The Gay Science
by Friedrich Nietzsche, Walter Kaufmann
The Gay Science by Friedrich Nietzsche, Walter Kaufmann holds a highly rated rating of 4.26 out of 5, based on 8.7K reader ratings. First published in 1882. The book spans 396 pages.
About The Gay Science
"[This book] mirrors all of Nietzsche's thought and could be related in hundreds of ways to his other books, his notes, and his letters. And yet it is complete in itself. For it is a work of art." —Walter Kaufmann in the IntroductionNietzsche called The Gay Science "the most personal of all my books." It was here that he first proclaimed the death of God—to which a large part of the book is devoted—and his doctrine of the eternal recurrence.Walter Kaufmann's commentary, with its many quotations from previously untranslated letters, brings to life Nietzsche as a human being and illuminates his philosophy. The book contains some of Nietzsche's most sustained discussions of art and morality, knowledge and truth, the intellectual conscience and the origin of logic.Most of the book was written just before Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the last part five years later, after Beyond Good and Evil. We encounter Zarathustra in these pages as well as many of Nietzsche's most interesting philosophical ideas and the largest collection of his own poetry that he himself ever published.Walter Kaufmann's English versions of Nietzsche represent one of the major translation enterprises of our time. He is the first philosopher to have translated Nietzsche's major works, and never before has a single translator given us so much of Nietzsche.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Friedrich Nietzsche, Walter Kaufmann |
| Published | 1882 |
| Pages | 396 |
| Genres | Philosophy, Non-Fiction, Classics, Poetry, Religion & Spirituality |
| Average Rating | 4.26 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 8,655 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Gay Science?
The Gay Science is categorized as Philosophy, Non-Fiction, Classics, Poetry. Its primary genre classification is Classics.
Is The Gay Science worth reading?
Based on 8.7K reader ratings, The Gay Science has an average score of 4.26 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is The Gay Science?
The Gay Science has 396 pages.
Who wrote The Gay Science?
The Gay Science was written by Friedrich Nietzsche, Walter Kaufmann. It was first published in 1882.
What is the ISBN for The Gay Science?
The ISBN-13 for The Gay Science is 9780394719860.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
