Ecce Homo

In late 1888, a few weeks before his descent into madness, Friedrich Nietzsche set out to compose his life story. Ecce Homo: How One Becomes What One Is remains one of the most remarkable autobiographies ever written, a powerful work of genius in which the German philosopher critiques his own works (and those of others) and weighs in on a plethora of subjects, from vices to vegetarianism.

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, born on October 15, 1844, in Röcken, Prussia, was a German philosopher and classical philologist whose ideas profoundly influenced modern intellectual history. At 24, he became the youngest individual to hold the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel in Switzerland. However, due to persistent health issues, he resigned in 1879 and dedicated the next decade to his philosophical writings.Nietzsche's work is characterized by a radical critique of traditional values and a deep exploration of human existence. He introduced influential concepts such as the "will to power," the "Übermensch," and the proclamation that "God is dead," challenging the foundations of religion, morality, and culture. His distinctive style, marked by aphorisms and irony, set his writings apart from those of his contemporaries.In 1889, Nietzsche suffered a mental collapse, leading to a complete loss of his cognitive faculties, likely due to vascular dementia. He spent his remaining years under the care of his mother and later his sister, Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, until his death on August 25, 1900, in Weimar, Germany. Posthumously, his sister edited and published his works, sometimes controversially, influencing the interpretation and reception of his philosophy.