The Joyful Wisdom (or: The Gay Science)

"The Joyful Wisdom," written in 1882, just before "Zarathustra," is rightly judged to be one of Nietzsche's best books. Here the essentially grave and masculine face of the poet-philosopher is seen to light up and suddenly break into a delightful smile. The warmth and kindness that beam from his features will astonish those hasty psychologists who have never divined that behind the destroyer is the creator, and behind the blasphemer the lover of life. In the retrospective valuation of his work which appears in "Ecce Homo" the author himself observes with truth that the fourth book, "Sanctus Januarius," deserves especial attention: "The whole book is a gift from the Saint, and the introductory verses express my gratitude for the most wonderful month of January that I have ever spent." Book fifth "We Fearless Ones," the Appendix "Songs of Prince Free-as-a-Bird," and the Preface, were added to the second edition in 1887. (Summary by Dr Oscar Levy) (0 hr 38 min)

Chapters

Editorial Note and Preface	24:56	Read by TimSC
Jest, Ruse and Revenge: A Prelude in Rhyme	24:24	Read by TimSC
Book First, Part 1	1:06:48	Read by TimSC
Book First, Part 2	1:02:13	Read by TimSC
Book Second, Part 1	58:29	Read by TimSC
Book Second, Part 2	54:20	Read by TimSC
Book Third, Part 1	58:38	Read by TimSC
Book Third, Part 2	58:10	Read by TimSC
Book Fourth: Sanctus Januarius, Part 1	1:10:34	Read by TimSC
Book Fourth: Sanctus Januarius, Part 2	1:06:16	Read by TimSC
Book Fifth: We Fearless Ones, Part 1	1:06:18	Read by TimSC
Book Fifth: We Fearless Ones, Part 2	1:09:37	Read by TimSC
Book Fifth: We Fearless Ones, Part 3	56:33	Read by TimSC
Appendix: Songs of Prince Free-as-a-Bird	21:30	Read by TimSC

Reviews

Excellent reading, great ideas

(5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

When I first started Nietzsche in my philosophy studies I was a bit overwhelmed with his ideas and had a difficult time following him. Now, however, after becoming acquainted with many of the other philosophers he is a breath of fresh air. His use of poetry and deep insights into human psychology sets him apart, he doesn't seem to try to force anything to fit his philosophy (imo) rather he is quite the opposite in his reasonings. Not that he is never wrong, but he seems to not even care whereas many philosphers fight tooth and nail for their philosophies that are based on quite shaky ideas that they hold as absolute Truth.