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Give War and Peace a Chance
Give War and Peace a Chance: Tolstoyan Wisdom for Troubled Times | Andrew D. Kaufman
6 posts | 6 read | 13 to read
This lively appreciation of one of the most intimidating and massive novels ever written should persuade many hesitant readers to try scaling the heights of War and Peace sooner rather than later (Publishers Weekly). Considered by many critics the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is also one of the most feared. And at 1,500 pages, its no wonder why. Still, in July 2009 Newsweek put War and Peace at the top of its list of 100 great novels and a 2007 edition of the AARP Bulletin included the novel in their list of the top four books everybody should read by the age of fifty. A New York Times survey from 2009 identified War and Peace as the world classic youre most likely to find people reading on their subway commute to work. What might all those Newsweek devotees, senior citizens, and harried commuters see in a book about the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s? War and Peace is many things. It is a love story, a family saga, a war novel. But at its core its a novel about human beings attempting to create a meaningful life for themselves in a country torn apart by war, social change, political intrigue, and spiritual confusion. It is a mirror of our times. Give War and Peace a Chance takes readers on a journey through War and Peace that reframes their very understanding of what it means to live through troubled times and survive them. Touching on a broad range of topics, from courage to romance, parenting to death, Kaufman demonstrates how Tolstoys wisdom can help us live fuller, more meaningful lives. The ideal companion to War and Peace, this book makes Tolstoys characters lively and palpableand may well persuade readers to finally dive into one of the worlds most acclaimedand dauntingnovels (Kirkus Reviews).
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Becker
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Pickpick

This has been a great companion book as I have been making my way through War and Peace. 🇷🇺

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Librarybelle
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Did you ever think Tolstoy could teach us life lessons from his book War and Peace? According to Kaufman, Tolstoy does. Breaking this critique into sections like Love and Family, Kaufman takes readers through War and Peace and shows the life lessons carved into he novel. #SchoolinLife #NoFemmeber

Confession: my goal is to complete War and Peace this year. I started it but haven‘t picked it up in awhile. I may have a marathon read of it!

Moray_Reads I loved War and Peace, stacked! 5y
DivineDiana This sounds fantastic! 5y
Librarybelle @Moray_Reads @DivineDiana I plan to read this after I finish War and Peace. It looks like it will be a good read! 5y
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sudi Loved this book, Pierre is one of my favorite characters 5y
batsy This sounds great! After I tackle W&P... Maybe next year 😆 5y
Billypar Such a great title 😄 It's true that I haven't given it a chance yet because of the length, but I'm sure it is full of wisdom- hopefully I'll go for it at some point! 5y
Cinfhen What a clever choice!! Always original, Jess!! 5y
76 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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Suelizbeth
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Pickpick

GWAPAC is a well written, easily read, instructive text. The author provides excellent insights into Tolstoy‘s philosophy and explanations of various aspects of War and Peace, no matter which translation you may choose. I would even recommend GWAPAC as a stand alone read, without actually reading War and Peace (but read War and Peace; it‘s long, but worthwhile). Anyway, as I‘m currently reading War and Peace, I may start this one over again.

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angrylilasian
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Thank you @drinkteareadbooks !!! The wrapping was so cute I didn't want to ruin it! I LOVE knee high socks and the smell of bookstores. I can't wait to read these books! You obviously did some stellar stalking. 😆 This was my first #secretsantabookexchange. I knew it would be good because this is such an amazing community but I'm still blown away. Thank you @BookishMarginalia ! #summersolticebookexchange #summersantagoespostal

Reviewsbylola 11/22/63 is amazing! 7y
JoeStalksBeck Agree with @Reviewsbylola ! Great book! 7y
79 likes2 comments
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Spiderfelt
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Pickpick

Lacking an academic background in 19th century European history, I found War & Peace an unpleasant chore from the outset, that is until I checked this boom out of the library. Kaufman distilled the essential lessons of War & Peace while giving a broader explanation of Tolstoy's personal life, his intellectual contemporaries, and the other works in his cannon.

ValerieAndBooks A few years back I abandoned W and P after getting about halfway through. I really want to actually finish. Maybe reading this will help me get back to it (I don't know yet whether I'd start all over again or not) 8y
Spiderfelt I think reading this book might be enough for me. I've only read 31% of W&P, according to Serial Reader, but I'm not really enjoying it. Just keep reading for the sake of it, not for the enjoyment. I think I might have learned enough for now. 8y
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ValerieAndBooks @Spiderfelt So this author summarizes War and Peace as well? I am now wondering what translation you have. I'm no expert on what makes one version better than another but it might make a tiny difference at least? 8y
Spiderfelt @ValerieAndBooks he explores the book through various themes: courage, family, truth (don't have the book in front of me), using examples and quotes to illustrate how Tolstoy discusses each idea. The pulled text is from all parts of the book, so pretty quickly you get the whole storyline. He also pulls text from other works by Tolstoy, and contemporaries to contrast their thinking. 8y
ValerieAndBooks @Spiderfelt thanks for the additional info. I definitely will look into this one! 8y
20 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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Spiderfelt
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Trying to get a handle on why War and Peace is relevant to me. Also checked out the film with Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda to better understand the larger narrative.