Life and Fate
#1582 of 2,654 all-time
Life and Fate
Vasily Grossman
4 people recommended it in 4 threads, 2014–2020.
What people on Hacker News said
Explores the dark heart of the 20th century (the Battle of Stalingrad, concentration camps, the gulag) through the eyes of a wide cast of characters from different walks of life.
Grossman wrote about Stalingrad from firsthand experience as a war journalist, and is able to uncover moments of hope and human kindness amid horrifying world-historical events.
Communicating the meaning of life through the brutality of it has the distinct advantage about being able to explore the death, pain, suffering, and, the descent into an evil in intricate detail.
It shows how serious, good people can have very different and legitimate views on life; It characterises some eternal types of criminal or charlatan.
It reminds you about fate and about how lucky we are now.
Where it comes up
- Good Books for a Lousy Year 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Brutality of Life Reading List 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014? 2014 · 1 recommendation