Literature

[Werther]

I think that's fair to say, with one caveat: Nietzsche wouldn't deny the influence of society on an individual, but as a normative goal he would probably urge us to try and criticise societal influence, and minimise it if it's not good for us, where good is defined in his own idiosyncratic way as stifling creative freedom and the will to (self-)power.

The Martin Eden story sounds like a fairly direct criticism of Nietzsche's concept of slave morality. However, I'm not sure if London got one thing right: he seems to believe that Nietzsche thought that some people were destined to being slaves, while some were fated to transcend this and accomplish greater things; it's a controversial exegetical matter, but I think you can read Nietzsche as not saying this, but rather saying that slave morality is a state of mind (hence London's mentality is particularly apt), and so, because of the radical ability of the individual to constitute herself, there is nothing in principle stopping anyone from breaking free of it.

In fact I have to agree with you with your statement - there is nothing stopping someone to break free from this morality. In the beginning of the book he was bound to be slave ( I'm not sure whenever I am right, thus, correct me if I am wrong ) as he was uneducated, working class man who had no interest in accomplishing anything in life. But, as the book progresses, he criticizes his older state extensively. My only flaw is that I haven't read Nietzsche myself. I can't judge it without proper knowledge.

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War and Peace is my favourite book; and I hold Goethe's Faust in very high regard indeed. You have chosen well!!

Also, re the Kant point - I found this a great companion to the 1st critique. If you're going to buy an interpretive text, that is. I will have to listen to those pod-casts...

A really interesting book. I think I should get it. There were other nice picks on the recommended books too.

[Nartivus]

I am currently reading The Indigo Spell by Richelle mead. and just recently finished the third book of the brother band series. So farther the brotherband chronicles and the ranger's apprentice by John Flanagan are favorites books to read.

[Mister Quin]

What I've been reading:
On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers (plot took a while to kick in, but excellent atmosphere and action)
Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart (overall simply excellent, one of the best books I've ever had the privilege of reading)
Folklore and the Sea by Horace Beck (great reference material for nautical superstition)
Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en (long and a little confusing if you're not well-read on Chinese culture, but strong characterization and interesting philosophy, not to mention surprisingly funny. Reading a bad translation, however.)