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The Good Soldier Švejk is a satirical dark comedy novel that explores the absurdities and futility of military discipline and war. The story revolves around Josef Švejk, a good-humored, simple-minded man who appears enthusiastic to serve Austria-Hungary in World War I. Through his antics, Švejk repeatedly frustrates military authority and exposes its stupidity. The novel is set against the backdrop of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire and delves into themes of anti-war sentiment, corruption, and hypocrisy. Hašek intended the novel to be a six-volume work but completed only three volumes before his death; the remaining volumes were completed by Karel Vaněk but are generally considered inferior.

Set in Czechoslovakia during the 1968 Prague Spring and its aftermath, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' follows the lives of Tomáš, a surgeon and serial adulterer; Tereza, his wife; Sabina, Tomáš's mistress and an artist; and Franz, Sabina's lover. The novel delves into philosophical themes such as the concept of 'lightness' versus 'heaviness', drawing from the ideas of Nietzsche and Parmenides. It explores the characters' experiences with love, sex, loyalty, and betrayal, all set against the political turmoil of the time. The story examines the human condition, the search for meaning and happiness, and the consequences of the choices made by the characters.

Humankind: A Hopeful History challenges the idea that humans are inherently selfish by presenting evidence of our altruistic behavior throughout history. The book takes a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing from history, economics, psychology, biology, anthropology, and archaeology to argue that humans are more peaceful and friendly than commonly believed. Bregman sides with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view of human nature in the state of nature debate, opposing Thomas Hobbes' more pessimistic outlook. He also discusses the concept of 'domestication syndrome' and how humans may have self-domesticated, leading to a more cooperative and empathetic species.