[October 21, 2020] As the current COVID-19 pandemic slows and the Fall weather approaches, I am revisiting one of the greatest books of all time. In March of this year, I wrote a short review of The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn.1 It may have seemed like I was on kidding when I tried to sum up this book in a couple of short paragraphs; it cannot be done properly. So, I’ve taken an introduction from Dr. Jordan Peterson, University of Toronto professor and clinical psychologist, and given him space to make the case against Communism and how Solzhenitsyn’s book, more than anything else, help led to the destruction of the evil of Soviet Communism. Dr. Peterson does a great job of pointing his judgmental finger at the debasement of the evil Russian empire, as U.S. President Ronald Reagan called it, and has given us a glimpse of insight into the importance of Solzhenitsyn’s work. I credit the work of these two men with helping millions see ‘behind the curtain’ of Communist ideology and why it is so ingrained in so many people. Here are a few words taken directly from Dr. Peterson.
The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, 1973.
“… The three volumes of The Gulag Archipelago – one continuous, extended scream of outrage – are, paradoxically, brilliant, disbelieving, and infused with awe: awe at the strength characterizing the best among us, in the worst of all situations.”
Dr. Peterson is clearly stating the crucial literary and ethical importance of Solzhenitsyn’s work. Peterson calls it an experiment in literary investigation, hitherto unknown.
“… a hybrid of journalism, history, and biography, unlike anything ever written before or since.”
Hyperbole? No. Dr. Peterson actually understates Solzhenitsyn’s works’ undeniable importance and yet tells us how publication of this series of books helped bring down one of the most evil empires that ever existed. And, he gives credit where it is due.
“It is a matter of pure historical fact that The Gulag Archipelago played a primary role in bringing the Soviet Empire to its knees … The courageous leaders of the labor unions in Poland, the great Pope John Paul II, and the American President Ronald Reagan, with his blunt insistence that the West faced an evil empire, all played their role in its defeat and collapse.”
Yet, many across the democratic West publically condemned President Reagan for his insistence that the Soviet Union was evil and must be torn down.
“It was Solzhenitsyn who most crucially made the case that the terrible excesses of Communism could not be conveniently blamed on the corruption of the Soviet leadership, the “cult of personality” surrounding Stalin, or the failure to put the otherwise stellar and admirable utopian principles of Marxism into proper practice. It was Solzhenitsyn who demonstrated that the death of millions and the devastation of many more were, instead, a direct causal consequence of the philosophy (worse, perhaps: the theology) driving the Communist system.”
Best of all, Dr. Peterson demonstrates how the philosophy of Communism lives strong today in the West and threatens, once again, to overtake our most treasured values and way of life. His warning about this insidious, malevolent, and highly seductive ideology has become part of our higher education systems and integrated itself into all aspects of life. It stifles freedom and makes a mockery of those who would do good for all the fellow human beings.
“The hypothetically egalitarian, universalist doctrines of Karl Marx contained hidden within them sufficient hatred, resentment, envy and denial of individual culpability and responsibility to produce nothing but poison and death when manifested in the world…”
The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn is a must-read for any thinking human who wants to see where evil lurks.
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Excellent interpretation of why A.S. wrote. Powerful book.
No doubt, great book!!!!!!
Yes, the book is on Gen. Satterfield’s suggested reading list as well.
I love reading Dr. Peterson’s writings. Just finished his book, “12 Rules for Life.” I highly suggest reading it from cover to cover. Really good instincts that he says are the way of getting along with life and being fulfilled.
This statement at the end by Dr. Peterson is BIG BIG BIG. Read it again and again. Don’t forget it. In his few words, he tells us about the evil soul of communism.
“The hypothetically egalitarian, universalist doctrines of Karl Marx contained hidden within them sufficient hatred, resentment, envy and denial of individual culpability and responsibility to produce nothing but poison and death when manifested in the world…”
Max, you got that right. Let’s not ignore this. Peterson speaks to this regularly and for good reason. Thanks. 👍
Yes, great analysis of Marxism and its variants like neo-Marxism and political progressivism.
“Wherein evil lurks, we shall not know.” Actually we do know and the 20th century Marxism gave us an experiment in human behavior that no sane person would ever want to copy yet I see it copied every day in our liberal, leftists politicians like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They are too blind to see what they wrought.
Excellent comment Max. I agree totally. Yet, as Joe pointed out, too many cannot see the evil they are bringing within themselves.
Yes, too many politicians just glue themselves to the most convenient and easiest ideology to gain power yet fail to see its insidiousness.
Roger, you nailed that one. Politicians are too busy to THINK much these days. They need someone helping them and steering them away from all the negativity and marxist-slanted thinking out there.
Excellent review of one of the most important books of the 20th century. I agree with you Gen. Satterfield that we should all read it. I’ve not read it throughout (way too long). But I am promising myself to push thru reading it to the end. Why read it? It shows us the best and the worst that humans can be. That is something we should not ignore.
Prof. Jordan Peterson is someone we should all listen to very very closely and perhaps, if we are smart enough, follow his advice as best we can.
I concur with your suggestion Janna. I’ve been listening to his videos on YouTube (which he is a big fan of) and found them to be enlightening. For me, I have benefited from his insights. He also does a great job of explaining parts of the Bible and Christianity.
Yes, I agree. J. Peterson is indeed a thinking man and that is something we should all try to encourage and emulate.
Just went on and looked at some of his videos. Really good stuff. Thanks Tom and yes I will try to encourage others to review his works.