Every Man for Himself and God Against All

A Memoir

By: Werner Herzog, Michael Hofmann - translator

Narrated by: Werner Herzog

Legendary filmmaker and celebrated author Werner Herzog tells in his inimitable voice the story of his epic artistic career in a long-awaited memoir that is as inventive and daring as anything he has done before

Werner Herzog was born in September 1942 in Munich, Germany, at a turning point in the Second World War. Soon Germany would be defeated and a new world would have to be made out the rubble and horrors of the war. Fleeing the Allied bombing raids, Herzog’s mother took him and his older brother to a remote, rustic part of Bavaria where he would spend much of his childhood hungry, without running water, in deep poverty. It was there, as the new postwar order was emerging, that one of the most visionary filmmakers of the next seven decades was formed.

Until age 11, Herzog did not even know of the existence of cinema. His interest in films began at age 15, but since no one was willing to finance them, he worked the night shift as a welder in a steel factory. He started to travel on foot. He made his first phone call at age 17, and his first film in 1961 at age 19. The wildly productive working life that followed—spanning the seven continents and encompassing both documentary and fiction—was an adventure as grand and otherworldly as any depicted in his many classic films.

Every Man for Himself and God Against All is at once a personal record of one of the great and self-invented lives of our time, and a singular literary masterpiece that will enthrall fans old and new alike. In a hypnotic swirl of memory, Herzog untangles and relives his most important experiences and inspirations, telling his story for the first and only time.

©2023 Werner Herzog (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The book is nonlinear and exuberantly free-associative, less a narrative than an extravagant demonstration of sensibility . . . Like so many of his films, his memoir is not at home in its ostensible genre. A very thin thread of autobiography runs through an otherwise vibrant tapestry of anecdotes and adventures . . . His melancholic, meditative and theatrically nostalgic way of being is as irrepressible in his writing as it is in his films . . . I feel the same sense of awe when I contemplate the phenomenon of Werner Herzog as I do when I contemplate the pyramids. Amazing, that this fabulous impracticality exists.” —Becca Rothfeld, The Washington Post

“Written in that rich, dramatic speaking style . . . Every Man for Himself and God Against All is packed with memorable vignettes and tidbits of information . . . God also makes two appearances . . . But what He’s wearing is something only Herzog could dream up. So is every word in this entertaining and informative book.” —Odie Henderson, The Boston Globe

“Like his films (Fitzcarraldo, say, or Aguirre, the Wrath of God), Herzog’s memoir is a decidedly nontraditional piece of storytelling . . . The book is written in a literary voice that is outspoken and conversational . . . (The translation by Hofmann, who has also translated books by Wim Wenders and Franz Kafka, is delightful.) A fascinating portrait of an inventive and idiosyncratic filmmaker.” —Booklist

Masterpiece.

Just buy it, and discover for yourself. A life well lived. Your thoughts will be provoked.

Pure Herzog

If you are a Herzog fan, this is a must read. As usual with the brilliant man it doesn’t explain the mysteries, but it certainly makes you wonder about them.

Artistic phraseology

A testament of an incredible life lived thoroughly with devotion and dedication to thoughtful creativity.

Warts and All

As expected, Herzog’s memoirs are interesting, filled with descriptions of eccentric individuals, fanciful schemes and exotic places. It is worth purchasing, particularly if you are a fan of his film-making. Don’t expect to get technical details of the shoots. Instead he recalls trying circumstances and unusual experiences. I was very willing to listen to him float from one topic randomly to another, but I regretted immediately that his ego demanded he narrate the book himself. His accent is at times difficult (I was puzzled by his historical reference to “honey bear” and replayed the passage several times before I realized he had said, “Hannibal.” Worse, his unskilled narration runs one experience right into the next. There is no pause to change gears. I found his description of his four wives to be depressing and of course he extolled the current one beyond measure. Nevertheless the memoirs are packed with amazing tales and if you are a fan as I am you will take Werner warts and all.

Herzog’s distinct narration

Amazing stories delivered in Werner Herzog’s trademark narration. Behind the scenes stories are great. This is a fantastic listen.

Herzog is a legend and a treasure.

To experience this man’s wisdom and poetry straight from him, as opposed to through the filter of the perpetually recording lens of his brilliant fiction and documentary films, is a gift. Remarkable tales of a life lived completely and intensely. Highly recommended.

Must read about life

This journey about life must read book . Thanks to director Warner Herzog for sharing this amazing experience….

Nothing short of human

The best way to read this book is by paying attention to the little details on Herzog stories. Appreciate the way he looks at the world amd ignore his indulgences.

Brilliant

Werner Hertzog literally went everywhere with me while I played it. it was the best company ever.

Incredibly German

One of the most incredible audiobooks I've ever had the privilege of listening to. Just listen to it immediately and be amazed by the dark, fascinating perspective and mind of one of the greatest and at times most peculiar filmmakers of all time.