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This is a short but highly compelling collection of some of Camus' short writings on subjects such as the second World War, the death penalty, and what it means to make art in these contemporary times. His powerful defense of Humanism and the importance of the individual spirit contains a depth of experience and wisdom that is missing in many such attempts.
To Camus, the meaning we humans make in the world for ourselves is the only real meaning that exists, and it is this humanistic meaning that he dearly values above any overriding ideological concern. The values arising from this existentialist humanism shine through in all of his points and argumentations in these essays and speeches. In many cases, these values can appear as underwhelming and naive, but here with Camus they are cogent, rousing, and inspirational.