Fathers and Sons
Turgenev captured the generational divide between Russian liberals and radicals so precisely that the word "nihilist" entered common usage because of this book.
“A nihilist is a person who does not bow down to any authority, who does not accept any principle on faith, however much that principle may be revered.”
Why It Matters
Turgenev captured the generational divide between Russian liberals and radicals so precisely that the word "nihilist" entered common usage because of this book. Bazarov — the young man who believes in nothing but science — became a symbol for every generation that thinks it is smarter than the last. It is the most concise, readable entry point into 19th-century Russian literature.
The 
Take
Personal reviewSuper short and sweet. Great exploration of generational divide, I totally see my younger self in bazarov. Very simple plot to explore some simple competing philosophies
Notable Quotes
“Nature is not a temple, but a workshop, and man's the workman in it.”
“We sit in the mud... and reach for the stars.”