What Order Should You Read Dostoyevsky?

Atheist? Agnostic? Christian? Today I give you my advice about what order you should read his books in. I talk about this from a few different perspectives to give you a few options dependent on your worldview and make it as helpful for you as possible.
Do check out my blog: www.josh-yen.com
--------------------------
Get your copy of Dostoevsky today:
The Idiot: amzn.to/44v6bR6
The Brothers Karamazov: amzn.to/3qC99W2
Crime and Punishment: amzn.to/3E9QN1G
Demons: amzn.to/3qKxNnk
Notes from Underground: amzn.to/3soP9Xo
--------------------------
Get a copy of Christianity for All, a guide to Christian living in today's society:
Paperback: amzn.to/3OLxn85
Kindle: amzn.to/47KpF6L
--------------------------
Feel free to join my discord server to join the community and give any feedbacks:
/ discord
--------------------------
If you enjoy this video, make sure you like and subscribe for more similar discussions on philosophy, theism, Dostoyevsky and others.
--------------------------
Track: Julius Dreisig & Zeus X Crona - Invisible [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.
Watch: • Julius Dreisig & Zeus ... ​
Free Download / Stream: ncs.io/InvisibleYO
--------------------------
#dostoyevsky #russia #atheism

[@e404]

6:28 - christian 16:25 - agnostic 21:20 - atheist

[@user-sm5mc9xq4i]

And what is the point of distinguishing between a Christian, an Agnostic and an Atheist? Do you think that Dostoevsky will be understood differently by each type of people's beliefs in each group? As a Russian, it's even funny to me that your work "Notes from the Dead House" is called "House of the Dead", and the novel "Demons" (Besy) is translated as Demons.. In Russian, these are slightly different concepts!😉

[@yeyuravi3859]

Tbh I did start reading Dostoyevsky when in a dark place and I think nothing helped me more to get out of it. Especially crime and punishment and the notes from the underground showed so much depths about my own psyche that honestly made me understand myself and in accepting and integrating the evil. If at all anything it made me a better person. Dostoyevsky gave me a convincing explanation for God despite himself giving valid arguments for atheism. I found the former more convincing. And I could just name more facets of my life reading Dostoyevsky and contemplating about it, changed. But yes, could work in different ways for different people. Great video though and much appreciations..🙏

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful

[@sneakybeaver8866]

He is critiquing the cold calculating western way of thinking. He's an Orthodox Christian, don't integrate the evil, cleanse yourself from it.

[@dazaissimp141]

​@sneakybeaver8866 no u go cleanse ur arsepropagator

[@hristokrastev4312]

Same

[@brandon4150]

Been searching for someone with insight on where to start with Dostoevsky’s work. Thank you

[@Phil4All]

Glad you found this helpful, if you want me to make any specific Dostoevsky content let me know!

[@tchan7108]

this is very helpful! Thanks! Also like the way you organised the presentation.

[@akshaydamle95]

I'm just getting into Dostoevsky; thanks for sharing your knowledge! This video is very insightful and I especially like that you go over different reading orders that one could follow depending on one's beliefs. Cheers, hope to see more videos from you!

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed the video, will make more content on Dostoevsky in the future

[@CaIeb1]

enjoy! his books are incredible

[@sitting_nut]

very informative. thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DanExploresBooks]

Really enjoyed your summaries of these books. Well done.

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed the video and found it informative

[@jordanhouze1609]

very helpful video really appreciate the perspective

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@barryyen9103]

Very Helpful!

[@stephenn3727]

What an amazing perspective! Thank you

[@Phil4All]

Brilliant! Glad you enjoyed

[@ImToastAlso]

I love your enthusiasm and knowledge. Glad to have found your channel, and of course subscribed.

[@Phil4All]

Thank you for your kind words! I hope you enjoy the content u find

[@OMGusGonzalez]

Great summary and great insight, dude! It sounds like you really captured what each individual novel was trying to say. Thanks for summarizing it all so well!

[@Phil4All]

Thanks, I am glad you found this video helpful

[@mohdsyafiqsivakumaran2255]

Many thanks, great video, at least now I know where to start 😁

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful

[@user-el2jz6sw7m]

I don't agree with you saying that people in a dark place should not read him. It is helpful to know you aren't the only person to have ever lived to have such thoughts as his characters do.

