October 12, 2020

Smile, or Else


Smile, or Else
Perhaps the new ministry can invest in a lively paint job for some old apartments? R. Sieben, Wikimedia Commons

Russians sport the stereotype of being cold and dour folks – at least until they open up with the help of a little vodka. Now, however, a new ministry in the Far East region of Kamchatka flies in the face of that characterization.

The new "Ministry of Happiness" is set to boost residents' well-being. Of course, that doesn't make the name sound any less dystopian.

The Ministry will deal largely with social services, such as family health and eldercare. The governor behind the project, newly elected in September with over 80% of the vote, stressed that the purpose of the Ministry's activities is, above all, to ensure that people are happy.

“Happiness, on the one hand, cannot be measured, but on the other hand, I am deeply convinced that just such a global moral guideline should be addressed by leaders of the regions,” he's quoted as saying. "It is really important for me that, in my position, I can make hundreds of thousands of people a little happier every day."

Sounds like a noble cause, albeit perhaps a better mission for a circus performer than a governor.

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Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
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93 Untranslatable Russian Words

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Tolstoy Bilingual

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The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

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Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
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The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

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