Stimulating and insightful, this is a straightforward guide to the life and work of Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher whose startling declaration that 'God is dead' made him one of the key figures of our modern age. Adopting a highly readable style, Robert Wicks moves deftly through the minefield of controversy that surrounds Nietzsche, presenting the philosopher's doctrines within the context of his Christian upbringing and the profound influence of his childhood experiences. Making difficult ideas clear and accessible, he provides a close examination of Nietzsche's best-known existential doctrines, and re-evaluates these not simply as a nihilistic, but as a positive and life-affirming system of belief. This essential introduction also offers a survey of Nietzsche's profound influence on contemporary philosophy, in addition to a non-sensationalist and objective reflection on his association with Nazism. Designed for students, scholars, and interested readers alike, this is a valuable account of an often misunderstood figure whose thought and philosophy made an indelible and lasting impact on the twentieth century.