#1451

Mentioned in 17 episodes

Life and Fate

Book • 2022

Vasily Grossman

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

Robert Chandler

Arkady Ostrovsky

Mentioned in 17 episodes

Mentioned by

Douglas Murray

when discussing antisemitism.

#463 – Douglas Murray: Putin, Zelenskyy, Trump, Israel, Netanyahu, Hamas & Gaza

Mentioned by

Jacob Howland

in a discussion about happiness and meaning in life.

536. Ancient Stories That Bridge The Heavens & The Earth | Jacob Howland

Mentioned by

Douglas Murray

in a discussion about antisemitism and its complexities.

#296 – Douglas Murray: Racism, Marxism, and the War on the West

Mentioned by

Tyler Cowen

as a great novel.

Neal Stephenson on History, Spycraft, and American-Soviet Parallels

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

and

Tyler Cowen

as a monumental novel, often compared to Tolstoy's 'War and Peace'.

Russ Roberts on Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

and

Tyler Cowen

as a sprawling masterpiece and possibly the greatest novel of the 20th century or ever.

Tyler Cowen on Life and Fate

Mentioned by

Tyler Cowen

in the context of discussing historical fiction and its relation to history and character-driven narratives.

Tyler Cowen: Trump's DOGE team should read Shakespeare.

Mentioned by

Douglas Murray

as one of his books.

Douglas Murray: This is About Survival

Mentioned by

Aaron MacLean

and

Douglas Murray

for his insights on anti-Semitism and his experiences during Stalin's Russia.

Ep 193: Douglas Murray on Israel’s War and its Global Consequences

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

as a book to read before a future episode.

Susan Cain on Bittersweet and the Happiness of Melancholy

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

and

Robert Chandler

throughout the podcast as the focus of their conversation on translation.

Translating Life and Fate (with Robert Chandler)

Mentioned by

Arkady Ostrovsky

to illustrate the ongoing battle between good and evil in the context of the war in Ukraine.

The Weekend Intelligence: Life and fate

Mentioned by

Jacob Howland

as the best novel of the 20th century, focusing on the Nazi invasion.

The Wisdom of Athens and Jerusalem and Lessons for Today: Jacob Howland

Recommended by

Russ Roberts

for its panoramic view of the Soviet and Nazi regimes during wartime.

Why Housing Is Artificially Expensive and What Can Be Done About It (with Bryan Caplan)

Mentioned by

Collin Hansen

as a reference in his own book.

Why Our Children Don't Want to Be Parents

Mentioned by

Jacob Howland

when discussing the importance of individual freedom and dignity.

#628: The Rise of Secular Religion and the New Puritanism

Mentioned by

Adam Tooze

when discussing his Substack and his return to historical writing.

Tooze and Klein on China's Economic History and Future

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

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

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!

App store banner

Play store banner