The central argument of the book is that Nietzsche’s philosophy does have a center, and that the left learns a great deal from Nietzsche when we read him as driven by a highly sophisticated reactionary political vision that informs all his major concepts and ideas.

The most important Nietzschean concepts — from perspectivism, ressentiment, eternal return to the pathos of distance — are analyzed in the historical context in which Nietzsche lived and wrote, and several case-studies of prominent left-Nietzscheans from Jack London, Gilles Deleuze, Wendy Brown to Huey Newton are discussed.

HOW TO READ LIKE A PARASITE makes a persuasive case for how we can overcome Nietzsche’s damaging influence on the left, showing us how to read and understand his work without becoming victims of it.

Daniel Tutt is a writer, philosopher and host of the Emancipations podcast, a public learning platform that explores philosophy, psychoanalytic theory, and contemporary political struggles. His latest book, HOW TO READ LIKE A PARASITE: WHY THE LEFT GOT HIGH ON NIETZSCHE aims to open a new reading of the philosophy of Nietzsche focusing on how Nietzsche has shaped the left, from the Black Panthers, to French theory, to contemporary liberal academics.

David Hoinski is Teaching Associate Professor at West Virginia University. His current work addresses the role of autobiography within philosophy and aims at the articulation of a theory of philosophical autobiography.

Xavier Bonilla holds a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) and is the host of the Converging Dialogues podcast. He has also written opinion pieces in Newsweek and Yellow Seeds Magazine.

Billy Buntin is a storyteller, philosopher and animator based in Baltimore. He is the host of “How Billy Sees It,” a video series on philosophy, spirituality, and society.