Books by Werner Herzog:

"Vom Gehen im Eis" (1978) / "Walking on Ice" Autobiographical account of his walk from Munich to Paris in 1974.
"Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle: Chronik eines Filmes" (1977) / "Every Man for Himself and God Against All: Chronicle of a Film" Production diary of The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.
"Eroberung des Nutzlosen" (2004) / "La conquista de lo inútil" Diary of the filming of Fitzcarraldo in the Amazon rainforest.
"Werner Herzog – A Guide for the Perplexed: Conversations with Paul Cronin" (2014) / "Werner Herzog - Guía para los perplejos." Conversations with Paul Cronin where he reflects on his life and career.
"Herzog on Herzog" (2002) Interviews with Herzog about his philosophy and approach to filmmaking.
"Of Walking in Ice" (2007) English translation of Vom Gehen im Eis.
"Das Dämmern der Welt" (2021) / "The Twilight of the World" Novel about the Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda, who continued fighting after World War II.
"Die Unbeugsamen" (1982) / Reflections on his life and career, accompanying a photographic exhibition.
"Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo" (2009) English translation of Eroberung des Nutzlosen.

Collaborations and contributions:

"Scenarios" (2002) Collection of Herzog's scripts and film scenarios.

"Werner Herzog: Ecstatic Truth and Other Useless Conquests" (2008) A collection of essays and reflections on his film career.

"Werner Herzog: A Guide for the Perplexed" (2014) More conversations with Paul Cronin, published in expanded form.

"Werner Herzog: Interviews" (2014) Collection of interviews exploring his influences, philosophy, and work.

Werner Herzog, born on September 5, 1942 in Munich, Germany, is one of the most iconic and innovative filmmakers of contemporary cinema. Raised in the remote Bavarian village of Sachrang, Herzog lived a childhood without access to media such as film or television, which deeply shaped his artistic vision. At the age of 12, he discovered cinema for the first time, and from then on he knew he wanted to be a director. To finance his first film, he worked nights as a welder in a steel factory, reflecting his persistent determination.

Herzog gained international recognition with his first feature film, Signs of Life (1968), a work that earned him the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Over the following decades, he consolidated his reputation as one of the most visionary filmmakers in German and world cinema. Among his most celebrated films are Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), Fitzcarraldo (1982) and Nosferatu, the Vampire (1979). These works combine his fascination with obsessive characters and the confrontation with nature, a recurring theme in his filmography.

One of his most famous collaborations was with the actor Klaus Kinski, with whom he shared an intense and often explosive artistic relationship. Together, they made five films that have become cult classics, although behind the cameras the tension between the two was legendary, to the point that Herzog has stated in interviews that he considered killing him on several occasions. Despite this tension, the films they made together, such as Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo, are testaments to the artistic genius they shared.

In addition to his work in fiction, Herzog is a noted documentary filmmaker, known for his innovative and challenging documentaries such as Grizzly Man (2005), which explores the life and tragic death of Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived with grizzly bears in Alaska, and Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016), which reflects on the impact of the Internet on humanity.

Throughout his career, Herzog has sought what he calls “ecstatic truth,” a truth that goes beyond literal facts to capture a deeper emotional or philosophical experience. This concept runs through all of his work, whether in his fiction films or his documentaries. His cinematic style is characterized by a blend of the documentary and the poetic, exploring human limits, untamed landscapes, and personal obsessions.

In addition to his prolific career as a director, Herzog has also written several books, including autobiographical essays such as Of Walking on Ice (1978), an account of his 800-kilometer walk from Munich to Paris, and The Conquest of the Useless (2004), a diary about the filming of Fitzcarraldo in the Amazon rainforest. He has also directed operas, worked as an actor, and taught film workshops, seeking to inspire new generations of filmmakers.

Herzog has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including several at the world's most prestigious film festivals. He remains an enigmatic and deeply influential figure in film culture, with a unique artistic vision that explores the limits of the human condition and the relentless forces of nature.

Brief biography of Werner Herzog:

"Facts create standards, but truth lights the way."

WERNER hERZOG

Films:

Signs of Life (1968) Herzog's first feature film, based on a German soldier stationed on a Greek island.

Even Dwarfs Started Small (1970) A surreal story about a group of rebellious dwarves in an institution.

Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) Starring Klaus Kinski, it tells the story of Lope de Aguirre's failed expedition in search of El Dorado.

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974) Based on the life of Kaspar Hauser, a young man who mysteriously appeared in Nuremberg in 1828.

Heart of Glass (1976) A film in which almost all the actors were under hypnosis, creating a surreal atmosphere.

Stroszek (1977) The story of a man who moves from Berlin to the US in search of a new life, only to find hopelessness.

Nosferatu (1979) Remake of the 1922 classic, starring Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula.

Woyzeck (1979) Adaptation of Georg Büchner's play, also starring Kinski.

Fitzcarraldo (1982) The epic story of a man seeking to build an opera house in the Amazon rainforest, starring Klaus Kinski.

Cobra Verde (1987) The final collaboration between Herzog and Kinski, about a slaver seeking redemption in Africa.

Scream of Stone (1991) A film about mountaineering, centered on a rivalry between two climbers.

Invincible (2001) Based on the life of Jewish strongman Zishe Breitbart, set in Nazi Germany.

The Wild Blue Yonder (2005) A mix of science fiction and documentary, about an alien astronaut.

Rescue Dawn (2006) Based on the true story of a fighter pilot captured in Laos during the Vietnam War.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) Starring Nicolas Cage, a film about a corrupt lieutenant in New Orleans.

Queen of the Desert (2015) Starring Nicole Kidman, about the life of explorer Gertrude Bell.

Salt and Fire (2016) An ecological thriller about an environmental disaster.

La Soufrière (1977) Filmed in Guadeloupe, about a man who decided to stay during a volcano eruption.

Fata Morgana (1971) An experimental documentary that captures the desert landscapes of Africa.

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971) Explores the lives of deafblind people and their daily struggles.

The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner (1974) Documentary about ski jumper Walter Steiner.

Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997) The story of Dieter Dengler, an American pilot captured in Laos during the Vietnam War.

My Best Fiend (1999) Documentary about the relationship between Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski.

Wings of Hope (2000) Documentary about the plane crash of LANSA Flight 508, where a young girl miraculously survived.

Grizzly Man (2005) The story of Timothy Treadwell, who lived with grizzly bears in Alaska until he was devoured by one.

Encounters at the End of the World (2007) Documentary about life in Antarctica, nominated for an Oscar.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) 3D filming of the cave paintings in Chauvet Cave in France, the oldest known.

Into the Abyss (2011) An examination of the death penalty through the story of a condemned man.

Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016) Reflects on the impact of the Internet and technology on humanity.

Into the Inferno (2016) Explores the relationship between volcanoes and human beliefs in various cultures.

Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (2019) A tribute to writer and friend of Herzog, Bruce Chatwin.

Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds (2020) Documentary about meteorites and their impact on human cultures.

Herzog has directed a wide variety of films that explore the extremes of human nature and the world, with a unique visual and narrative style that challenges the conventions of traditional cinema.