Nietzsche and the Burbs reviewed in The Big Issue (2019)

Staying on the theme of despairing nihilism (‘come on in, there’s coffee and doughnuts for everyone’), Lars Iyer follows up his sublime Wittgenstein Jr with another high school-set novel, Nietzsche and the Burbs. Philosophy academic Iyer has created his own little sub-genre – a combination of enlightening philosophical discourse, adolescent chatter, and smartass (in a good way) humour. Nietzsche and the Burbs is the metal band fronted by the new sixth form boy, nicknamed after Friedrich due to his bleak outlook and extreme cleverness. The kids hang out and talk about life, the future, why everything is fucked, and how they can change the world. Think The History Boys with (loads of) added philosophy. Completely delightful.