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The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays Paperback – May 7, 1991

by Albert Camus (Author), Justin O'Brien (Translator)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 770 ratings
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One of the most influential works of this century, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays 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 a universe devoid of order or meaning. With lyric eloquence, Albert Camus brilliantly posits a way out of despair, reaffirming the value of personal existence, and the possibility of life lived with dignity and authenticity.
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  1. Print length
    212 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    May 7, 1991
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0679733736
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0679733737
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
770 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the writings of Camus insightful and interesting. They describe the book as good, stellar, and fun to read. Readers also find the topics interesting and challenging.

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Writing qualityReadabilityThought provokingValue for money
38 customers mention "Writing quality"30 positive8 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book insightful and interesting. They describe it as a great collection of essays that dives into the complex nature of philosophy. Readers also appreciate the strong explanation of the text and good guides for teaching it. However, some say the book is good but verbose.

"...His writing is very rich and dense. No sentence can be passed over - and that sucks if your a lazy reader!!!..." Read more

"The writings of Camus are always insightful and interesting. This collection of essays is no exception...." Read more

"...and small omissions can get alittle annoying but it's a solid compilation of essays for a good price on kindle" Read more

"...I'm not sure if the difficulty is due to a poor translation, or maybe Camus just had an unconventional writing style...." Read more

31 customers mention "Readability"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book good, stellar, and remarkable. They say it's fun to read and consider. Readers also mention it's a tough read that can be re-read.

"...But... at the end of the effort, the results are worth it. You have another take on the whole "Is life, is the effort worth it?"..." Read more

"...Truly an eye-opening and idealistic work, with many ideas that an open mind would find akin to the sweetest of treats." Read more

"The content is stellar and 5 stars. The digital file’s formatting, setting, pagination, what have you is just awful...." Read more

"Great book, the pages are nice and the text is printed nicely. Camus is a great and understandable writer...." Read more

19 customers mention "Thought provoking"16 positive3 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, interesting, and challenging. They say it presents interesting ideas without the dryness of Sartre. Readers also describe the world of the absurd as an incredible journey for the mind. They say the book is an eye-opening version of this classic philosophic tale.

"The ideas in this are phenomenal, dealing with the issues of existence in an absurd world to the point of questioning how an individual can value..." Read more

"...literature and in my opinion this work is one of the most thought provoking books in recent times...." Read more

"...Truly an eye-opening and idealistic work, with many ideas that an open mind would find akin to the sweetest of treats." Read more

"...returned immediately but it was very inexpensive and served my casual research purpose...." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the value for money of the book. They mention it's a good product with a good price.

"...get alittle annoying but it's a solid compilation of essays for a good price on kindle" Read more

"...I would have returned immediately but it was very inexpensive and served my casual research purpose...." Read more

"Product as described. Excellent Seller. ++++" Read more

"Good product. Good Price." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth a try
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2008
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Not everyone is inclined to navel lintgazing. Nor is everyone up for the level of effort necessary to gain any type of understanding of Camus' writings either. That doesn't mean the effort should not be made though! I avoided Camus for years, until a reference at work (hostage negotiation) made me realize that Camus' work was an essential element for my toolbox - namely being able to agree with folks about the absurdity of life, have a story to tell (Sysyphus) and a general explanation how one of the "great philosophers" worked through it. At times like that, you would be amazed at what kind of attention folks pay!

I read the work at least five times through, and I can say that each time I read it, I bring a bit more away. His writing is very rich and dense. No sentence can be passed over - and that sucks if your a lazy reader!!! But... at the end of the effort, the results are worth it. You have another take on the whole "Is life, is the effort worth it?" I'll leave that for you to decide, but I do heartily recommend this book!

