A beautiful and compelling work--an invitation to discomfort

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	• The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays Albert Camus Vintage, 1991 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 47 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A beautiful and compelling work--an invitation to discomfort

It is interesting to note that, in spite of the gorgeous way in which Camus describes the joy that is the physical, immanent world, what Camus insists of the reader is no more than a challenge to what, for many people, are core notions about sadi world and its worth (or lack thereof). This book, when read closely, clears up many misconceptions held about existentialist or "absurd" thought, namely that, from an exceedingly nihilistic standpoint, the world and, by extension, life is utterly meaningless and altogether a futile endeavor devoid of hope. What Camus argues for is, contrary to uninformed assumptions, the beauty and joy inherent in the struggle of life (particularly against the notion of some ultimate/transcendent meaning that is applicable to all, and, perhaps more so, some sort of "next life" that ultimately bestows meaning on "this" life). In spite of Camus arguments, which are beautiful and compelling, I find his conflicting points regarding the inherent joy and meaning within life and the utter, ultimate hopelessness and futility which stems from its finite nature difficult to balance. Camus would, however, argue that this is as it should be, and that this contradiction is precisely what he talks about throughout the primary essay--the "absurd" (the divergence between the true and the expected/assumed/presumed) Though much of what Camus argues for is difficult and, at times, unpleasant to digest (considering their full assault on many preconcieved notions operating within the West/Christendom), I cannot help but admit that they are true. It is this criterion, whether or not something is evidently true, which serves as the impetus for his analysis; one cannot help but admire the ruthless inquisitiveness and honesty with which he asks and answers such questions of himself and of us. Strongly recommended. Camus, in addition to his evident passion for man and for life, writes gorgeous, aphoristic prose--which, I feel, is the best (or at least most pleasant) way for a philosopher to write.

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The absurd presence !

Albert Camus made one of his masterpieces essays with this clever and fundamental issue .
The sense of the absurd has few times so merciless , incisive and bitter as in this case .
As one of the legitimate descendents of that huge tree , Fedor Dostoievsky , Camus explores meticulously the esssential facets and describes with supreme maestry the roots of the absurd .
He decides to make a journey where the literature , the history , the philosophy and mythology melt to produce an admirable and superb text .
If you are (as I do) a hard fan of Camus ; do not wait for a second and try to get it as soon as you can .
In my opinion , Camus was the most important ambassador of the existencialism movement . He lived as he wrote ; and that remarkable aspect is a glorious and brave statement of living.

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what's your stone?

The myth of Sisyphus is the myth of life. Endlessly pushing a boulder up a hill, condemned to it, visited again and again by the strain of it all. I believe anyone could gain some introspection and strength from Camus' dissection of a timeless myth.

Just keep in mind all of you hungry, void philosophers who will approach this work, some stones are worthy of the struggle, the trick is deciding which are important to you.

A few words about reading a book like this

Seriously folks, I have never read such horrible reviews on amazon.com ever. The people who are supposed to be "reviewing" this book have launched into diatribes about why Camus' philosophy is "wrong" or why they dont agree with it. This is simply ludicrous.
Camus was a brilliant Nobel winning author. To know Camus, one must read this book, along with The Stranger and The Plague. I for one will be the first to admit that I do not understand all of Camus. I do not know enough to "criticize" Camus' philosophy. The reviewers here who have tried to do so have simply shown their ignorance.

Bottom line, read this book if you would like to read Camus. O'Brien's translation is managable, if not a little choppy. Nonetheless, these are the standards of Camus that we all still read. They are the hallmarks that we use to justify Camus' brilliance.

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Camus as Robert F. Kennedy's Muse

After reading "The Myth of Sisyphus", I begin to understand my hero, Robert F. Kennedy better now.

It was during the years after the tragic death of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, that Robert was finally free for the first time in his life to struggle to create his own identity and sense of purpose.

In his journey of self examination that followed John's assassination, Robert explored the writings of ancient Greeks, beginning with "The Greek Way" by Edith Hamilton.

But it was in the existentialist writings of Albert Camus that Bobby Kennedy finally found a way of thinking that helped him to make sense of life's absurdities.

For anyone who is facing some difficult or very strange challenges in their life, I strongly recommend a serious look at Albert Camus' writings, beginning with "The Myth of Sisyphus".

It's not optimism, to be sure, but it does help one to make some sense out of troubling times.

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recommendations

Enter the World of Ideas Through Philosophical Literature
Atheistic Existentialism: An Introduction
History of Ideas and Ideas in History 1
An Idiot's Guide to Great Literature
The Birth of Modernity

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