Thus Spoke Zaratustra
Friedrick Nietzsche
This book is a complex reading, dry and abstract philosophical piece of highly controversial text with provocative thoughts and challenging approach. The author does not write easily nor his reasoning is soft or intuitive, my experience reading these 310 pages was exhaustive and concentration demanding.
Zaratustra is a young man who decides get out from the social interaction for long reflection in a mountain, after all he decides go back and share his wiseness with people, but he does not want to be a Messias, only a man sharing his thoughts to achieve the surpassing moment for the regular human being, the ideal human, the super human.
The moral controversial thoughts are exposed in a way to criticise mediocrity and hypocrisy as well as attack lies and moderate behaviour which would lead to more dominance from the string against the weak, the subjected human.
The three metamorphosis explained by Zaratustra are a good metaphor for these critics against modern society. This spiritual transformation is represented symbolically by the camel, lion and child.
The camel is the subjection always ready to say "yes” and take the burden.
The lion is the representation of free will, the king of the beasts is eager to take personal lead and get what it wants but not able yet to create its own values, the lion has still a bit of subjection, even though it is related to societal values.
The final phase is the symbolic child, the seriousness and maturity comes only when you understand that any human is able to create their own value, getting free of the knots of society and its moral oppressive values.
My best quote for this book is:
“You I advise not to work, but to fight. You I advise not to peace, but to victory. Let your work be a fight, let your peace be a victory!”
Having a sense of purpose and something to fight for, is crucial to keep moving and dealing with daily challenges that our life exposes us.
This book is super dense and would be impossible to write a small review touching the level of deep thinking.
My main take on this is that a child-like spirit must be aware of the beauty of discovering new things, innocence and openness to see the world as new. To achieve that we must first understand and be subject to the society as it is and then, only then, cross it to the flourishing of super humans.
Worth reading? That depends on your ability to really put some effort and burn neurons.
João Pedro Paro - November 2024
Conclusion
This book is super dense and would be impossible to write a small review touching the level of deep thinking.
My main take on this is that a child-like spirit must be aware of the beauty of discovering new things, innocence and openness to see the world as new. To achieve that we must first understand and be subject to the society as it is and then, only then, cross it to the flourishing of super humans.
Worth reading? That depends on your ability to really put some effort and burn neurons.
João Pedro Paro
Global Director of Governance, Risk & Compliance | PhD Candidate | Internationally Qualified Attorney
