Daybreak etc.

[andrew...@gmail.com]

I am currently reading _The Gay Science_. I first read it when I was 16, then read it for a second time in my late 30s and now I am reading it for a third time at age 42. I feel like I finally understand it and I am really enjoying it, as I have so much other reading to fall back on. My parents threw out all my volumes of Nietzsche when I moved from NJ to Massachusetts, but I am starting to collect them all again. I have never read _Thus Spoke Zatrathustra_, as I believe that book destabilizes one's psyche.

Your comments are much appreciated....

[jimst...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 4:44:37 PM UTC-4, andrew...@gmail.com wrote:
> I am currently reading _The Gay Science_. I first read it when I was 16, then read it for a second time in my late 30s and now I am reading it for a third time at age 42. I feel like I finally understand it and I am really enjoying it, as I have so much other reading to fall back on. My parents threw out all my volumes of Nietzsche when I moved from NJ to Massachusetts, but I am starting to collect them all again. I have never read _Thus Spoke Zatrathustra_, as I believe that book destabilizes one's psyche.
>
> Your comments are much appreciated....

I have read Thus Spoke Zarathustra and have found it to be the most inspirational self belief books of all. I mean no malicious intent when asking how you feel it destabilizes one's psyche, but furthermore would ask why you believe such a destabilization is bad? Is not one of the great lessons of Nietzsche to embrace the fall and the ashes to rebuild a new? I feel destabilizing one's psyche is necessary to form gold as opposed to continuous rebuilding upon a lead platform we cannot even be sure is grounded; as we were formed by the surroundings of our environment, not by our own fault, but by the lay of our society. In short, I always thought he preached of courage in yourself with a willingness to find a need for that courage, a willingness to be unstable. I am 24, and perhaps my youth and ability to be flexible in whatever I do (i have no family or ties holding me to a certain mentality) has influenced my belief, but I have studied old religion and philosophy since the age of 14, i'll admit well under the age of comprehension, but have since continued to learn more and more. My only argument for you reading that book is that as nothing is stable, and we cannot be sure anything is true, a necessary skill is to learn how to fall as you get up quicker, with more grace, each time.