Beyond Good and Evil

By: Friedrich Nietzsche

Narrated by: Alex Jennings, Roy McMillan

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Continuing where Thus Spoke Zarathustra left off, Nietzsche's controversial work Beyond Good and Evil is one of the most influential philosophical texts of the 19th century and one of the most controversial works of ideology ever written.

Attacking the notion of morality as nothing more than institutionalised weakness, Nietzsche criticises past philosophers for their unquestioning acceptance of moral precepts. Nietzsche tried to formulate what he called "the philosophy of the future".

Alex Jennings reads this new translation by Ian Johnston.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2008 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2008 Naxos Audiobooks

Skip all others and read this first.

This book as some really good ideas in it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to further understand themselves or others.

Clearer Introduction Than Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Brilliantly insightful, layerered, and nuanced. Nietzsche harkens back to a pre-Christian time when merit, power, and human passion were not profane but sacred.

Narrator made me sleepy. Overall, genius but evil

This is the first work of Nietzsche that I listened to.. Well, tried to listen to. The narration is so old fashioned. I think some people may prefer this kind of narration but it makes me sleepy. There were some words and phrases in Italian and French too. So I guess the translator assumed we're versed in European Romantic languages too.
I really wanted to like the book but his opinions were so strong, I am not sure I should even continue listening to this book. He's genius but with a dark side.

important classic with Ian Johnston's notes

"Beyond Good and Evil" is a well-known classic, so I will not review the work itself.

The narration by Alex Jennings was excellent. He kept my attention throughout with his lively speech.

And, Ian Johnston was more than a translator. He also wrote commentary which is included in this audio. The commentary is excellent: accurate and helpful for understanding Nietzsche's background and ideas.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

Reader made the whole book sound pedantic

This is essential reading, and some moments are absolutely profound. A lot of it is rambling or self-important. But the good parts are worth the read. I only wish the reader had been someone else! This guy distorted the tone of the book.

Great thought provoking book

Really enjoyed listening to Nietzsche's thoughts and philosophies. At times he takes you into deep thought provoking tunnels followed by strange almost incoherent ramblings. Overall very interesting.

not a story book

For those who appreciate lavish prose, a fine read. Provocative and emasculating at times. 21st-century readers, mind the doses of misogynism. 🌈

A classic for the ages!

loved it, learned from it, and would recommend it for anyone who wants to be a better person

Terrifying in it's profundity

Sublime. An intellect like a glass focusing the Sun. Disturbing, a force of Nature leaving philosophies overturned in it's wake.

Required reading

Atheist prophet in some of his analysis, but often he comes across as committing the fallacy of assertion and leaps of logic with only belittling insults for other philosophies as his evidence for his own will to power philosophy. It’s an important work to be sure, but Nietzche is not quite the Uberman to which he calls men to rise. The murderous 20th century regimes that made quite an effort to rise beyond good and evil seemed to go quite a long way toward proving that evil exists rather vividly, and very possibly through willing to power their own read on Nietzcheian philosophy. Surely it can’t all be laid at his feet, but setting a will to power as the highest value can’t be held blameless. It’s a powerful argument, but we must learn it well so that it’s pitfalls never lead future nations down such dark paths again.