Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None is a philosophical novel by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, composed in four parts written and published between 1883 and 1885. Much of the work deals with ideas such as the "eternal recurrence of the same," the parable on the "death of God" and the "prophecy" of the Übermensch, which were first introduced in The Gay Science. Nietzsche himself considered Zarathustra to be his magnum opus.

I do not usually read or study philosophy, due to it's fairly unentertaining presentation and its foundation in hierarchical beliefs (although at times it is interesting to read some of the root thoughts which have influenced the constructions of our civilized and academic societies). I do not believe in original thought (every thought has been thought, just presented differently, and influenced by something, anything a person has come across throughout their life), so I realize non-philosophical literature also presents hierarchical beliefs, but poems, short stories, films, and novels do not pretend they were the first ones to breach a concept's thick outer layer, but rather present information and ideas in manners as to demonstrate their universality  and timelessness. 

    As philosophical books go, the mere fact the novel's title is translated differently with “Spoke” and at times “Spake” demonstrates Nietzsche's main argument. Written in response to the budding dismissive nature toward religion and cultural normalities arising in European cultures at the time due to the introduction and persuasive arguments of modern science,  Nietzsche attempts to create a “religion” of his own, or a way of thinking more or less, leaving the reader's takeaway quite open to interpretation; however, it does appear to stress the importance of embracing life as we live it on earth, to enjoy the body and a material existence, and to forgo searching for a spiritual epiphany and preparing for the afterlife—life itself is worth living and should not be taken for granted. And one only has to look around to see this novel might have been before its time, because we have definitely transformed into a society of instant gratification and expression.