{"product_id":"a-life-worth-living-albert-camus-and-the-quest-for-meaning-9780674724761","title":"A Life Worth Living: Albert Camus and the Quest for Meaning","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn his Nobel Prize acceptance speech  Albert Camus declared that a writers duty is twofold: \"the refusal to lie about what one knows and the resistance against oppression.\" These twin obsessions help explain something of Camus remarkable character  which is the overarching subject of this sympathetic and lively book. Through an exploration of themes that preoccupied Camus--absurdity  silence  revolt  fidelity  and moderation--Robert Zaretsky portrays a moralist who refused to be fooled by the nobler names we assign to our actions  and who pushed himself  and those about him  to challenge the status quo. Though we do not face the same dangers that threatened Europe when Camus wrote The Myth of Sisyphus and The Stranger  we confront other alarms. Herein lies Camus abiding significance. Reading his work  we become more thoughtful observers of our own lives. For Camus  rebellion is an eternal human condition  a timeless struggle against injustice that makes life worth living. But rebellion is also bounded by self-imposed constraints--it is a noble if impossible ideal. Such a contradiction suggests that if there is no reason for hope  there is also no occasion for despair--a sentiment perhaps better suited for the ancient tragedians than modern political theorists but one whose wisdom abides. Yet we must not venerate suffering  Camus cautions: the worlds beauty demands our attention no less than lifes train of injustices. That recognition permits him to declare: \"It was the middle of winter  I finally realized that  within me  summer was inextinguishable.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651834110005,"sku":"ByrdShop_0674724763","price":36.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780674724761.jpg?v=1781841811","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/a-life-worth-living-albert-camus-and-the-quest-for-meaning-9780674724761","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}