Books on Russians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not the PP you are addressing. I agree with you completely. To add to your point, I think that English-speaking and American authors that have been to Russia and wrote about it (like Hedrick Smith whom I read and agree with) can describe it from a perspective important to the English-speaking readers. Hedrick Smith wrote about lack of freedom, how the Soviet people were afraid to interact with him because they did not want to get in trouble with the government. Hedrick Smith also criticized the Soviet Education system, the lack of respect for human dignity. Many Russian people still have the Soviet mentality and will think nothing of those details. Hedrick Smith also mentioned how many Russians venerated Stalin saying when he was around, they had more order, he was shocked how many Russians longed for the dictator, to be ruled by the iron fist.

This has nothing to do with the national identity and everything to do with a very rational response to external stimuli. If doing something non-critical brings you trouble, it is just as easy not to do it.

Today Russians interact with foreigners with no fear of prosecution. It is your contention that Russian national identity has changed?

This isn't "understanding Russian identity." This is "please describe to me all the ways in which Russians are different from, and inferior to us."

Numbers don’t lie. Russians are inferior to English-speaking and European people in many ways. People vote with their feet. During the Soviet years, peopke were fascinated with the Western culture, fashion, freedom, of which they had none. Only in Moscow you could buy bananas and oranges, many people had to learn how to sew because the government plan did not provide comfortable and stylish clothing. Everyday life made women age shortly after marriage and children. Men started dying in their 40s and 50s, which is still true today.

Science and culture in Russia was largely borrowed and bought from Europe and the US. Italians and Germans worked in Russia during Peter the Great years. Kremlin was built by an Italian architect, and you can find a building similar to the Kremlin - Sforza Castle. During the Stalin industrialization in the 1930s, American engineers came to work there. Soviet cars were the copycats of European and American cars.

Much of Russian mentality originated from the Byzantine empire, and I think this where the backwardness, violence, and, most importantly, Orthodox religion comes from. In the 19th century Russia had two schools of thought - the Westerners and the Slavonophiles. Dostoyevsky belonged to the latter camp standing for Russia going its own way - Orthodox faith, empire, nationalism. Turgenev was a Westerner who wanted Russia to be closer to Europe and borrow European ideas and experience towards industrialism and economic growth.

Here lies your problem is that you don’t see Soviet horrors as a problem. The Soviet times are still affecting Russia today, including the mindset of many people who crave dictatorship, prohibitions and “order”.

Russian identity is supposedly not materialistic, which is similar to living in denial of physical reality. Due to years of the government having to think for the people, many are still unable to think independently and fall for all kinds of scams, which are frequently discussed in the media.

Another recent Levada center poll showed that 53% of Russian youth want to leave Russia to permanently reside abroad. The talent in Russia is neither appreciated nor supported. Most rich Russians have property and bank accounts in the US and Western Europe.

I think that many Russian people are intelligent, creative, they tend to be think about the future and opportunities, they don’t want to miss out on what the world has to offer. Unfortunately, due to decreasing social mobility, they are looking for those opportunities outside of Russia. I wish this was not the case, but it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I can't even begin to fathom how ignorant you sound.

So to understand you correctly, you are saying that the only people who can describe a given country's identity are citizens of that country? So you are rejecting the entire disciplines of sociology, anthropology, much of political science, much of history, etc. unless those researchers come from the countries they are analyzing.

So you don't find it in the slightest bit interesting that out of the three pages of recommendation, NOT A SINGLE BOOK by a Russian author was mentioned?

Bigotry.

Most of those books aren’t translated into English, nitwit! Moreover, many books by Russian authors HAVE been mentioned—mostly classic literature.

But here’s a non-fiction one: Violent Entrepreneurs by Vadim Volkov.

My problem is that you seem to think only the people in a given country can describe themselves, which is just patently stupid and would mean basically shutting down 98% of social sciences departments. Are you essentially advocating for that?

Not the PP you are addressing. I agree with you completely. To add to your point, I think that English-speaking and American authors that have been to Russia and wrote about it (like Hedrick Smith whom I read and agree with) can describe it from a perspective important to the English-speaking readers. Hedrick Smith wrote about lack of freedom, how the Soviet people were afraid to interact with him because they did not want to get in trouble with the government. Hedrick Smith also criticized the Soviet Education system, the lack of respect for human dignity. Many Russian people still have the Soviet mentality and will think nothing of those details. Hedrick Smith also mentioned how many Russians venerated Stalin saying when he was around, they had more order, he was shocked how many Russians longed for the dictator, to be ruled by the iron fist.

Yep. Polls show a majority of Russians have at least a neutral opinion of Stalin. That’s due to propaganda in their education system. As a result, are we to believe Russians when they say things like “Stalin did what he had to do” (which Russians personally told me when I lived there)?

Here’s a link to the Levada poll I was referencing. Sorry that it’s only in Russian. https://www.levada.ru/2019/04/16/uroven-odobreniya-stalina-rossiyanami-pobil-istoricheskij-rekord/

No it isn't.

Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

Not only that. Putin is paying numerous puppet historians who are spewing this nonsense on television and on the Internet. There are also talks to close off the Internet in a way it is in China, Russians are calling it “cheburnet”. Putin evoking USSR in a positive light so that the people don’t protest too much when it comes to censorship, numerous budget cuts and corruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

Let’s not forget that some of Russia Today and Sputnik offices are located in DC. ? I wonder, PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

The majority of Russians who lived under Stalin are dead.

[Anonymous]

I read Simon Sebag Montefiore’s “The Young Stalin”. It was an interesting and detailed insight, which no Russian author could describe, especially when it comes to Stalin robbing a bank, going to London, and generally presenting him as a criminal.

