Ranging from a few words to a few pages, the aphorisms in Human, All Too Human present Friedrich Nietzsche's thoughts on a variety of subjects, including the nature of reality (metaphysics); moral feelings, especially the concepts of good and evil; the argument that great art is the product of hard work as opposed to 'genius' and inspiration; free-thinking; the evolution of men, women and children; and the limitations that people put on their own thoughts and reasoning.

The first of what became three volumes, Human, All Too Human not only represented a change in style for Nietzsche after the break-up of his friendship with the composer Richard Wagner and his rejection of Schopenhauer's influence, but also a move towards the views of the Enlightenment philosophers, particularly Voltaire and La Rochfoucauld. Human, All Too Human marks Nietzsche's decision to embrace new concepts and a fascinating turning point in the work of one of the 19th century's greatest philosophers.