Whether you ultimately agree or disagree with Nietzsche at the end of his book you will have read one of the most cutting and persuasive arguments for the fallibility of man ever published.
Human all too Human certainly isn't The 7 Habits of Highly effective People, or How to Win friends and Influence People, but it is an infinitely more richly rewarding and brutally honest book than that any of the white lies and generic plagiarised so called `truths' to be found in those works and others of their ilk.
In essence I believe it is actually a positive work, although having read it through over a period of time it does have the tendency to flavour one slightly negatively towards other people and maybe even oneself at times. In hindsight I'd recommend dipping into it regularly rather than wolfing it down in one go, and definitely don't touch if you're feeling a bit down on yourself or the World at that point in time. Metaphorically speaking, a strong stomach is required! But, in the same way as looking in a bright mirror can spur us sometimes to change some aspect of our appearance we find distasteful, this book can inspire. To me the message is `Know yourself and your nature and rise above it to become a free and clear-eyed spirit rather than a bound and blind one'. Far from the Nihilist he is sometimes incorrectly if understandably (to those who read him lazily) painted as having been, Nietzsche was a man who encouraged others to reach their potential ( `become what you are') even if it meant they first had to face themselves honestly.
This book is written with more honesty and white hot wit than any other book on human nature I have read to date and it will fascinate and disturb you if you take your time and read it sincerely. I lost count of how many annotations I made in my now well worn copy, or as I put the book down and just thought about what I'd read as it sunk in like a arrow shot from the page.
Walter Kaufmann (who wrote arguably, the best book on Nietzsche's views) said he loved Nietzsche's books although he didn't always agree with his outlooks. This is more or less how I felt after this wonderful. Nietzsche makes you think. This is maybe his greatest gift to those who choose to read his books. It's worth remembering that Nietszche suffered much both physically and psychologically and arguably did not always have a lot of love in his life beyond a small circle of friends. So, don't skip the introduction and let the editors of this terrific Penguins Classics edition position this work for you in context of the man himself and the time of his life it was written in. It will make it all the more valuable and enjoyable.
