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The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays by…
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The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays (original 1942; edition 1991)

by Albert Camus

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6,841421,351 (3.97)73
One of the most influential works of this century, this is a crucial exposition of existentialist thought. Influenced by works such as Don Juan and the novels of Kafka, these essays begin with a meditation on suicide: the question of living or not living in an absurd universe devoid of order or meaning. With lyric eloquence, Camus posits a way out of despair, reaffirming the value of personal existence, and the possibility of life lived with dignity and authenticity.--From publisher description.… (more)
Member:mgold226
Title:The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays
Authors:Albert Camus
Info:Vintage (1991), Paperback, 224 pages
Collections:Your library
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The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays by Albert Camus (1942)

  1. 30
    The Fall by Albert Camus (WilfGehlen)
    WilfGehlen: The Fall brings to mind The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Coleridge--tales that attempt to imbue the innocent with the wisdom of experience.
  2. 22
    Moby Dick by Herman Melville (WilfGehlen)
    WilfGehlen: Camus was greatly influenced by Melville and in The Myth of Sisyphus mentions Moby-Dick as a truly absurd work. Reading Moby-Dick with Camus' absurd in mind gives a deeper, and very different insight than provided by the usual emphasis on Ahab's quest for revenge.… (more)
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» See also 73 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 41 (next | show all)
A collection of short pieces on absurdist positivism would be one way to describe this. Impenetrable would be another. One of the most difficult to read books I've struggled through. I suspect a large part of this difficulty is due to the translation, but not reading French I'll never know. Nonetheless, the first essay on absurd reasoning and the title essay are well worth the struggle, and guaranteed to provoke serious thought if you can struggle through them. ( )
  dhaxton | Mar 6, 2024 |
literally me ( )
  1ucaa | Feb 12, 2024 |
This one was struggle to read, after the first memorable and often-quoted sentence - I think I heard the rustle of some useful ideas lurking in this thicket of impenetrable prose. ( )
  breathslow | Jan 27, 2024 |
Another greatly comforting book from Camus.
  Mark_Feltskog | Dec 23, 2023 |
The best parts are poetry rather than philosophy. ( )
  judeprufrock | Jul 4, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 41 (next | show all)
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Albert Camusprimary authorall editionscalculated
Lionni, LeoCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
O'Brien, JustinTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wood, JamesIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
O my soul, do not aspire to immortal life, but exhaust the limits of the possible.--Pindar, Pythian iii
Dedication
for Pascal Pia
First words
There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.
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Information from the Norwegian Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Alt det som får mennesket til å arbeide og uroe seg, benytter seg av håpet. Den eneste tanke som ikke er løgnaktig, er altså en ufruktbar tanke.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Please use this work only for editions containing the following set of essays: The myth of Sisyphus -- Summer in Algiers -- The minotaur, or, The stop in Oran -- Helen's exile -- Return to Tipasa -- The artist and his time.
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One of the most influential works of this century, this is a crucial exposition of existentialist thought. Influenced by works such as Don Juan and the novels of Kafka, these essays begin with a meditation on suicide: the question of living or not living in an absurd universe devoid of order or meaning. With lyric eloquence, Camus posits a way out of despair, reaffirming the value of personal existence, and the possibility of life lived with dignity and authenticity.--From publisher description.

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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