109: What Are You Doing That You Know You Shouldn't Be? "Stalingrad Memories of Hell"

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

Stalingrad, originally published in 1952 as 'For a Just Cause' (За правое дело), is a novel by Vasily Grossman that delves into the lives of Soviet citizens and soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad. The book follows the Shaposhnikov family and their friends as they navigate the horrors of war, from the initial German invasion to the pivotal battle that marked a turning point in World War II. The novel, despite being subject to Soviet censorship, provides a vivid and engrossing portrayal of the war's impact on ordinary people. It is the first part of Grossman's dilogy, with 'Life and Fate' serving as its sequel, which critiques both Nazism and Stalinism more explicitly. The English translation by Robert and Elizabeth Chandler includes additional material from Grossman's unpublished manuscripts, aiming to reflect the author's original intentions as closely as possible.