[@borikoni2244]

Bro, you are on the path to wisdom. New sub.

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed

[@morgantodd1819]

Great video man

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@datraucous3351]

I’ve never read any of his books I’m looking forward to them and seeing your analysis of them.

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@robertocatrone715]

I like your opening on learning the life and times/adieu of Dostoevsky times. That would help people to understand his writing better Most people only know of Dostoevskys top 5 books. However, He actually published 15 books. I find reading in order of his publications one can grow with Dostoevsky evolution in writing/ developing story lines. Trivia not, The Brothers karamazov was to be a two parter. Unfortunately he died before he could complete the second book. As for not reading Dostoevsky is you are in a Spiritual Dark place, I found him extremely helpful for me to have a Kindridge soul. Actually help me work through my own issues. All that said. I enjoyed your video.

[@Phil4All]

I am glad you enjoyed the video!

[@edwindarius1689]

love your channel! New Sub

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@thomas599]

Poor Folk Notes from Underground Crime & Punishment The Gambler The Idiot Brother Karamazov Devils

[@enfermagembenfermagemb2251]

I watched this video months ago and it’s great. I’ve finally decided to start reading all of Dostoyevsky’s works as a Christian. I started with Poor folk since it was his work but I will follow your order of reading. God bless ❤

[@Phil4All]

God bless you! Will be making a series on the idiot and myshkin very soon so make sure you stay tuned on the channel

[@enfermagembenfermagemb2251]

@@Phil4All Can’t wait

[@ray-haan]

Hey, thanks for sharing this, found your approach to be clear and genuine and description structured, may i request if you can do a series on Hesse? i recently explored his work and found him very interesting, but there's not much content available about his work... cheers

[@Phil4All]

Thanks for the kind words. Unfortunately, my knowledge on Hesse isn't sufficient to make a complex discussion on him. Since I am in the middle of finals, I will probably have to delay such a series for a few months (as I have other ongoing projects right now), nevertheless, I will keep it at the back of my mind and will add them to something I will work on in the future

[@ray-haan]

@@Phil4All sure, good luck with exams

[@syhm886]

I read Dostoyevky when I was in school and in university everything in Russian, in my opinion it has obviously some depth and hiden senses. In my opinion the biggest sense is that your internal truth is the most important, but as author says it is dark criminal chronicles and it is how russians thinks, it is a good material to understand russians as they are

[@Phil4All]

Thanks for sharing!

[@andrewcampbell3669]

Hi, I have just bought the complete works of Dostoyevsky as I thought I needed to expand my reading from Stephen King and other popular novelists, and I do include Tolstoy in this genre. I found your video enlightening and very well presented. It made me think about the way forward in reading the books and I have decided to follow the Christianity route. I have also purchased books by Nietzsche which I will read between Dostoyevsky (I must admit I am a Freud fan). I am also interested to see how they compare to my all time favourite novel "Catcher in the Rye". Some may say there is no comparison and perhaps I may agree after reading "The Idiot". Once again thank you for the advise and I look forward to adding my thoughts to the books as I read them. Andrew

[@Phil4All]

Yes I believe you will find Dostoevsky thought provoking and challenging. It is always a new experience and a different type of literature and required some getting used to, but it is beautiful

[@rolanddeschain6089]

I never got warm with "The Idiot". It had a few really great parts but there was too much hot air in between for me. Intended, probably. But it doesn't click for me.

[@paulaquilina1103]

Started with Crime/punishmt, which put me off not only Dostoyevsky but all Russian literature! That was about 16 or so years ago,as I had a preconceived idea that all Russian lit was depressing and about depressing subjects. 2years ago I tackled War/Peace and changed my mind,loved it. Since then I’ve been viewing KZbin and Book reviewers and got onto the Brothers K,which I am 1/2 way through and absolutely LOVING it, and now will definitely read his other Books. So yes thoroughly agree that there is an order to reading his amazing books.Thankyou for your very informative review

[@simpinainteasy680]

Start with 'Notes from the Underground', its short on one person vs several stories wrapped into one book.

[@Phil4All]

I do love Notes from the Underground

[@NiekMagnel]

I like the approach you took for the different reading orders. Let's say I take the 'new-atheist' route (Notes; Demons; Crime; Idiot; TBK/DeadHouse) and I want to fit in 'The double and the gambler' and 'The adolescent'. Where would you place these books in the reading order?

