[Jack Black]

The Gulag Archipelago is one of your favorite books? I've never heard anyone say that. Which volume?

[Liz]

I once read that no civilized person can afford not to read at least part of this great work in three volumes (The Gulag Archipelago). It was an enormous achievment, and in fact, was acclaimed and achieved fame in the rest of the free world (and is monumental in its raison d'etre; Solzhenitsyn was kicked out of his country because of it).

It is certainly a look at a stark and bitter existence which was real. The free and easy life we lead is in sharp contrast. We need to read it not for enjoyment but to recognize what could happen elsewhere and to more highly value our freedoms in order to fight to safeguard them even more zealously.

[Eala]

"The Gulag Archipelago (I & II)" are in my permanent library. I was devouring them when they came out three decades ago; between Solzhentisyn and Dostoyevsky I was launched into two decades' fascination with Russian authors (with one book by Turgenev as yet unfound).

Solzhenitsyn's "The First Circle" is on my list of favorites, along with "August 1914."

[Cvengr]

A ping for Igor Shafarevich and his book 'Socialism'.