Books on Russians

[Anonymous]

Dead Souls by Gogol

[Anonymous]

"The former colonies are now better off than those that were no colonized!" The white savior complex has no bounds!
I am not even if that pp is suggesting it is a pity Russia!? was not colonized!

[Anonymous]

So Japan, Korea, Thailand, Liberia and possibly Ethiopia are all worse off than if they were colonized?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

Are you referring to me?

All I did was recommend books by Fiona Hill and Timothy Colton, who are widely respected experts. Can you specify why you have an issue with them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

Are you referring to me?

All I did was recommend books by Fiona Hill and Timothy Colton, who are widely respected experts. Can you specify why you have an issue with them?

I don’t know if it was you, I am referring to a Russain Analyst from another thread with a very skewed understanding of Russia. If it was you, then good for the OP - your suggestions probably reflect your dislike of the country you analyze.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should start with the classics. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, etc. I don't understand does what stem from Peter the Great? What do you mean why do they think they way they do? How do you think Russians think? From serfdom to 1812? Russians were still serfs in 1812. Serfdom was abolished in 1861. Are you suggesting that a. Russians all think alike, and b. that some U.S. author book can shed the light on these exactly same thinking millions of people? You should really ask Jeff to delete your insulting and thoughtless post.

You may think like a faux intellectual, but the Russian mindset is very much tied to totalitarianism. The czars of old and the despots from post revolution onward including the present day.

Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky born generations apart were all part of the nobility at a time when the vast majority of Russians were illiterate and starving.

Indeed, in most countries, including the U.S. and England those living in poverty were not writing literary masterpieces! At that time. How many 19th century poorest of the poor wrote and published novels in the U.S?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should start with the classics. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, etc. I don't understand does what stem from Peter the Great? What do you mean why do they think they way they do? How do you think Russians think? From serfdom to 1812? Russians were still serfs in 1812. Serfdom was abolished in 1861. Are you suggesting that a. Russians all think alike, and b. that some U.S. author book can shed the light on these exactly same thinking millions of people? You should really ask Jeff to delete your insulting and thoughtless post.

You may think like a faux intellectual, but the Russian mindset is very much tied to totalitarianism. The czars of old and the despots from post revolution onward including the present day.

Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky born generations apart were all part of the nobility at a time when the vast majority of Russians were illiterate and starving.

Most of the Europe was totalitarian. After the French Revolution the grip by monarchs to preserve their rights was rampant in all of Europe. Russian people lived in agricultural units and were very capable to sharing. The rise of communism was by a few people who grabbed the power. You speak of things like the Russian mindset? What mind set? Stalin was not even Russian!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

I wouldn't say I was traumatized by my Russian childhood but there were certainly some negative parts to growing up there. There was also much that was good, and looking back at it from here, I appreciate it even more.

OP, it won't do you any good to read the foreigners' attempts to catalog the "Russian identity." The best thing to do, if you want to understand a culture, is to immerse yourself in how this culture expresses itself. This will give you more clues to the "mysterious Russian soul" than all the Fionas Britain ever produced. Read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, read Chekhov, Kuprin, Bunin. Read Bulgakov, although that's hard to get for a foreigner. Read Fazil Iskander. Read Rybakov. Read Yuri Nagibin, read Daniil Granin. Read Voynovich. Then read some more.

[Anonymous]

https://www.rbth.com/arts/literature/2017/08/25/112-russian-writers-ranging-great-freaking-great_724466

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

I wouldn't say I was traumatized by my Russian childhood but there were certainly some negative parts to growing up there. There was also much that was good, and looking back at it from here, I appreciate it even more.

OP, it won't do you any good to read the foreigners' attempts to catalog the "Russian identity." The best thing to do, if you want to understand a culture, is to immerse yourself in how this culture expresses itself. This will give you more clues to the "mysterious Russian soul" than all the Fionas Britain ever produced. Read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, read Chekhov, Kuprin, Bunin. Read Bulgakov, although that's hard to get for a foreigner. Read Fazil Iskander. Read Rybakov. Read Yuri Nagibin, read Daniil Granin. Read Voynovich. Then read some more.

I am one of those easily traumatized, and the 90s were a brutal time for our family (and many other families as well). I recommend Yuri Polyakov and Sergei Dovlatov to those seeking to understand the Russians of the 20s century.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

I wouldn't say I was traumatized by my Russian childhood but there were certainly some negative parts to growing up there. There was also much that was good, and looking back at it from here, I appreciate it even more.

