A Life Worth Living: Albert Camus and the Quest for Meaning

I really enjoyed the historical setting the author provided for most of Camus major works. Peaking through the veil of each work to the history that cultivated it was enjoyable. As a fan of Camus this is a great addition to works dedicated to understanding him better and ultimately helping each of us to carry his mantle in whatever ways we can. Good read.

I am saddened to write these words. In 2010, Robert Zaretsky wrote an elegant introduction to Camus's life, thought and art called "Albert Camus: Elements of a Life." I had hoped that in Camus's centenary year, he would again rise to the occasion, but I am afraid he has not. In what is intended to be a celebration of Camus, Zaretsky badly and strangely misstates facts and ideas. Organized thematically, this book does not really guide the reader through the ideas that were important to Camus. It begins inevitably with Absurdity and ends appropriately with Revolt, but in between are Silence, Measure, and Fidelity, motifs so inextricably intertwined that they defy separation into strands. Zaretsky eschews chronology and weaves inconsistently back and forth within the thirty years of Camus's mature life. A reader not already familiar with Camus would be confused by this treatment.Zaretsky is a good writer, but here his writing evinces carelessness and vagueness. He is ordinarily a careful writer but here there are misstatements that can only be explained by haste. For example, in Camus's childhood Belcourt home, Etienne was his mother's brother, not his grandmother's. And Camus was not driving when the car in which he was riding crashed in 1960, killing him. There are other inconsistencies that verge on incoherence.Perhaps the problem begins with the title. Many, perhaps most, people live lives worth living. I think Zaretsky wants to make the case that Camus lived a life worth admiring, an important point to make since Camus remains controversial one hundred years after his birth. I would urge readers who want a brief introduction to Camus to read Zaretsky's earlier book and give this one a pass.

Drawn to Camus' work, I looked forward to reading Robert Zaretsky's book and expected a personal overview, hopefully with fresh insights. I was, I'm afraid, rather disappointed. Zaretsky clearly appreciates Camus, and argues that Camus was a moralist rather than an Existentialist. Camus himself disclaimed the Existential label - mostly as a result of his break with Jean-Paul Sartre after the publication of "The Rebel." Still, to me he was more than a moralist. His work raises larger philosophical issues about human mortality, the limits of knowledge and the "benign indifference" of the universe. Zaretsky tends to underplay this dimension of Camus' thought, and thereby underplays the important connections Camus made between metaphysics and ethics.There are perhaps personal disagreements. What I found even more disappointing in the book was the apparent lack of editing and/or proofreading. There were countless signs of editorial neglect, and this in a book from Harvard University Press.

I feel I know the man behind my favorite books and understand them better for this book. Camus and Zaretsky have helped me direct my own philosophy

I have, over the years, been increasingly drawn to Albert Camus and his joyous, defiant existentialism. The idea, that a life properly lived is one that both embraces the world while defying its absurdity- it's finality and lack of justice, has been a touchstone for me. Zaretsky explores Camus' thought through his works and words; seeking the essence of Camus. This book is an excellent starting point for those interested in Camus as well as a source of reflection for those familiar with the man and his thought.

One might say that this volume, though written to be expository, might also reflect the author's unconscious tendency to be just a bit exhortatory as well. The development of Camus' thought as it related to his background and life experiences is described clearly and excellently, and perhaps just as much so is Robert Zaresky's passionate conviction that Camus's thought is still as relevant today as it was in the days of the Third Reich and then the Cold War.

The author has painted a vivid picture of Camus the man and of his philosophy. It becomes clear that Camus stayed true to his philosophy throughout his life, regardless of the cost.

a very good read of a real existential person. a bit heavy on political background.

Having just taken an interest in Camus, i began by reading Robert Zaretsky's material, i highly recommend him as he is a wonderful writer with great knowledge of his subject.

Excellent

I suppose I was hoping for a general biography of Camus which would also add context to his philosophical writings based on a description of his life at the time they were formulated. To some extent I believe this was also the author’s intent. However, for me, the emphasis was far too much on an intellectual analysis of the various themes identified rather than an exploration of the man himself.Someone with a formal background in philosophy would likely get more from this undoubtedly well informed book. Perhaps I will return to it in time.There are some interesting insights but those looking for more of character driven narrative may be disappointed.

This book is a narration of life of Albert Camus describing his personal and political sphere, wherin he tries to search the meaning of his life.

This is a lovely journey into Camus' thoughts. I enjoyed many parts of the book. Camus was a great man of intellectual integrity and the Zaretsky does a good job of portraying that in a very comfortable manner, almost like you were having a conversation. He does a wonderful job in making some very hefty ideas accessible. For that reason I'd recommend it to anyone curious about Camus but hesitant of more weighty philosophical books. However the book strays a bit in the second half. This is less Zaretsky's fault than the editors. There are ideas repeated almost exactly and some other ideas toward the end seem to be half baked and then abandoned. Anyone who has written a big document before can understand these mistakes, but for a published work it falls on the editor to catch them. If I could, I'd give the author a solid four and the editor a two, but since I can't I rated it higher to reflect the quality of what Zaretsky is trying to express, even if flawed at times. All in all, I hope more people in the English speaking word learn about Camus and I appreciate Zaretsky's clearly dedicated efforts.