Thus Spoke Zarathustra

By: Friedrich Nietzsche

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Saul Reichlin, known for their roles in War and Peace and Miss Marple. This definitive recording includes an introduction by R.J. Hollingdale, also read by Saul Reichlin.

Nietzsche was one of the most revolutionary thinkers in Western philosophy, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra remains his most influential work. It describes how the ancient Persian prophet Zarathustra descends from his solitude in the mountains to tell the world that God is dead and that the Superman, the human embodiment of divinity, is his successor. With blazing intensity, Nietzsche argues that the meaning of existence is not to be found in religious pieties or meek submission, but in an all-powerful life force: passionate, chaotic and free.

© R.J. Hollingdale 1961, 1969 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Stupid accent

very good book but I hate the narrator's voice. it's just the accent. that's all

The story was enigmatic

I loved this audiobook, Saul Reichlin is a legend for this audiobook. I used the audiobook along with the physical book. I will be honest, some lines were omitted and mispronounced, but overall, it was an amazing experience. Thus Spoke Zarathustra is Nietzsche’s masterpiece, his magnum opus

His Criticism is an Appreciated Opposition

This “upside-down theologian” is every bit as helpful as some of my teachers have pointed out. As a Christian, I can see both through the eyes of history and in the present what is the foundation of Nietzsche’s harsh caricature of the Church and of Christ. I think he had plenty of source material to despise the pity and opportunistic fellows seen in therapeutic religious action of his day. However, Nietzsche’s writing does give those who are changed by Jesus Christ and moved by His Holy Spirit a better lens to see what our hypocrisy can generate and how faithless moralism is death harboring tool of the evil one.

Some problematic editing and lacking proper review

This is only a criticism with the editing and final review of the audio production. While it is not excessive within this performance some sentences are omitted, some passages repeated, and some words misread (example; “unfruitful” was said as “untruthful).” I caught these occurrences because for these type of books I prefer to read along with the narrator to increase my absorption of the content (and yes, I ensured I had a matching copy of the physical book).

The narrator/voice talent, in my opinion, did a fantastic performance of Nietzsche’s work.

Profound and provocative

I finally managed to read (listen to) this classic. This is an exquisite edition with special mention for Hollindale's contemporary translation and Saul Reichlin's superb narration!