It rapidly became very popular among international readers and subsequently played an important role in reviving interest in and appreciation of Goethe's work both in Germany and around the world.
This practice mistakenly implies Eckermann played a role of editor rather than author; on the contrary, the book is very frank about its point of view.
Eckermann includes much autobiographical material and clearly states that his "conversations" are not word-for-word transcriptions, but reconstructions based on memory.
Besides, the history of our own time is so full of important events, the battles of Leipsic and Waterloo so grand, that Marathon and other such days are entirely eclipsed.
We are freed from the fetters of spiritual narrow-mindedness; we have, in consequence of our increasing culture, become capable of turning back to the fountain head, and of comprehending Christianity in its purity.
We have, again, the courage to stand with firm feet upon God's earth, and to feel ourselves in our divinely-endowed human nature.
[citation needed] Friedrich Nietzsche called it "the best German book there is [dem besten deutschen Buche, das es gibt]."