Who Are the Russians?

“An exceptional study. The author of the book has had the audacity to approach Russian chaos... armed with her desire to prove that the country is by no means a madhouse but simply an immense space, difficult to access for the outsider who is unfamiliar with Russian traditions, history and mentality.” Lyubova Klobukova, Izvestia. “Alla Sergueeva’s book is highly topical. The author loves Russia, cares about its people, is proud of its history, culture and science.” Vladimir Nogovsky, Russian Thought. Should a foreigner accept an invitation to the Russian baths? How many glasses of vodka should you drink in one go before trying to refuse? Why do Russians endure life at great sacrifice? What is “Russian happiness” made of? And above all, what’s new in 21st-century Russia? Over the past fifteen years, the “mysterious Slavic soul” has undergone unprecedented metamorphosis. It was time to draw up an exhaustive inventory of the new way of life and psychology of the Russians. Alla Sergueeva was a professor at Moscow University and has taught her country's civilization in Poland, Vietnam, Austria, Finland and Paris. She describes with precision and humor a passionate and fascinating people, who are neither truly European nor truly Oriental.