Who would I recommend this book to? Everyone, perhaps!
To everyone who follows what is happening in Russia right now. To everyone who wants to explain to their children what is going on there. To everyone who wonders how this was even possible. And to those who haven't thought about it before and were apolitical. To those who want to learn (and teach their children) how to filter information. And to those who wish for their children to live in peace and not divide humanity into "us" and "them."
Marietta Chudakova was a renowned philologist, a specialist in Soviet-era literature, and one of the primary researchers of Bulgakov’s work. She was also an active citizen and public figure (and, furthermore, the wife of Alexander Chudakov, author of the novel "A Gloom Is Cast upon the Ancient Steps"). Unfortunately, all this would have to be written in the past tense, as Marietta Omarovna passed away in 2021, but she remained active until the very end, working extensively, speaking, giving interviews, and traveling the country to promote enlightenment. And right at the end, she wrote the book that is now before you, addressing it to teenagers.
Teenagers—that is certainly the right audience: she is trying in this way to pull the new generation out of the mindset of "it's none of my business," "I'm actually not interested in politics," and "nothing depends on me." But let’s be honest with ourselves and admit where this apathetic stance stems from, and... read this book ourselves! If you weren't particularly interested in history/politics/public life before, if in the past it also seemed to you that "everything isn't so obvious/clear-cut," then this book will put a lot into perspective.
"Do You Want to Learn to Think?" by Marietta Chudakova for teenagers and adults.
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