Montefiore wrote other books on Russia, which might be worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

The majority of Russians who lived under Stalin are dead.

My grandmother’s family experienced famine during Stalin years before the war of 1941. My other grandmother’s family owned a textile factory, which was taken from them during forced government repossession of private property called collectivization. People who worked hard and were talented were the worst victims of Stalin regime. People who were dirt poor either stayed dirt poor and lived a little better. And education during Stalin was free only for the first four grades, then parents had to pay. One of my grandmothers has a four grade education exactly for that reason. One of my grandfathers, her husband, had four grades of school as well, managing to continue his education and get an engineering degree after he already married and had children, long after Stalin’s death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

The majority of Russians who lived under Stalin are dead.

My grandmother’s family experienced famine during Stalin years before the war of 1941. My other grandmother’s family owned a textile factory, which was taken from them during forced government repossession of private property called collectivization. People who worked hard and were talented were the worst victims of Stalin regime. People who were dirt poor either stayed dirt poor and lived a little better. And education during Stalin was free only for the first four grades, then parents had to pay. One of my grandmothers has a four grade education exactly for that reason. One of my grandfathers, her husband, had four grades of school as well, managing to continue his education and get an engineering degree after he already married and had children, long after Stalin’s death.

what does your family history have to do with the sentence I wrote above?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

The majority of Russians who lived under Stalin are dead.

My grandmother’s family experienced famine during Stalin years before the war of 1941. My other grandmother’s family owned a textile factory, which was taken from them during forced government repossession of private property called collectivization. People who worked hard and were talented were the worst victims of Stalin regime. People who were dirt poor either stayed dirt poor and lived a little better. And education during Stalin was free only for the first four grades, then parents had to pay. One of my grandmothers has a four grade education exactly for that reason. One of my grandfathers, her husband, had four grades of school as well, managing to continue his education and get an engineering degree after he already married and had children, long after Stalin’s death.

what does your family history have to do with the sentence I wrote above?

I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually it is. Putin overhauled the history textbooks and the changes included casting Stalin in a more positive light.

You're so cute, you remind me of a rhyming contest Russia ran in jest a few years ago. The poem had to have two lines, and the second had to be "Yes, it must be Putin's fault." I remember the entries that went like" Did you your girlfriend cheat on you? yes, it must be Putin's fault. Did your skating practice suck? Yes, it must be Putin's fault." It's much funnier in Russian.

The real answer, my little darling, has nothing to do with any alleged education reform (certainly, not enough people would have graduated school with the new textbooks - if they existed - to make any difference!) The real answer is that for a substantial number of Russians, life under Stalin and his successors was substantially better than it is today. And all the Hedricks of the world won't be able to do a damn about that.

The majority of Russians who lived under Stalin are dead.

My grandmother’s family experienced famine during Stalin years before the war of 1941. My other grandmother’s family owned a textile factory, which was taken from them during forced government repossession of private property called collectivization. People who worked hard and were talented were the worst victims of Stalin regime. People who were dirt poor either stayed dirt poor and lived a little better. And education during Stalin was free only for the first four grades, then parents had to pay. One of my grandmothers has a four grade education exactly for that reason. One of my grandfathers, her husband, had four grades of school as well, managing to continue his education and get an engineering degree after he already married and had children, long after Stalin’s death.

what does your family history have to do with the sentence I wrote above?

I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

“Live” under Stalin’s rule. Sorry, autocorrect can be crazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

Well MY mother dislikes Stalin very much. But under his rule, she and her three siblings orphaned by the war were kept from hunger and life on the street by a state-run social safety network. All four were raised, fed and educated in children's homes - orphanages, really. Two obtained higher education. Not bad for the kids who never knew their parents and had no family left after the war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

Well MY mother dislikes Stalin very much. But under his rule, she and her three siblings orphaned by the war were kept from hunger and life on the street by a state-run social safety network. All four were raised, fed and educated in children's homes - orphanages, really. Two obtained higher education. Not bad for the kids who never knew their parents and had no family left after the war.

If it wasn’t for Stalin, there might not have been a war in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

Well MY mother dislikes Stalin very much. But under his rule, she and her three siblings orphaned by the war were kept from hunger and life on the street by a state-run social safety network. All four were raised, fed and educated in children's homes - orphanages, really. Two obtained higher education. Not bad for the kids who never knew their parents and had no family left after the war.

If it wasn’t for Stalin, there might not have been a war in the first place.

Or not!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

Well MY mother dislikes Stalin very much. But under his rule, she and her three siblings orphaned by the war were kept from hunger and life on the street by a state-run social safety network. All four were raised, fed and educated in children's homes - orphanages, really. Two obtained higher education. Not bad for the kids who never knew their parents and had no family left after the war.

If it wasn’t for Stalin, there might not have been a war in the first place.

Or not!

Hilter hated communism. That was a major reason why he attacked the Soviet Union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was continuing on the subject of life under Stalin. I think that people today idealize Stalin exactly because they did not learn be under his rule.

Well MY mother dislikes Stalin very much. But under his rule, she and her three siblings orphaned by the war were kept from hunger and life on the street by a state-run social safety network. All four were raised, fed and educated in children's homes - orphanages, really. Two obtained higher education. Not bad for the kids who never knew their parents and had no family left after the war.

If it wasn’t for Stalin, there might not have been a war in the first place.

Or not!

Hilter hated communism. That was a major reason why he attacked the Soviet Union.

The crimes of communism was known
Some say his party rose to power because of the threat of communism