WAR & PEACE by LEO TOLSTOY | a book discussion

Hello!

Ben here, I finished reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy for the first time and wanted to share some thoughts about it!

I read the translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (I pronounce her name wrong) published by Vintage Classics

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 War and flipping Peace
02:07 The Second Epilogue
04:13 Free will vs Determinism
05:57 The Main Characters
12:33 Fiction with Non-fiction
13:56 I should have annotated it
15:18 Is it worth it?
16:46 Pierre and the Great Comet of 1811
17:58 Conclusion!

Follow up Vids!

Here's a couple other reviews on this book which I really enjoyed:

Thanks for watching!

[butlerlado]

Enjoyed this video! Thank you, Doomantidote.
I finished the book about a week ago (Briggs translation - I started with Pevear and Volokhonsky but switched after 60 pages. I recommend Briggs for first-timers). There is so much in this book that applies to our current world that it behooves everyone, especially in politics and journalism, to read and think about its messages. The world would be a much happier and safer place.

[harrietgordon]

A really great review, thanks! Very impressed that you got through it - I don't have the stamina right now. Maybe later in life!

[KsenyaTs]

gosh, completely forgot about that second epilogue! but the "looking at the sky and thinking about the comet" scene has definitely stayed with me through all these years... a fascinating review and recap, thank you so much for sharing! also, the intro - it definitely set the PEACEful tone)

[gaildoughty]

What a great and thoughtful review, Ben. Thank you very much!
Also, that’s a beautiful copy of the book.

[martasgreatlibrary]

such a good discussion! i read war and peace last year and i was astounded by the way tolstoy chose to discuss such big questions!

[KDbooks]

Ben, I don’t think repeating “war, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing say it again” counts as a review?

[TheBarandtheBookcase]

BEN. you are such a good i will get to this at some point - i am 300 pages into middlemarch and once i finish, i feel i will be confident to conquer all of the tomes!

[ameliareads]

After I have finished this book in December, I finally come back to this review. I enjoyed reading it, the war parts less than the peace ones, but it wasn't as much of a slog in that regard as expected. And the whole who is doing what with whom and when and why and where was like watching East Enders.
I like philosophical novels and this one was full of thoughts to reflect on. The characters are fabulous and I think nobody should shy away from picking up this epic story, it's much more accessible than people think.

[janethansen]

Such an intimidating book, reviewed beautifully. Thanks Ben (maybe I'll now even try to read it).

[TheLinguistsLibrary]

It's a rite of passage for sure. Your reviews are the best, full of actual character analysis and contemplation.

[sgriffin]

Thank you for explaining War & Peace. I’m still not going to read it, but at least I know a little of what’s inside! I like the trees and birds. 🌲🦆

[BrandonsBookshelf]

really good man, and i get being so nervous about doing these huge and important works, justice, but you killed it.

[shimokitazawa]

Nice review! This could be an age thing, but when they pushed it down our throats in high school, the easiest parts to read were the war scenes and the epologue. I couldn't care less for the musings about the meaning of life at the time, but perhaps now things would be different. I should probably read it again.

[zenoly]

We are studying this book at school this month (I'm from Russia) and because of it I was really curious about what would you say in your video (I needed something besides my teacher's difficult and confusing explanations, haha). I am a big fan of your manner of talking and of whole this video.
By the way, you said that Natasha was a quite annoying character for you. I have had the same emotions while I have been reading this novel, honestly. Actually, Natasha was a favourite Tolstoy's character and he called her the ideal woman. Just an interesting fact.
Thank you for your video!

[saugatochanda]

That's a great review. Was it P&V translation translation, if yes, then how did you find it?

[hedgiecc]

My favourite novel, so sublime! Beautiful review 😊

[jamespolk]

Whelp—your discussion on Tolstoy’s view of history has got the inner historian in moi scintillated! So much of history is boiled down, rather than expanded on. It doesn’t help that it has historically been treated as the lame duck redhead stepchild of subjects taught in US schools.
The way historians are taught to write about history, in terms of structure and synthesizing information while suppressing any editorial voice, is also a problem in my opinion.
I have a lot of thoughts on it. 😅

[troytradup]

Very nice review. I kinda love W&P, except for that damned epilogue. :-) I have to say something somewhat inappropriate here, so apologies in advance. You're looking crazy buff in this video -- are you working out for a new role or just hotting up for the end of the pandemic? Either way, it's working for you!

[goldkeyguidancetarot]

You have made this horribly intimidating book actually something that I could enjoy...(I say this quickly and run to my books on tarot, Kabbalah and astrology)😅 thank you gorge xxx

[penelopegough]

Well I think you cracked that one Ben. Yes still processing it is right and I finished it a month ago. Is it worth it? Absolutely. 😊