Crime and punishment
by Unknown author · first published 1984
41% recommend51% neutral8% critical
Why HN recommends it
A psychologically and philosophically rich novel of guilt and remorse, with approachable language, strong pacing and character depth. Suits readers new to Dostoevsky or Russian literature.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
One of the world's greatest novels, Crime and Punishment is the story of a murder and its consequences-an unparalleled tale of suspense set in the midst of nineteenth-century Russia's troubled transition to the modern age. In the slums of czarist St. Petersburg lives young Raskolnikov, a sensitive, intellectual student. The poverty he has always known drives him to believe that he is exempt from moral law. But when he puts this belief to the test, he suffers unbearably. Crime and punishment, the novel reminds us, grow from the same seed.
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…me understand the non-goal aspect of the practice. Gravity’s rainbow: Not the easiest read but immensely rewarding. For better or worse some of Pynchon’s vivid descriptions are burned into my soul. Crime and punishment: I’m not into literature but this one is worth it. A great dive into human psychology. Deliverance: intense story, read it in one night. Not sure it taught me much but man it is good. The True Believer:…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗…it bearable" seems to be central idea of everything Jordan B. Peterson writes and speaks about. If I could add to this list: - everything by Alexander Solzhenitsyn that was translated to English. - Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky - Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky - Ward No 6 by Anton Chekhov
on “Brutality of Life Reading List” ↗…one of the few books I've started but abandoned without finishing. Perhaps it was related to the particular translation I had (I don't remember details of it now), but it just wasn't working for me. Crime and Punishment, on the other hand, I found utterly compelling, and will probably re-read some day (which is a status few books achieve in my world).
on “Why did Dostoyevsky write Crime and Punishment?” ↗…translator/academic thinks the philosopher was saying. Far better to go straight to the source. Eventually you'll need to read the original works, but I'd recommend starting with philosophical fiction. Crime and Punishment, The Plague, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, etc. Plato's dialogues are pretty readable, too, as is Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche.
on “How to Think: The Skill You’ve Never Been Taught” ↗I haven't read many books that I felt weren't worth "investing time in". Books are good for you. A couple of favourites anyway: - New Grub Street, George Gissing, 1891 - Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky, 1867 - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813 - Candide, Voltaire, 1759
on “Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were worth investing time in?” ↗…favorite books, from any genre, language, or topic. The more diverse, the better, since I’m trying to get out of my reading comfort zone. Some books I’ve liked recently or that are all-time favorites: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Debt by David Graeber, and The Anatomy of a Moment by Javier Cercas.
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books?” ↗Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
on “Ask HN: What is one book you would recommend everyone to read?” ↗…long-suppressed remorse, and save his wife's family and his own children from a lifetime of uncertainty has finally won out. (For further insight into this aspect of the human psyche I recommend Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment.) Or, perhaps he's an emotionless robot playing the role of a remorseful human being. If so, I think it's about time. It's not as if Plan A was working out well for anyone. Requiescat in Pace
on “Hans Reiser leads police to body, believed to be his wife” ↗…with The Double which was so weird and out-there that everybody immediately pronounced him a has-been. It's complete genius, though, and very funny. Edit: if on the other hand you want the classics then Crime and Punishment is likely your best bet. It's all about what happens when someone takes an idea to its extreme conclusion and acts on it. And it's his easiest big novel from a story point of view.
on “How to hack the beliefs that are holding you back” ↗beautiful boy - david sheff crime and punishment - fyodor dostoevsky the trial - franz kafka catch-22 - joseph heller how to win friends and influence people - dale carnegie mindset: the new psychology of success - carol dweck I really enjoy novels…
on “Ask HN: What books have most influenced the way you see the world?” ↗Crime and punishment - made me open minded and try to put myself in other person's shoes. This helped me alot to be less judging.
on “Ask HN: What books have most influenced the way you see the world?” ↗"Crime and Punishment", "Science of Evil", "Developers Hegemony". Well, it's 3 - but it is a hard question.
on “Ask HN: What's one book that changed your life?” ↗You should read Crime And Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The perfect crime might exist, but the perfect delinquent won’t ever.
on “Hitman Runner Mark Fellows Convicted of Murder on GPS Watch Data” ↗…to the Galaxy) - Alfred Bester (The Demolished Man, The Stars My Destination) - Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon) - Orson Scott Card (Ender’s game, Speaker for the Dead) - Fyodor Dostoevsky (Crime and punishment, the idiot, notes from the underground and many more) - Plato (apology, the republic) - Bible, Torah, Quran and any other sacred text - Mythology (Greek, Indian, Norse and o5hers) And a last one, completely…
on “Ask HN: You've got $300 to fill an empty library. What do you choose?” ↗I only managed one book this year. Crime and Punishment - Dostoyevsky I should try to not being so lazy and read more.
on “Ask HN: What book(s) did you love reading this year?” ↗