[@Phil4All]

The thing with those three works is that they aren't directly related to the new atheist route. But I think if you were to do it, Notes; the double & the gambler; adolescent; demons... that's what I would recommend, though you can also put adolescent after Crime, both would be quite good

[@NiekMagnel]

@@Phil4All Thanks!

[@aslankurdi3994]

What books would you recommend before reading crime in punishment? I want to improve my vocabulary enough so I can read it without googling every word I don’t understand, I just want to enjoy the full experience because it’s my mom’s favorite book

[@Phil4All]

Maybe start reading Notes from Underground, it gets you into the mindset, but also isn't as complex linguistically.

[@pam2083]

Hi, since I watched your video Ive read the idiot, notes from the underground, crime and punishment and now Im reading the possessed. I just read part 2 chapter 9, when Stavrogin had the conversation with the monk about his crimes and I haven't been able to read past that chapter, it made me feel terrible. I wanted to ask you, because I need to really focus on studying hard for the next 2 months and I don't want to be distracted by feeling sad, would you recommend that I should put it off during those 2 months or does it get any better? if it gets better, I would love to finish it now, but if it's going to be even worse I'd rather wait.

[@Phil4All]

I would recommend you to go to a cathedral or chapel and pray, im not catholic (im non denominational) yet the beautiful ornaments the silence, the liturgy, are all things of great beauty and forgiveness. Of course, i dare not assume why the passage would have such a profound impact but i will recommend you to pray about it. For example the picture of holbeins christ in the tomb hit dostoevsky very proufoundly and prayer and meditation will always help

[@nadaciric7487]

I read all of Dostoevsky. Every book I had to put down for a week to cool my emotion. Too much emotion. One cry than laugh than rest from book. Than had to go back. Pain and enjoyment hand in hand. That is "Dostoyevski" for you.

[@thomasmoore7976]

Thank you for your detailed insight and approach to this massive subject matter! What would you say your thoughts of where The Gambler would fit into all this?

[@Phil4All]

I would say that The Gambler would be a short story to light up your palette whenever Dostoevsky might become too dark or bleak

[@thomasmoore7976]

@@Phil4All Thank you! 😊

[@swiftysnail9053]

Solid video heavily undermined by the fact that you're a Chelsea fan

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@uglytuco3829]

Just started reading Demons. First Dost book for me. Challenging read for sure, but he keeps you hooked.

[@Phil4All]

Yes, I really love Demons, one of my favourites

[@KiwiFights]

Wow what a coincidence 😂 I saw your St DuPont koi fish review before getting mine. Small world

[@Phil4All]

Indeed! Really small world! Hope you are enjoying the dupont

[@Birdman_Animation_Studio]

I think "dream of a ridiculous man" deserves a mention, it shows a optimism we rarely see from dostoevsky. I do agree with your list , id think Christians would prefer tolstoy over the dark world of dostoevsky tho

[@yac2617]

You did a FANTASTIC job to say the least!!!! 👏🏼I’m a strong Christian and I can’t wait to read the books in that order!! you just got yourself a new subscriber 🙃

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Stay tuned for more existentialist content coming out, especially Dostoevsky and Nietzsche

[@yac2617]

Thank you! I’m looking forward to it 🙂

[@alyoshazeifman4657]

Interesting analysis. Rather excessive discussion of order at the end. Just read them all in whatever order you like.

[@salcorbit6330]

Whatever the order, don’t read the Pevear translations. I think that’s the most important thing.

[@gangganggamer9974]

Just got super into classics. I went and bought Crime and Punishment because I just read a 1200 page book and didn’t want to read the brothers karamazov. Just found this vid so I guess it’s fate lol

[@Phil4All]

Great to hear

[@Lensjourney0808]

Love the way you speak. Reminds me of Jordan Peterson

[@Phil4All]

Im glad you enjoyed it

[@Huiothesia]

Thanks

[@Phil4All]

You’re welcome

[@tim2401]

Okay, but would you say specific translations are better than others? Or would you say that doesn't matter and to just read whatever translation you happen upon?

