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.

Anonymous wrote:The Russians by Hedrick Smith, and I think there is a sequel or a revised edition that includes his post-perestroika observations. It’s a bit boring and heavily tilted toward the experiences of living in Moscow, as opposed to various provinces, but captures many things perfectly. Also second the recommendations for Alexievich books, all 5 of them.

+1

I’m one of the PPs and wanted to say one thing: researchers can absolutely help you learn about Russian identity. Why do you think they can’t?

The Russians by Hedrick Smith, and I think there is a sequel or a revised edition that includes his post-perestroika observations. It’s a bit boring and heavily tilted toward the experiences of living in Moscow, as opposed to various provinces, but captures many things perfectly. Also second the recommendations for Alexievich books, all 5 of them.

Anything by Fiona Hill, but especially Siberian Curse.

Anything by Timothy Colton.

Listen to Power Vertical podcast to keep up with current Russian politics, which helps you learn about contemporary Russian identity.

You can also ask me any more specific questions. I analyze Russian politics for a living.

Anonymous wrote:Voices From Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich. It's a riveting, fast read. What really stayed with me was the way the author connects the national character and culture to the way they responded to the meltdown, both the awful and the heroic.

It was the basis for the HBO miniseries. There is a podcast with the show's creator that goes along with the miniseries, and that also explores some of the national character issue.

S. Alexievich also wrote a book on the fall of the USSR and transition to post-Soviet Russia. I haven't read it but am looking forward to doing so.

PP again. The latter book is called Secondhand Time, and it won the 2015 Nobel Prize for literature.

Voices From Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich. It's a riveting, fast read. What really stayed with me was the way the author connects the national character and culture to the way they responded to the meltdown, both the awful and the heroic.

It was the basis for the HBO miniseries. There is a podcast with the show's creator that goes along with the miniseries, and that also explores some of the national character issue.

S. Alexievich also wrote a book on the fall of the USSR and transition to post-Soviet Russia. I haven't read it but am looking forward to doing so.

Nonfiction: Lenin’s Tomb by David Remnick

Fiction: Children of the Arbat by Anatoly Rybakov

Not a book but an interview with members of pussy riot:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4FbsQQtk7Ac

I read a big thick book on the Romanov Family. It was not just the ones who were killed, but going way back 300 years prior. In that process, I learned a lot about Russian history. It was very good. I think it was just called "The Romanovs" and I want to say by that famous author Simon Seabag Something...you'll find it easily on amazon.com

On another note, another thick book was Stalin. Yikes. I did read it through but it's a hard read due to being very dense and assuming you'd be able to follow the connections (like the name changes or referring to someone by their name, but then by their job title. I couldn't keep it all straight bc I'm a 3 page bedtime reader, not someone who reads chapters straight through)

The Zhigao Affair:
https://www.amazon.com/Zhivago-Affair-Kremlin-Battle-Forbidden/dp/0307908003/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402397944&sr=1-1&keywords=zhivago+affair

CIA and British intelligence smuggling the novel Dr. Zhivago into Russia.

Anonymous wrote:I loved reading “A Gentleman in Moscow”, which is fiction.

I loved this book but I don't think this is the right book to answer OP's questions.

One person you probably want to read about is Vladislav Surkov, but I'm not sure there are books about him, just books by him. There are lots of articles about him, though.

I loved reading “A Gentleman in Moscow”, which is fiction.

I also loved The Goldfinch, but there is only one character who is Russian, and it’s also fiction.

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!