly recommend it.