The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956 by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn | Book Club

Suggested by: Jack O.

Pages to read: 673
Abridged Version V1-3 = ISBN: 9780060007768 (Originally listed edition)
Volume 1 = ISBN: 9780316300162 (Edition Eugene is using)
Volume 2 = ISBN: 9780062941664 (Edition Eugene is using)
Volume 3 = ISBN: 9780062941695 (Edition Eugene is using)

Community Guidelines:
https://www.inquiryreviews.com/p/discussion-expectations.html

Eugene's review for Volume 1:
https://www.inquiryreviews.com/2023/04/review-of-gulag-archipelago-volume-1.html

Eugene's review for Volume 2:
https://www.inquiryreviews.com/2023/05/review-of-gulag-archipelago-volume-2.html

Eugene's review for Volume 3:
https://www.inquiryreviews.com/2023/05/review-of-gulag-archipelago-volume-3.html

Upcoming event:
https://www.meetup.com/Inquiry-Non-Fiction-Book-Club-for-Inquiring-Minds/events/

Forthcoming Similar Events:
1 - Persecution - 10/28/2023 = Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America by John McWhorter (https://www.meetup.com/inquiry-book-club-for-inquiring-minds/events/290196499/)
2 - History - 11/11/2023 = Silencing the Past: Production of History by Michel-Rolph Trouillot https://www.meetup.com/inquiry-book-club-for-inquiring-minds/events/291932216/
3 - Persecution - 12/09/2023 = The Wolf Age: The Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons by Tore Skeie (https://www.meetup.com/inquiry-book-club-for-inquiring-minds/events/292157903/)

Contribute:
The club has costs. If you appreciate the event, support the club. Contribute via:

1. Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo. Contribute to eugenefrominquiry@gmail.com.
2. GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/adabd41c

(General Questions) While reading the book, consider the below questions:
•What is the raison d’etre of the book? For what purpose did the author write the book? Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?

(Volume 1) While reading the book, consider the below questions:
•What is a Gulag?
•Why were people persecuted?
•How were people tortured?
•Why betray other people?
•How were terrible acts thought about by the persecutors?
•How does silence impact society?
•How did the law change as the law matured?
•Who are the kulaks?
•What is the cult of personality?
•How are the prisoners transported?

(Volume 2) While reading the book, consider the below questions:
•When did the Gulag system form?
•Why did the Soviet’s want to use Gulag prisoners for labor?
•Why is Gulag work considered slavery?
•How were the Gulag working conditions?
•How were the prisoners fed?
•Who was punishable?
•What was punishable and what were the sentences?
•How did the authorities think about what they were doing?
•What options were there for the prisoners to get released?
•What is the role of women in the Gulag?
•How were the animals treated?
•How were people reeducated?

(Volume 3) While reading the book, consider the below questions:
•How did Stalin’s death effect the Gulag system?
•What kind of culture was developed?
•How were witnesses used?
•What happened to the guards who killed a prisoner?
•Could guards show leniency to prisoners?
•Was escape possible?
•For those released, how were their reunions with relatives?

Your questions are important and will take priority. If you have questions about the book's content or related ideas, either let me know what your questions are or raise them during the discussion.