Interesting side thought - compare the worldly Camus with the rugged individualists across the pond (Emerson, Thoreau, and all the Transcendentalists) with their eternal optimism. Comments welcome! :)

All the best,

Jay
24 people found this helpful
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Teig Schneider
5.0 out of 5 stars and a wonderful introduction to French Existentialism
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015
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There generally is an opinion that early twentieth century French Philosophy, particularly Existentialism, promotes a negative, unhappy existence that should be just put up with until one dies. This couldn't be further from the truth, and a wonderful introduction to French Existentialism, and to its positive message is Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus.

Camus promotes a very particular definition of The Absurd and this is the crux of his essay. The Absurd is neither a particular thing in reality, a judgement of reality, or a perspective of human thinking. The Absurd is that which arises when an individual becomes aware of the limits of his expectations to either understand the world or fulfill his goals of any notion of the Absolute (God, Truth, Freedom, Love). This is not a case for pessimism or renunciation. This is not a case for misery. Camus is attempting to express the sheer strength of one's being to face his natural limits and the worlds lack of intentionality or consideration for us. We, by nature are Rational creatures, hence we see the world Rationally and look for meaning and predictability to put are fears aside and to no longer feel like strangers in the World. But the world is not Rational, but Non-Rational, and eventually are expectations and pursuits will run into the wall of disappointment. the question is, once we realize that lack of ability to ever be certain, how will we respond?

A great example Camus puts forth as an example of an Absurd person is the famous fictional character Don Quixote. Don Quixote loves many women, not one. He travels from place to place, ever searching, ever failing. Some may interpret him as a womanizer, as a fraud, as a man without morals or intent. They could be right. but, if Camus' interpretation is taken seriously, and is true, not only is Don Quixote a man with morals, he has the utmost moral character and is not a fraud. The Absurd person is one that CONSTANTLY fails to achieve absolute goals because they DO NOT EXIST. But, he has to be continuously reminded of this, as The Absurd comes into existence when a person becomes consciously aware, and this awareness only arises AFTER someone pursues an impossible goal, runs into that wall, and realizes his failure. Don Quixote is not a charlatan or womanizer but a man who truly loves. He continuously pursues that Ultimate Love that exists only in his mind. But, when he recognizes his failure, he doesn't fall to pieces and cry, he doesn't lose his head. He smiles and says, "Of course it isn't, how silly!" and continues on with his life.

Camus begins the essay saying that the first, most important philosophical question is suicide. Without ultimate meaning, without an absolute Truth, why not end it all now? But, you see, there is still joy, there is still laughter, there is still art and beauty, there is still positive action and good conversation, there is delicious food and wonderful wine, and there is, as Don Quixote knows, another woman to love. Life does not lose is appeal because of the loss of the Ultimate.In fact, it earns its appeal for the first time.

Camus' philosophy taps into and actually revives issues about meaning, life and honesty with one's situation that have been discussed since ancient times that overlaps the Ancient Greeks, the Stoics, and Buddhism. He is not some rebellious French philosopher with a quirky obsession with death, but is, in fact, a man consumed by life and all that it holds.
25 people found this helpful
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Daniel Dobson
4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend for the ideas
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2015
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The ideas in this are phenomenal, dealing with the issues of existence in an absurd world to the point of questioning how an individual can value their own existence. Highly recommend for the ideas. Camus seems to get lost in his own command of the language from time to time, but if you just skip about half a paragraph ahead, he gets back to whatever point he was making. It's a little distracting, actually. Ergo, four stars. I have a poster of Nietzche over my desk with the quote "the most common form of human stupidity is forgetting what one is trying to do." (side note: I'm in the military), and every time Camus goes on an obfuscating side trip, I just chuckle and think about Nietzche yelling at him. I've been told not to read existentialists at work, that it's bad for morale. And I can buy that. I mean facing the endless bureucratic nightmare that is the military while simultaneously dealing with death in an absurd world is hard enough as it is. But actually pointing the meaninglessness of it all out? Apparently it's against the rules.
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Pedro
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good reflections on the nature of life and death
Reviewed in Brazil on June 30, 2021
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This is very good effort from Camus in trying to systematize his absurd view of reality, previously explored in a less direct way in "The Stranger". The main essay, "The Myth of Sisyphus", opens with a discussion of what should be, in his view, the real philosophical question: should we commit suicide in a world devoid of true meaning, where death will eventually make all human effort irrelevant? He opens this essay by exposing the problems posed by the absurd condition of men, that is, that it behaves as if he is immortal and life has a meaning in a universe that doesn’t seem to have one. Then he explores how other philosophers and literary works have dealt with this question and finishes with his mythological interpretation of such predicament: the eponymous myth of Sisyphus, a man condemned by the gods to roll a boulder uphill to eternity, never finishing his task.

