Rating: 
Summary: The Noble Aims of Rebellion
Review: "The Rebel" is a meaty and insightful "essay" with Camus telling his account of rebellion beginning in the mid-1750s and alluding to Greek mythology to answer the question stated below for 20th (now 21st) century living. Camus examines the writings of Sade, Nietzsche (and others) and Marxism to answer whether the conquest of revolutionary movements can change the "totality of the world" and claim to the "unity of life" through rebellion (97, 108), that is, living in order to create what we are, not what we are not by the force of terror! It is not by dieing through revolutions we find a place in history, nor by being a god ourselves, nor indulging in our "adolescent furies" but rather servicing history by throwing ourselves into our own lives and to help others. "Rebellion in itself is moderation, and it demands, defends, and re-creates it through history and its eternal disturbances... It (rebellion) is a perpetual conflict, continually created and mastered by the intelligence" (301). Camus also gives his account and original interpretation on the 'death of God' through his examination of "historical rebellion." "The Rebel" is written with admirable writing talent and skilled exposé by an extraordinary individual on the heart-wrenching depths on man in revolt. This exposition deserves 10 stars plus and is worth three times more than what I paid for it...!
Rating:
Summary: Realistic Goals
Review: "The Rebel" is really an extended essay by Camus concerning the rejection of religion as a basis for political and social legitimacy in the West, and the consequences of that rejection. Camus examines the reasons for rebellion - socio-economic and political injustices could no longer be explained by reference to God's will. If such injustices pertain, then how can God be "just"? Therefore does God exist? Camus then goes on to examine, essentially, what a mess has been created by the attempts to replace deism with some other form of over-arching belief: from the exaltation of rationalism in the French Revolution, the primacy of the law, romantic Socialism, Communism, and Fascism. Presciently, he also refers to the limitations of economic materialism. None of these have succeeded in removing injustices, many of them justify repression by promising a just future which can in reality never be attained. This is an interesting, accessible book. Camus's ultimate conclusions are worth a close read in that they affirm the value of life in its own terms and serve as a wake-up call to what is and is not really achievable for humanity as a whole. G Rodgers
Rating: 
Summary: A flawed analysis
Review: "The Rebel" is a book of tremendous, though unfulfilled potentials. Though it contains a wealth of factual data, Camus's examination of the paradoxes of revolt misfires on account of the faulty premise of its argument: that revolt is an act by which the individual rebel somehow invokes, in the intention behind his deed, the welfare of others. Any other form of revolt that licences the murder or enslavement of a fellow human being as a means to and end, violates, in Camus's view, this human bond implicit in the genuine act of rebellion. The rest of the book is an elaboration on this theme and the result is a splendidly written, frequently opaque and - (what is most regrettable) - barely coherent and sometimes pretentious treatise. Camus offers some valuable insights on how movements laying claim to liberal ideals degenerate, once they are established, into monolithic despotisms. It is interesting how this work, written in the aftermath of the Second World War, which witnessed the genocide of millions, marks a dramatic change of attitude in Camus, from being the out-and-out existential nihilist of "The Outsider" to becoming a humanist "value-nihilist". It is a pity that the convictions of such a profound and individual thinker were not strong enough bulwarks against the enemy of all clear thought: - sentimentality.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic Goals
Review: "The Rebel" is really an extended essay by Camus concerning the rejection of religion as a basis for political and social legitimacy in the West, and the consequences of that rejection.
Camus examines the reasons for rebellion - socio-economic and political injustices could no longer be explained by reference to God's will. If such injustices pertain, then how can God be "just"? Therefore does God exist? Camus then goes on to examine, essentially, what a mess has been created by the attempts to replace deism with some other form of over-arching belief: from the exaltation of rationalism in the French Revolution, the primacy of the law, romantic Socialism, Communism, and Fascism. Presciently, he also refers to the limitations of economic materialism. None of these have succeeded in removing injustices, many of them justify repression by promising a just future which can in reality never be attained.
This is an interesting, accessible book. Camus's ultimate conclusions are worth a close read in that they affirm the value of life in its own terms and serve as a wake-up call to what is and is not really achievable for humanity as a whole.
G Rodgers
Rating:
Summary: so few have the guts
Review: after being introduced to camus, i have read all of his works from the fall to his notebooks. i am not a scolar and after reading this you will see a lot of words spelted wrong oh well. my review is simple it is a work of art, starting with his wise and elogent dismantling of the marquie de sade, who saw rebellion in its most nililistic form, however camus notices sade'w rejection of capital punishement. move's from sade to the revolution and on to the works by hegal, marx, and nietzsche; to name a few, there is a lot more. show's his respect for the organization for combat of the Socialist Revolutionary party. this book is and should be a manitory read for all people of all races. the principle of "nessisary but inexcusible" is the call of the rebel.
Rating:
Summary: so few have the guts
Review: after being introduced to camus, i have read all of his works from the fall to his notebooks. i am not a scolar and after reading this you will see a lot of words spelted wrong oh well. my review is simple it is a work of art, starting with his wise and elogent dismantling of the marquie de sade, who saw rebellion in its most nililistic form, however camus notices sade'w rejection of capital punishement. move's from sade to the revolution and on to the works by hegal, marx, and nietzsche; to name a few, there is a lot more. show's his respect for the organization for combat of the Socialist Revolutionary party. this book is and should be a manitory read for all people of all races. the principle of "nessisary but inexcusible" is the call of the rebel.
Rating: 
Summary: This translation from the French is HORRIBLE!
Review: Although I have not yet read the original French publications of these essays, I must express my dissapointment with this translation. Whoever did this job simply must have a far better understanding of the language than they do! As a native English speaker and as a student of the French language for four years now, I implore that far better work be done in the future to bring to the English speaking world the beauty of Camus!
Rating:
Summary: Piercing!
Review: Camus may be lacking in the fineries of a more developed intellectualism but that is what makes this work dear to me. It is not for reading but for absorbing.
Rating: 
Summary: More interesting for the history than the philosophy
Review: Camus' quasi-coherent point takes a back seat to his insightful historical analysis. It's worth reading for the historical info, rather than his elusive point.
Rating:
Summary: Eloquent and Enlightening
Review: Camus' The Rebel is the first book of his that I had the great pleasure of reading. Eloquent and enlightening, The Rebel speaks to me in a way that no other 20th century philosophical work has, at least in its entirety. The Rebel is both an introduction of new ideas and a history of previous ideas and events: Camus' scholarship is unbelievable in the area of revolt. It spans from early greek history and earlier all the way through to the French Revolution and beyond. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone concerned with spiritual, historical, or any kind of rebellion - and really to anyone who concerns themself over the human condition.
| 