[@Phil4All]

Different translations give a different vibe, they’re all good, but depends on how literal you want them to be. I’m not an expert on translations though

[@tim2401]

have you read only the David Mcduff translation for The Brothers Karamazov? I'm wanting to dive into Dostoyevsky but I'm stuck on which translator to stick with, really. @@Phil4All

[@creativesource3514]

Which English translation of 'Crime & Punishment'?

[@AcidicDelusion]

Mcduff

[@jarrodyuki7081]

cao cao once said i would rather betray the world than have the world betray me.

[@clandeszipp4564]

Tldr?

[@prawen]

I do

[@tinkwolf3320]

What are your thoughts on Christians reading Tolstoy?

[@Phil4All]

I think it's good reading anything for Christians as long as they maintain a Christian perspective. Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are some of the most profound thinkers and it would be a shame not to experience it

[@tinkwolf3320]

@@Phil4All ok awesome I have all of the Dostoevsky and now that I’ve found a good way to read them I’m going to start at the first of the year. I had heard about Tolstoy too and was curious how/why to read him. I just found your channel and it is great!

[@avinavdoonga2429]

@Robin Waldun looks like you

[@-S.9]

What about notes from a dead house?

[@Phil4All]

It’s wonderful! I would recommend reading it, perhaps some way half way through your adventures

[@jacksoninc.4062]

Hi, i'm a muslim trying to get into Dostoevsky. Where should i begin? Should i take the Christian route? Or the Atheist one? Thank you, in advance

[@Phil4All]

I will recommend the Christian one, but perhaps you can start with The Brothers Karamazov

[@jacksoninc.4062]

@@Phil4All huh, rushing straight to the big work. Alright then thanks, man

[@nadaciric7487]

religion doesn't mater, just don't start with "Double"

[@love.raaain]

As a Muslim should I read the books surrounding around Christian?

[@Phil4All]

Yes, i think it is helpful to read all books, to learn and open yourself up to different perspectives

[@love.raaain]

@@Phil4All ohh got it! thank you so much

[@albionsoloist]

Are these books available to read online? Thanks.

[@Phil4All]

Ive added links to amazon hard copies, theybprobably have kindle versions as well. Im not sure about pdf copies online might be shady

[@arjunyeleshwarapu]

libgen or z library

[@imprwikiimprwiki6898]

They’re available if you look around probably for free

[@nadaciric7487]

all are available

[@edgardmigneret9264]

j'adore le dégradé au chinois

[@sidyadav7157]

Bro write the sequence somewhere in video or in description... You got le confused like 3 times halfway through this video.

[@Phil4All]

I will do that next time I make a video like this, thank you for the suggestion

[@method341]

@@Phil4All you can just update the description

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

The order of reading Fyodor Dostoevsky is "Poor Folk" and then "The Insulted and Humiliated" and then "The Idiot" and then "Crime and Punishment" and then "Demons." Alternate order would be "Crime and Punishment" first and then the same order.

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

FAVORITE AUTHORS 1st) Fyodor Dostoevsky 1) “The Insulted and Humiliated” by Fyodor Dostoevsky 4) "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 19) "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 30) "Demons" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 65) "My Uncle's Dream" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 80) "The Heavenly Christmas Tree" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 113) "Poor Folk" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 130) "The Gentle Spirit" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 141) "The Gambler" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 149) "White Nights" by Fyodor Dostoevsky 173) "Netochka Nezvanova" (nameless nobody) by Fyodor Dostoevsky 2nd) Leo Tolstoy 3) "Resurrection" by Leo Tolstoy 9) "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy 16) “Childhood, Boyhood” by Leo Tolstoy 62) "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy 91) "A Confession" by Leo Tolstoy 3rd) Ivan Turgenev 5) "Fathers and Sons" by Ivan Turgenev 11) "Smoke" by Ivan Turgenev 23) "Virgin Soil" by Ivan Turgenev 41) "Torrents of Spring" by Ivan Turgenev 64) "First Love" by Ivan Turgenev 101) "Acia" by Ivan Turgenev 107) "The Watch" by Ivan Turgenev 132) "Rudin" by Ivan Turgenev 141) "On the Eve" by Ivan Turgenev 152) "Home of the Gentry" by Ivan Turgenev 172) "Clara Militch" by Ivan Turgenev 177) "The Inn" by Ivan Turgenev 4th) James A. Michener 12) "Chesapeake" by James A. Michener 13) "Poland" by James A. Michener 36) "Caribbean" by James A. Michener 37) "Hawaii" by James A. Michener 197) “Mexico” by James A. Michener 5th) Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 10) "A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 28) "Cancer Ward" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 44) "In the First Circle" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 78) "The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: an Experiment in Literary Investigation" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[@CaIeb1]

i love the video but if youre trying to say the idiot is the best for an athiest to read first youre completely wrong, 'the brothers karamazov is dostoevskys deepest religious novel by far and has the highest probability of convincing someone a religious life is the way to live

