Another big book that's been on my to-read pile for too long. With these Russian masterworks, my ambition is always checked by the realization that I'll be spending a lot of time in some very dark places.

Anna's death was that she lived only for her own needs.

In this way she's a very 21st century heroine - a lady ahead of her time!

Economists use the Anna Karenina principle...

This is absolutely fascinating. I've never thought about social systems in terms of evolutionary adaptation to circumstances before. And it really should give one pause when thinking of altering architecture, living arrangements, social structures, &ct. Maybe there's a reason that we have the traditions that we do.

Thank you for this thought-provoking review!