8/10

I read a lot of Camus when I was younger and have always loved his writing. So much so, that I bought most of his major works and would read them without doing much research in advance. The Rebel is the first new major book of his I have picked up in many years and at first was surprised by its focus on social and political issues, after having always been draw to his personal philosophical predlicitions. And yet, The Rebel still delivers his unique, artistic spirit and humanism. Using the theme of rebellion, Camus explores what his perspective might bring to a more explicitly social and political debate. At a time when most of his leftist milieu was drawn into Soviet apologia, Camus was too honest and authentic to not detect its totalitarian tendencies and had the courage to face them head on, attempting to draw out a new direction whose egalitarian objectives are familiar to the left, but for whom the means are as important as the ends. This wonderful philsophical, historical, and political essay has only increased my admiration of Camus.