[@Phil4All]

Glad you enjoy the video. The reason why The Idiot is the best is that it is a very peculiar book, something which can lead to deep introspection. Thats not to say that the Brothers Karamazov is not deep, I love both, but to say The Brothers Karamazov is deeper than the Idiot, I believe is to do an injustice to the Idiot and potentially stems from reading the Idiot at face value without its underlying possibilities

[@user-kv4fe5do7h]

WELL DONE FOR THIS DOSTOEVSKY PODCAST ❤ AWE WOW BEAUTY WILL SAVE THE WORLD,,,,,, a bit random but that would be a great title for a Stevie Wonder song ! ! ! ,,, check out Steve and his ideology ❤ IVE BEEN A SLAVE TO SHAKESPEARE,,, AM TOUR GUIDE AT THE SNP PRESCOT BUT ONLY RECENT BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER NOVELS ENGLISH LIT AND OTHER WORLD WRITERS PHILOSOPHICAL,,, AWE YES DOSTOEVSKY MAN OH MAN ❤THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS 😂

[@method341]

Is that a Belfast accent?

[@Phil4All]

International accent. Mix of a few different ones

[@user-sm5mc9xq4i]

Everyone was confused by the young philosopher....😅 It is better to read in order in which years the work was written.. This way you will understand the evolution of the author and his ideas, and if you are Russian and know the history of the 19th century in Russia, you will understand the reasons for Dostoevsky's reasoning and how his later life showed.. the fallacy of Fyodor Mikhailovich's philosophy!

[@PariRaman-oc9my]

Why don't you come straight to the point

[@beast7535]

chronological order not work?

[@Phil4All]

That would work if you are interested in the chronological development of Dostoevsky's ideas and styles

[@phillipjordan1010]

What order should I read as a practicing Satanist?

[@Phil4All]

Hmmmm… never thought about that… probably crime and punishment or the brothers karamazov to start then demons

[@kimeriksson7445]

To not read Crime & Punishment directly followed by The Idiot is such a waste. There is a reason they're often spoken of as companion peaces.

[@mono_onamoto]

Someone please put the routes in the comments. This guy talks too much

[@user-jf7fq8xn4r]

Начать лучше со Скверного анекдота.

[@BSMArtnLit]

morality is god created is a very abrahamic concept. animals too have morality. atheist too have morality, it is sociological and doesn’t need a god.

[@Phil4All]

There is a difference between objective morality and subjective morality

[@bhabanism]

@@Phil4All subjective as in.... killing pagans and kaafirs as god given subjective morality?

[@ratherrapid]

Mine-- Brothers K--3 times Crime and P--2 times Idiot Notes from Underground. Of these I think Brothers K is D's greatest exceeding the others in theme, scope, and intricacies of plot. Crime and P to me is more for younger readers. Reading it later in life it was a little like Kafka's The Trial on second reading--a little underwhelming and overrated. D essentially positing some redeeming value in a murdrerer--maybe what he saw in Siberia. I thought Idiot and Notes are D's most intriguing and interesting novelss. I intend to reread both. Of greater wonder is how D compares to the rest. I rank them Robert Musil #1. If you want philosophy attached to life in a Novel there's your book, likely will one day be viewed as the greatest novel. And then Pynchon, and Mary Ann Evans. All three of these r just a little more intellectually sophisticated than D, which is saying something.. Then D and several steps down to Tolstoy. Where D excels in my view is in developing his themes through the conversation of his characters in contrast to Tolstoy's conversational drivel.

[@jarrodyuki7081]

nietsche>>>>>>>>fyodor in my opinion. you are only responsible for what you do not for what you wish for according to atheism thats a fundamental point of atheism.

[@user-bf3be6xz9o]

Logical>emotional