Absurdistan
a novel
by Gary Shteyngart · first published 2006
2mentions
2recommended by
2HN commenters
2022–2025first – last mentioned
100% recommend
"Absurdistan is not just a hilarious novel, but a record of a particular peak in the history of human folly. No one is more capable of dealing with the transition from the hell of socialism to the hell of capitalism in Eastern Europe than Shteyngart, the great-great grandson of one Nikolai Gogol and the funniest foreigner alive."--Aleksandar HemonFrom the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of The Russian Debutante's Handbook comes the uproarious and poignant story of one very fat man and one very small countryMeet Misha Vainberg, aka Snack Daddy, a 325-pound disaster of a human being, so
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Still, it is like asking "crash course in understanding americans". It will be hard not to fell in a stereotypes trap. A few books that might help you with a glimps into modern Russia are: "Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart. "ДухLess by Sergey Minaev Maybe "Epidemy in Hell" by George Zotov as something more comical that can give you a feeling.
on “Ask HN: Best resources for learning about Russia?” ↗If you've not read Absurdistan or Lake Success or any of Shteyngart's other novels, then you really should. He's one of our best living authors.
on “The Man in the Midnight-Blue Six-Ply Italian-Milled Wool Suit” ↗