The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
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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- I tried to read Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays during an episode of major depression, thinking I’d appreciate the message, but it was too dense given the circumstances.
What I did finish, and what ended up becoming one of my favorite books, is Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams. He traveled around the world with a biologist to find endangered animals. It’s a funny and life-affirming book.
- I read on my phone/tablet these days. I backpacked around for 11 months straight once and having physical books and keeping notes was difficult. I use to just buy books from Google/Amazon/B&N, but these days I'll usually just buy some merch from an author or support their podcast (if they have one) and pirate the book because I hate vendor lock-in.
I usually try to switch back and fourth between fiction and non-fiction. I'll read two or three fictional novels and then maybe some non-fiction. I'm not a huge fan of non-fiction. A lot of them they draw out a 100 page book into a 300 page extended essay because that's what publishers want to sell books at the current market prices. I'd rather they sell 150 page non-fiction if they could get the same point across. (Sam Harris brought this up when he self published the short book: Islam and the Future of Tolerance, which is on my list).
I think at one time I might have switched between two books throughout my reading, but today I usually read one all the way through.
I do want to read more. Here's what I finished last year:
Books 2018:
and 2019 so far:Cibola Burn Nemesis Games The Dictator's Handbook The Mythical Man Month Ready Player One The Myth of Sisyphus and Other EssaysThe Fountainhead Wrinkle in Time The Men who Stare at Goats The Coddling of the American Mind Babylon's Ashes The Strange Death of Europe Persepolis Rising
