#1372
Mentioned in 17 episodes

Life and Fate

Book • 2022
Written in 1959, 'Life and Fate' is a monumental novel that narrates the story of the Shaposhnikov family during the Great Patriotic War. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Battle of Stalingrad and delves into the lives of numerous characters, including Soviet physicist Viktor Shtrum, who grapples with anti-Semitism and moral dilemmas in a totalitarian state.

The book juxtaposes the horrors of war and the Gulag with the intimate lives of its characters, exploring profound philosophical and moral questions.

Despite its initial suppression by the KGB, the novel was eventually smuggled out of the Soviet Union and has since been recognized as one of the greatest Russian novels of the 20th century.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 17 episodes

Mentioned by
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Jacob Howland
in a discussion about happiness and meaning in life.
328 snips
536. Ancient Stories That Bridge The Heavens & The Earth | Jacob Howland
Mentioned by
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Douglas Murray
in a discussion about antisemitism and its complexities.
171 snips
#296 – Douglas Murray: Racism, Marxism, and the War on the West
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
and
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Tyler Cowen
as a monumental novel, often compared to Tolstoy's 'War and Peace'.
102 snips
Russ Roberts on Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
and
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Tyler Cowen
as a sprawling masterpiece and possibly the greatest novel of the 20th century or ever.
96 snips
Tyler Cowen on Life and Fate
Mentioned by
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Tyler Cowen
in the context of discussing historical fiction and its relation to history and character-driven narratives.
73 snips
Tyler Cowen: Trump's DOGE team should read Shakespeare.
Mentioned by
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Douglas Murray
as one of his books.
65 snips
Douglas Murray: This is About Survival
Mentioned by
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Aaron MacLean
and
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Douglas Murray
for his insights on anti-Semitism and his experiences during Stalin's Russia.
31 snips
Ep 193: Douglas Murray on Israel’s War and its Global Consequences
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as a book to read before a future episode.
29 snips
Susan Cain on Bittersweet and the Happiness of Melancholy
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
and
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Robert Chandler
throughout the podcast as the focus of their conversation on translation.
25 snips
Translating Life and Fate (with Robert Chandler)
Mentioned by
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Arkady Ostrovsky
to illustrate the ongoing battle between good and evil in the context of the war in Ukraine.
18 snips
The Weekend Intelligence: Life and fate
Mentioned by
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Jacob Howland
as the best novel of the 20th century, focusing on the Nazi invasion.
15 snips
The Wisdom of Athens and Jerusalem and Lessons for Today: Jacob Howland
Recommended by
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Russ Roberts
for its panoramic view of the Soviet and Nazi regimes during wartime.
12 snips
Why Housing Is Artificially Expensive and What Can Be Done About It (with Bryan Caplan)
Mentioned by
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Collin Hansen
as a reference in his own book.
11 snips
Why Our Children Don't Want to Be Parents
Mentioned by
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Jacob Howland
when discussing the importance of individual freedom and dignity.
#628: The Rise of Secular Religion and the New Puritanism
Mentioned by
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Adam Tooze
when discussing his Substack and his return to historical writing.
Tooze and Klein on China's Economic History and Future
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Collin Hansen
recommends it as one of the best books of the 20th century, especially about World War II.
Summer Reading with Melissa Kruger
Mentioned when discussing the nature of totalitarian systems.
Situation reporter: Evan Gershkovich’s detention
Mentioned by
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Collin Hansen
in relation to his book "Life and Fate", which explores the Holocaust and the resilience of the human spirit.
Hope vs. Despair - Collin Hansen

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