Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Favorite Quote

“To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Book in One Sentence

Crime and Punishment explores the moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor student who plans to murder a corrupt pawnbroker in order to obtain her riches, but who quickly finds out that theory and practice are very different when it comes to ethics and morality.

Why should you read it?

Instead of droning on about why you shouldn’t do bad things, this book offers something much better: a concrete story. It’s a classic for a reason. If you’ve ever felt tempted by fate to do something unscrupulous, this book is for you.

Key Takeaways

1. Empathy is a crucial part of being human.
2. It’s hard to change our inner lives, but we can consistently make amends for our mistakes.
3. Remorse leads to amends which lead to growth and character — therefore, remorse is a critical function of our psyche!