Hiking with Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are

I give this work mixed reviews. On the positive side, Kaag's biographical depiction of Nietzsche's young adult years, and especially his relationship to Richard Wagner was one of fullest I have come across. Kaag's depiction of Nietzchean concepts was largely helpful. His rich descriptions of Sils Maria and the Waldhaus were spot on and especially relevant to someone who had just returned from there and hiked many of the trails traversed by Nietzsche (and Kaag). The photo above is the boulder that Nietzsche attributes as his source of inspiration for his idea of the 'eternal recurrence'.But what was deeply disappointing in this work, and to my mind could have been easily corrected, was Kaag's absolute refusal to include references and footnotes throughout this book. As an avid Nietzsche aficionado, Kaag asserted many claims that I have not come across before, and to not be able to go to his references was very frustrating. I hope Kaag will eventually consider editing a new edition that is sourced. For any serious student of Nietzsche, that would prove invaluable.

A couple of sentences set the context for this captivating book. “‘Become what you are’: has been described as ‘the most haunting of Nietzsche’s haunting aphorisms.’”“As it turns out, to ‘become who you are’ is not about finding a ‘who’ you have always been looking for. It is not about separating ‘you’ off from everything else. And it is not about existing as you truly ‘are’ for all time. The self does not lie passively in wait for us to discover it.”Curious, introspective, courageous, and intelligent are words I would use to describe the intended audience for this book. And those who have encountered suffering on their journey will benefit the most.The two biggest lessons/benefits the reader will gain is: 1) “Nietzsche’s point may be that the process of self-discovery requires an undoing of the self-knowledge that you assume you already have. Becoming is the ongoing process of losing and finding yourself.”2) “Modern life, however, is not entirely amenable to becoming who one is; it is designed to distract and deaden…”The writer, David Haag provides a very transparent example of these statements: “I remember too vividly an argument with my ex-wife that terminated with three words that I screamed before slamming our front door: ‘Let. Me. Be!’ I now know what I actually meant: ‘Get out of my way.’ Let me find my immutable essence. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an immutable essence, at least not in my world. And so I left, but I never found what I was looking for, not even with (my new family) Carol and Becca. I found something else.”As a fellow walker, hiker, mountain climber and would-be philosopher, I was enthralled by the writing style the author uses throughout the book weaving his personal pilgrimage in and out of Nietzsche’s stomping grounds high in the Swiss Alps to discuss the thoughts expressed in pivotal books written by this genius who called himself Zarathustra and Dionysus.The book was a good length—although I must admit—I wanted more. The author stays relentlessly on topic and his writing style is honest and engaging. He writes from personal experience and years of research.It was a bit unusual that he and his wife (also a philosophy teacher) ) took their young daughter on this pilgrimage of outdoor adventure, but Haag skillfully weaves in lessons gained from the child that redeemed the oddity.The book reminds me of a bit of Sarah Bakewell’s masterful “At the Existentialist Cafe” in that it makes difficult philosophical ideals more accessible by utilizing real-world situations.The unique aspect of staying in Nietzsche’s spartan haunts and hiking his mountain trails to better understand and explain this tormented man’s insights was brilliant. It is one of those rare books where one discovers a eureka moment on almost every page. I could not put it down.Nietzsche sums this book up best for me: “It is an excellent thing to express a thing consecutively in two ways, and thus provide it with a right and a left foot. Truth can stand indeed on one leg, but with two she will walk and complete her journey.” (The Wanderer and His Shadow, 1880)

I have been a "fan" of Nietzsche for more than 60 years, and never read a better introduction to his Thought and Life!John Kaag, a Professor of Philosophy, writes (beautifully) of his personal experiences climbing the same mountains of the Swiss Alps as Nietzsche, while recounting his Life and Philosophy. The ideal first taste of Nietzsche, this Book will also please those who have already enjoyed his unique Writings. Bravo, Prof. Kaag!

This is a readable book by an agreeable guide to Nietzsche, who asks how does one become who one is in life. Alongside that brutal question is a kind of epitaph for Nietzsche, who comes across as an intelligent, but solipsistic nihilist, unconvinced of the meaning of it all. The author cites a number of other authors and philosophical traditions, but the book gets caught up with the pilgrimage to Nietzsche's old alpine haunts and the daily events of the author's life as a young married father. The philosophical question(s) are entirely pointed to the interior self, rather than to the grand context of life in the world as we know it. From Nietzsche to Malraux to Camus to Mishima, one has the feeling that their suffering unto collapse might have been mitigated by looking at the truly abject condition of most people's lives and trying to do something constructive to ameliorate it. Exaltation of the self (whether in the excruciating consumerism of today or the heroic conceits of the übermensch) tilts toward totalitarianism. Sometimes that all-consuming conviction is acted out upon the world, whether in the sublimation of the individual to the Japanese state in WWII or in the absolutism of Islamic radicals against the state. And so it goes. This book has a lot of food for thought and is thoroughly pleasant to read. I just wish there had been a more Thomas Merton-like struggle between self and world.

The sheep scene -- really several scenes -- on the mountain and in the town -- are pretty wonderful. Except when Kaag does that "going overboard" thing he does, making observation into a portentous stretch: the shepherd as Buddha. I wish I could say that he does this once, but no. It's his style and commitment, to make meaning out of everything. But meanings can be elusive and poetic and do not need to be pinned, butterfly-style, against a board. Likewise, I'm out of sympathy with his grand finale re the self which veers dangerously close to high-minded self-help. Perhaps other people than I want self-help wrapped in a quasi-philosophical package -- but a) wrapped up is what neither Nietzsche nor Kaag espouse; and 2) this reader finds the revelation personal -- okay, everyone's entitled to their revelations and the passage to get there -- but not the deeper understanding that I wanted. Worth a read because of the impulses behind it -- the interweaving of the journey(s) of self and other.

This book is part travelogue, part biography, and part philosophy. The author discusses the life, philosophy, and the walks around Sils-Maria and Piz Corvatsch in Switzerland. Kaag discusses Nietzsche and the philosophy of Existentialism in an unique blend of general and personal life. His (second) wife is a Kantian philosopher and his three-year-old daughter is a lively inquisitive philosopher in the making. Kaag also gives a commentary on the books by Nietzsche, and revealing the essence of what they say. When Nietzsche wrote, ‘What does not kill me, makes me stronger’, he was according to Kaag, internalising the message in some of his previous essays dwelling on the theme that ‘every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor’. Nietzsche eventually succumbed to insanity, but his brilliance shone brightest just before darkness enveloped him. He came to terms with his life, Kaag tells us, ‘but it made living with others nearly impossible’. Like Nietzsche, Kaag went to the mountains to search for the meaning of life, or whatever there may be to be found. His expose o this theme can be summed up in Kaag’s words: Either suffering is the meaning of life or there is no meaning of life. Kaag mingles Nietzsche’s thoughts with his own, and through his reflections on the words and circumstances, Kaag reveals to us the enlightening of his mind by that of Nietzche – just as the latter’s own mind deteriorated into the realm of insanity.

Both philosophy and familylife can be difficult to handle. Kaags travel to Switzerland is a nice try and wellwritten, but Nietzsche is hard to understand and even harder to explain like most philosophers. I felt a bitwith his nice wife Carol who made this Journey understandable. She was a very good companion. With my experiencefrom walking in mountains: Don't walk too fast. If you do something may start to grow in your throat.

interesting book, lot of information plus some tips to improve your-self. than you

This is an excellent book, really thoughtfully written with a surprisingly personal tone.