It was difficult at times to follow everything, especially after years since my last Camus book, but once you got used to it, the writing was mind-expanding. It made you think about the politics and society of 20th century, but also of today. It made me consider and judge the progress humanity has made (or not made) since. A great book.

Speaking Out is collection of lectures and speeches by the hero of the Absurd, Albert Camus, covering a wide range of topics from politics, literature, war, and the general decline of mankind.

While I went into this collection hoping to glean some inherent meaning or value from them to apply to my life, I was quickly reminded of my place in the silent, indifferent universe which renders such searching entirely meaningless. Rather than wallow in my existential dread however, I was inspired by Camus's teaching to embrace the Absurdity of human existence and trek ever onwards, finally arriving towards my ultimate solution that this book is indeed worthy of a five-star rating.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and Netgalley**

I read Albert Camus's novel The Outsider / The Stranger (L'etranger) in a high school AP English class, and it made an indelible impression on me even at an age when I hadn't been exposed to many of the giants of literature that I now revere that now, more than a decade later, I am still reading and rereading his works and mining them for more wisdom about the human condition. Speak Out is a new collection of his lectures and speeches. While they do not cover the content of his fictional works, they are amazingly illuminating and give us an invaluable look inside a truly remarkable mind.

I was quite familiar with Camus’ writing prior to reading the newest collection. Most of the works here are in line with his previous works, but I do believe they provide further insight into his thinking and beliefs. The editors skillfully guide the reader with explicit details prior to each lecture and speech. For example, prior to Camus’ Nobel Prize Speech, the editor notes Camus’ uneasiness at receiving the reward, as well details of who received his dedication for the award and why.

Many of the selections are interconnected, “The Crisis of Man” being one of the standouts, but a related selection is “The Unbeliever and Christians.” Those who have read Camus closely know that he was broadly considered an agnostic who subscribed to a philosophy of humanism (demonstrated throughout this collection). So, I found it really interesting to see Camus addressing a monastery full of Christians. He is forthright, admitting his difficulty in finding the same faith as a Christian while also acknowledging his admiration for Christians. He condemns the prevailing nihilism of the time. There was a prevalent ‘whatever feels right’ attitude without any guiding morality. Camus admonishes the Christians to live up to their faith through action. As Christians, they are called to join forces with humanists like Camus who genuinely want to help the most vulnerable humans. Camus lived in France during the Resistance, so he witnessed lots of bravery but also lots of cowardice, too. So, his speech is a call to action that Christians, as well humanists like Camus, should do everything possible to help their fellow humans.

I wish I had better reference on the quality of the translation, although I can’t say I speak French. That said, I do know that Quintin Hoare has provided plenty of respected translations of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.

All of that said, this is a great collection. I would argue this is ideally suited for a reader who has at least read one work of Camus—a relative novice or the most avid fan. This might not be a bad introduction, but it feels like a deeper dive into someone who wants to delve deeper.

My only exposure to Camus was reading the Stranger, so I was excited to hear that a collection of his speeches/essays was being published by one of my favorite imprints. The historical context provided by the editors was wonderful, and reading his speeches was a great way to learn about how public intellectuals at the time thought. Many of these speeches are timeless.