OP, it won't do you any good to read the foreigners' attempts to catalog the "Russian identity." The best thing to do, if you want to understand a culture, is to immerse yourself in how this culture expresses itself. This will give you more clues to the "mysterious Russian soul" than all the Fionas Britain ever produced. Read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, read Chekhov, Kuprin, Bunin. Read Bulgakov, although that's hard to get for a foreigner. Read Fazil Iskander. Read Rybakov. Read Yuri Nagibin, read Daniil Granin. Read Voynovich. Then read some more.

I am one of those easily traumatized, and the 90s were a brutal time for our family (and many other families as well). I recommend Yuri Polyakov and Sergei Dovlatov to those seeking to understand the Russians of the 20s century.

Why were the 90s so brutal? Hunger? High prices of food? Was there rampant crime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

I wouldn't say I was traumatized by my Russian childhood but there were certainly some negative parts to growing up there. There was also much that was good, and looking back at it from here, I appreciate it even more.

OP, it won't do you any good to read the foreigners' attempts to catalog the "Russian identity." The best thing to do, if you want to understand a culture, is to immerse yourself in how this culture expresses itself. This will give you more clues to the "mysterious Russian soul" than all the Fionas Britain ever produced. Read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, read Chekhov, Kuprin, Bunin. Read Bulgakov, although that's hard to get for a foreigner. Read Fazil Iskander. Read Rybakov. Read Yuri Nagibin, read Daniil Granin. Read Voynovich. Then read some more.

I am one of those easily traumatized, and the 90s were a brutal time for our family (and many other families as well). I recommend Yuri Polyakov and Sergei Dovlatov to those seeking to understand the Russians of the 20s century.

Why were the 90s so brutal? Hunger? High prices of food? Was there rampant crime?

I am sure you can read up on the topic. Don’t make me do the labor for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

Are you referring to me?

All I did was recommend books by Fiona Hill and Timothy Colton, who are widely respected experts. Can you specify why you have an issue with them?

I don’t know if it was you, I am referring to a Russain Analyst from another thread with a very skewed understanding of Russia. If it was you, then good for the OP - your suggestions probably reflect your dislike of the country you analyze.

Huh? I'm half-Russian. I've lived there. I hardly dislike the country (although I dislike the government).

Again, what's your issue with Fiona Hill or Timothy Colton?

[Anonymous]

Rapid currency devaluation, disintegration of many social safety networks, staggeringly high inflation, high prices for food and other necessities, civil unrest and ethnic conflicts, the rise of organized crime groups...

But it was also an exciting time in a sense when you began to feel that things were possible. There were no rules and many successful business empires today had their roots in the scrambling nineties. Many careers were also built at that time. Borders were open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to get political, but can anyone recommend books on the Russian identity, why they think & act the way they do, etc. does it stem from Peter the Great or the time of great distrust under Soviet rule? From serfdom to war of 1812 and world wars, etc? I think Ken Follett did a fine job, as well as Rutherford, but they are researchers, and can't truly convey the identity. TIA!

It appears that you’d like to read some quality Russian-bashing literature. I remember a Russian analyst on this board with ridiculous impressions , so maybe s/he could help with your search. I suggest this book https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-Soviet-Cooking-Longing/dp/0307886824

Russians are different just like Americans are, with many social and cultural elements responsible for the diversity in views, life styles, etc. I was traumatized by my Russian childhood in many ways, but I appreciated a healthy dose of fun absurdity in my life and I do miss it. I find Mexico in many ways similar on some “spiritual level”, although I can never clearly conceptualize why.

I wouldn't say I was traumatized by my Russian childhood but there were certainly some negative parts to growing up there. There was also much that was good, and looking back at it from here, I appreciate it even more.

OP, it won't do you any good to read the foreigners' attempts to catalog the "Russian identity." The best thing to do, if you want to understand a culture, is to immerse yourself in how this culture expresses itself. This will give you more clues to the "mysterious Russian soul" than all the Fionas Britain ever produced. Read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, read Chekhov, Kuprin, Bunin. Read Bulgakov, although that's hard to get for a foreigner. Read Fazil Iskander. Read Rybakov. Read Yuri Nagibin, read Daniil Granin. Read Voynovich. Then read some more.

+1.
I call BS on the entire 'Russian identity' premise. Is there a clear "American identity" and what books should we read to fully grasp it?