Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
This philosophical novel explores the idea of the Übermensch, or "Overman," a superior human being who has achieved self-mastery and created personal meaning in life. The protagonist, Zarathustra, descends from his solitary life in the mountains to share his wisdom with humanity. Through a series of speeches and encounters, he challenges traditional beliefs about good, evil, truth, and religion, and advocates for the transcendence of man into a higher form of existence. The book is noted for its critique of morality, its poetic and often cryptic language, and its exploration of complex philosophical concepts.
The 277th greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
Total Points: 1113
Since this book was first published in 1883, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 1113.0.
This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.
- score: 142 -- El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (Weight: 138)
- score: 120 -- Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale (Weight: 120)
- score: 117 -- 100 Books of Classical and Modern Foreign Literature (Weight: 114)
- score: 114 -- The 100 Greatest Non-Fiction Books (Weight: 114)
- score: 96 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan (Weight: 96)
- score: 90 -- Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (Weight: 90)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Weight: 78)
- score: 69 -- Masterpieces of World Literature (Weight: 69)
- score: 66 -- 50 Best Cult Books (Weight: 66)
- score: 63 -- The Graphic Canon (Weight: 63)
- score: 51 -- One Hundred Best Books (1916) (Weight: 51)
- score: 45 -- The 100 Best Books in the World (Weight: 45)
- score: 39 -- The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written (Weight: 39)
- score: 21 -- The Twenty Greatest Philosophy Books (Book from 2006) (Weight: 21)