Life in a Gulag: Why Resistance Was Futile

Life in a Gulag: Why Resistance Was Futile

What was life in a gulag like? What was the worst part? How effective were the attempts to fight back? Throughout The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn emphasizes that the worst aspect of imprisonment was not the brutal conditions or mistreatment—but its inherent hopelessness. The only thing prisoners could focus on was survival, and this, again, often required them to steal from and abuse others. Continue reading to learn about life in a gulag from Solzhenitsyn’s perspective.

C. S. Lewis: Faith Is Commitment, Not Blind Belief

C. S. Lewis: Faith Is Commitment, Not Blind Belief

If belief is based on evidence, is it still faith? How does C. S. Lewis define faith? According to C. S. Lewis, faith is reasoned devotion, not thoughtless adherence. In Mere Christianity, he identifies faith as one of several Christian virtues that God calls people to follow, and he explains how it makes a difference in your life. Continue reading for a brief discussion on faith, as Lewis sees it.

Brave Decisions: How to Make Choices Like a Stoic Philosopher

Brave Decisions: How to Make Choices Like a Stoic Philosopher

Should you make a decision before you have all of the information? How should you balance risk and safety in the decision-making process? In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday gives advice on accepting uncertainty and being bold in decision-making in the style of ancient Stoic philosophy. This involves embracing uncertainty and making choices before they’re made for you. Continue reading to learn about making brave decisions, the Stoic way.

It’s Okay to Make Mistakes: 4 Ways to Leverage Missteps

It’s Okay to Make Mistakes: 4 Ways to Leverage Missteps

How can you turn mistakes into opportunities? How can you keep mistakes from stopping your progress? Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird argue that failure is a powerful teaching tool and a vital part of achieving your goal. Don’t view mistakes as hindrances but instead as opportunities for growth. A mistake gives you a specific thing to address: Why was this wrong?  Read more to learn why it’s okay to make mistakes.

“Just Following Orders”: Corruption in the Soviet Gulag System

“Just Following Orders”: Corruption in the Soviet Gulag System

How does the cycle of abuse work in an institution? Is “just following orders” a valid defense? In The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn doesn’t excuse the brutal actions of officers and guards. However, he argues that they were under incredible pressure from the state to participate in violence and believes that most acted out of fear of their leaders, the desire for safety, and the need to conform. Read more to learn about corruption in the Soviet gulag system.

Is God Moral? C. S. Lewis Shares 3 Views of God’s Goodness

Is God Moral? C. S. Lewis Shares 3 Views of God’s Goodness

Is God moral? If so, why is there evil? What are the various theological perspectives on the goodness of God? In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis makes an argument for a moral God and shows how this aligns with Christianity. He also explores two theological perspectives—pantheism and dualism—that contradict this interpretation of God. Read more for this intriguing discussion of the morality of God.

Motivated by Love: Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason

Motivated by Love: Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason

What’s the opposite of fear? When you do the right thing, how much does your motive matter? In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday asserts that love is the driving force behind heroic acts of courage. He also warns that courageous acts done for the wrong reasons aren’t virtuous at all. Read more to learn why you should be motivated by love—and why doing the right thing for the right reason is so important.

How to Understand Anything Deeply: Grounding Your Thinking

How to Understand Anything Deeply: Grounding Your Thinking

What’s the best way to understand something beyond the facts? How can you truly master a subject or a skill? When you know karate on a surface level, you pivot your feet in a certain way. When you understand karate deeply, you know why you pivot your feet that way. You’ve also mastered the basic skills before tackling advanced levels. Continue reading to learn how to understand anything deeply.

Social Alienation in the Soviet Union: A Tool for Repression

Social Alienation in the Soviet Union: A Tool for Repression

What is social alienation? How has it been used as an authoritarian tactic to gain power? One of the ways the Soviet Union controlled its citizens was via social alienation—conditioning them not to care about or connect with each other. This worked to repress dissident movements. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn discusses this tactic in The Gulag Archipelago. Continue reading to learn how the Soviet government exploited social alienation in the general population as well as in the gulags.