Actionable Takeaways from Albert Camus’ The Stranger

Disclaimer: I know The Stranger wasn’t written as a self-help manual. Camus’s intention was to spotlight the Absurd, society’s expectations, and more—he wasn’t crafting a checklist for daily living. But here, I’m reading it in a personal, somewhat motivational way, extracting practical life lessons that might help me (and maybe you) reflect on how we deal with life’s curveballs. If you’re looking for an academic or strictly existentialist reading, there are plenty of thorough commentaries out there. This post is more about what I can do in my everyday life after reading The Stranger.

I contemplated writing this review.............Oh, write it, don’t write it… does it matter?

I mean, come on—Camus’s The Stranger basically begs for that question. Right from the get-go, Meursault is the guy who shrugs off existence with an almost comic indifference, reminding me of that gambler who knows the odds but says, “Eh, let’s roll the dice anyway.”

1. Acknowledge the Absurd—But Don’t Get Stuck There

“But everybody knows life isn’t worth living.”—Albert Camus, The Stranger

Camus’s hallmark idea is the Absurd: the clash between our desire for a meaningful universe and the universe’s stubborn silence. Meursault shrugs and barely blinks. We might laugh or roll our eyes at his apathy, but it’s worth a second thought.

Yes, we’re all aware that life ends. Yes, we can’t always predict or control what happens. But no, that doesn’t mean we toss responsibility or gratitude out the window.

Action Step: Next time you catch yourself feeling pointlessly cynical (“Ugh, none of this matters!”), take a mental pause. Remind yourself that, sure, the world might be absurd—but you’re here, now, with the power to do something. Read a good book, help a friend, or simply appreciate your morning coffee. Give the Absurd a nod, then keep moving forward anyway.

2. Practice Emotional Honesty (Even If It’s Uncomfortable)

Meursault’s biggest “sin” in the eyes of others isn’t so much the murder (though obviously, that’s a major plot point). It’s that he doesn’t grieve like society expects him to. He’s not sobbing at his mom’s funeral, and he’s not shaking with remorse. In fact, people seem to hate him more for his lack of tears than for the crime itself.

But, come on—haven’t we all wondered, “Am I reacting the ‘right’ way? Should I be crying or panicking more?” Society loves scripts: how to act when someone dies, how to look sorrowful, how to fit in. Meursault just refuses to follow that script altogether.

Action Step: Next time you feel pressure to “perform” an emotion you’re not feeling, pause. Ask yourself: “Is there a middle ground between being authentically me and being so ‘dressed up’ that I’m faking it?” Finding that balance might mean letting your real feelings breathe. You don’t have to overshare, but look for a sincere spark of truth—rather than putting on a show.

3. Respond to Big Events with Conscious Choice

“…the day of my execution and they greet me with cries of hate.”—Albert Camus, The Stranger

By the time he’s on trial for murder, Meursault acknowledges it hurts to be so hated, but he’s also oddly detached. While (thankfully) most of us won’t face an actual execution, life does throw intense events at us—losing a job, a breakup, a health crisis. Sometimes we feel numb; sometimes we feel everything at once. Either way, we do have a choice in how we respond, even when it feels forced upon us.

Action Step: Before reacting to a major (or even minor) crisis, pause. Ask: “How do I want to handle this? Lash out, shut down, or meet it head-on? What does the situation call for, and what am I capable of?” That brief moment between event and response is crucial—it’s how we maintain a sense of intentionality and responsibility.

4. Embrace Gratitude—Yes, Even When It Feels Ridiculous

It might sound contradictory: Camus is often seen as bleak, so how can we talk about gratitude? But that’s precisely why gratitude matters. Life’s inherently fleeting, often doesn’t “make sense,” so a habit of appreciation can anchor you when the world feels chaotic.

Action Step: Start or end your day with a quick mental checklist: “What am I grateful for right now?” Maybe it’s a warm bed, a decent lunch, or simply the fact that you’re alive (and not facing a howling mob at your trial). Write it down, say it out loud, or just think it—whatever feels real. Repeat daily until it’s second nature.

5. Remember You’re Lucky to Be Alive (Even If It’s Absurd)

“…deep down, I knew perfectly well that it doesn’t much matter whether you die at thirty or at seventy…”—Albert Camus, The Stranger

It sounds like a downer, but here’s the flip side: if life is short and unpredictable, it’s also an invitation to live more boldly, more kindly, more gratefully—pick your “-ly.” The best counter to existential dread is to live in a way that feels meaningful to you.

Action Step: Pinpoint one thing you’ve been hesitating on—an email, a project, a weird idea you’re shy about. Take one small step toward it. That’s your nod to the fact that life isn’t guaranteed. You might as well do something that lights you up or helps someone else. Consider it your 1% improvement for the day.

Final Thoughts

Reading The Stranger can prompt us to be more awake, intentional, and even grateful—despite the novel’s famously bleak atmosphere. The irony is that Meursault’s numbness serves as a mirror. Yes, we can choose apathy. Or we can choose something else: responsibility, gratitude, awareness, maybe a deeper sense of kindness.Because in a world that often doesn’t care, you still can. And that, to me, is reason enough to keep showing up.

If anyone else finds this helpful, that’s cool—but it’s mainly for my own reflecting - to bring a bit more honesty and action into day-to-day life, Absurdity and all.