The book also includes five short essays on themes like the passage of time, the changes in perspective as one ages, and the paradox created by the average citizens living intensely in a “hopeless” country like his native Algeria (as a Brazilian this rang a bell). The last essay, "The Artist and his time", Camus positions himself in the political debate of the age, with a very critical view of the stance of the artists of his time in pursing political agendas and supporting the oppressive soviet regimes in name of a “higher good” (a focus on an “ideal men” rather than the “real men”, as he puts it).

Regarding his interpretation of the absurd and his answer to it, I largely agree with his take on how we should approach life given its inherent lack of absolute meaning, but I wonder how much my agreement derives from the coherence of his arguments and how much they simply agree with my previously held views. One should rebel against our “condition”, according to Camus, by living life to its fullest and not squandering the limited time we have, making our own values and meaning of life (Sisyphus being condemned to roll the boulder uphill but not to suffer while doing it). This, in a sense, is what truly allows us to be “free”, rather than having a predefined meaning to life. The problem, he argues, is that most people would rather sacrifice freedom for meaning or “immortality” (thus the famous concept of humanity being “condemned to freedom”).

My criticism of this book is concerning the exposition of others’ ideas by Camus. Every segment he seeks to explain the interpretation of others gets dull and confusing, in part maybe due to the arid aspect of such themes. While I loved "The Stranger" and liked this book overall, with its explanations of the concepts mixed with literary criticism and fictionalized segments, I prefer the “Camus author” than the “Camus philosophy professor” if indeed they can be separated.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Reviewed in Canada on February 15, 2019
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When faced with the silence and indifference of the universe, its up to oneself to define what a meaningful life is.
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Sophie L
2.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother with this Kindle version
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2023
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This isn't a comment on the book itself, just a warning: Don't bother with this Kindle version. It's rife with typos, random additional words and formatting errors, makes for an unpleasant reading experience.
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Viktorija
5.0 out of 5 stars The cover is somewhat plasticized so it is not a ...
Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2016
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The cover is somewhat plasticized so it is not a simple paperback and seems to be more durable than what you would expect of a paperback.
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Ray
4.0 out of 5 stars Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays by Grapevine Publishers
Reviewed in India on May 12, 2023
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This is a review for this particular edition of the book, not its content. Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays by Grapevine Publishers includes Myth of Sisyphus and 5 other essays by Albert Camus. I bought the book without knowing which other essays would be included. I couldn't find the information anywhere.

The 5 other essays included are - Summer in Algiers, The Minotaur or the Stop in Oran, Helen's Exile, Return to Tipasa, and The Artist and His Time. These are the same essays included in the Penguin Modern Classics edition (ISBN-13 : ‎978-0141182001). The translation is also the same as in the Penguin (by Justin O' Brian). What's missing is the Introduction and the notes (which are included on the pages in the Penguin edition). The formatting isn't that great in the Grapevine edition and the spacing is a little congested. The Grapevine edition is cheaper.

So overall, if one doesn't mind the non-inclusion of the introduction and notes, this is a good alternative to the Penguin Modern Classics version. And also to the Penguin Great Ideas ideas edition (ISBN-13 : ‎978-0141023991), which is cheaper than the Modern Classics version and only includes the Myth of Sisyphus and notes, but doesn't include the introduction or the other essays.
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