Just Finished Reading: Hiking With Nietzsche – Becoming Who You Are by John Kaag (FP: 2018) [229pp] 

Unlike the author of this rather strange but intriguing sideways look at the ever-controversial German philosopher, I don’t believe I ever studied Nietzsche at an undergraduate level. My BA (1983-86) was in Social Ethics and although it had at least one Philosophy unit I don’t think we ever actually studied any of his works. Naturally I knew about him, I mean who doesn’t, but I only actually, formally, studied part of his work much later. I can see why.  

This is as far from a ‘straight’ look at Nietzsche and his work as you could probably get. The book consists of several interweaving strands that, together, make a both interesting and compelling narrative. Of course, Nietzsche and his works are at the core of things, how could they not be. The author gives insights into Nietzsche’s life, his relationship with his father (mirrored to an extend by the authors relationship with his father) and his troubled/complex relationship with women. The potted biography formed the skeleton of the text to which the author attached discussions of Nietzsche’s works – the philosopher’s location and relationship status being directly related to his philosophical output (in a way I found very interesting and often overlooked). Interwoven with this were the experiences of the author himself both hiking in the Swiss Alps during his undergraduate period – and deciding there NOT to commit suicide! - and a follow up visit with his 2nd wife and their child now as a university professor. 

I learnt a lot here – not just about the man himself (Nietzsche that is!) but also about the underlying philosophical and psychological foundations of his thoughts. Naturally merely reading this thin volume won’t mean you’ll understand everything that Nietzsche was getting at – that's a lifetime quest I think – but it’ll give you paths to follow and an idea of whether you’re ready to follow the easier grades or are ready to try your hand on the slopes with the mountain goats. Nietzsche, as you might guess, is not the most accessible and easy to understand modern philosopher. His work takes work to get the most out of. But, I think, the effort can be worth it. 

I studied Nietzsche for one unit of my Philosophy Master's degree (2008-10) and I remember, just before the course started, the Head of the Department popped in for a chat. She said that she always worried about teaching Nietzsche, especially to undergraduates, because his ideas were so radical, so powerful, and especially so to youth (most of the students in that class were under 25 – I was 50). I can agree. I compared his work – or at least the one we studied (The Genealogy of Morality) - to breathing pure oxygen. It certainly felt like that some weeks. The unit we studied blew me away and I decided that I’d do my Dissertation on an aspect of Nietzsche's ideas and really enjoyed producing the resultant piece of work. It wasn’t easy (being Nietzsche based!) but it was definitely mind expanding. 

Overall, this volume provided some interesting insights into the mind and works of one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented European philosophers of modern times. If you’ve ever wondered what all of the fuss was about but didn’t know where to start (or were too afraid to ask!) this is a pretty good place to begin your journey into the foothills before trying anything requiring pitons. Recommended. More Philosophy to come.