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Andrei Sakharov and Peace
An anthology of essays discussing Sakharov, Soviet dissidents, the Russian government, peace prospects, nuclear disarmament, and the disappearance of the Sakharovs.
325 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1985
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About the author
Andrei D. Sakharov
40 books37 followersSoviet physicist and dissident Andrei Dimitrievich Sakharov helped to develop the first Soviet hydrogen bomb and as an outspoken advocate of human rights and nuclear disarmament won the Nobel Prize of 1975 for peace; people banished him to Gorky (now Nizhniy Novgorod) from 1980 to 1986.
Russian activist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_...
Russian activist
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_...
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 30, 2015
I have read the Russian edition of this book recently. Of course I've heard about Sakharov many times before, and I also remember seeing a monument of him in St. Petersburg last year - very impressive one, portraying a man with his hands tied behind his back, a suffering, but resolute figure. Now that image makes much more sense to me.
Sakharov is an interesting figure as a scientist, who was brave enough to talk about the responsibility of scientist for his own creation. His work on nuclear weapon in USSR influenced his views, he describes how he realized the immorality of the people, who were controlling these weapons at the end.
In his articles and speeches (including Noble Peace Prize speech) Sakharov is speaking about the importance of human rights, of the danger of global nuclear war and importance of international safety and trust. These speeches and his actions aimed to help people, who were unjustly persecuted for their views in USSR, led to his deportation to Gorkiy with his wife. For seven years he had to live in exile, constantly controlled by special guards. His name is USSR was presented as the name of a traitor, an enemy. Many believed it. But Sakharov kept trying to tell people about his views. He believed, that human consciousness will win, that people will realize their cruel mistakes.
In the 21st century many of the horrors of that time don't exist anymore. We can express our opinions freely now, we can move and travel easier, and the danger of nuclear war doesn't occupy our minds. But still some of the Sakharov's arguments are very valid, for example, the arguments about the ecological dangers, caused by the society, and the political courses that our leaders take. The battle for peace and consciousness is still continuing, and Sakharov is one of the remarkable people in the history of that battle, one of the moral examples of modern times.
Sakharov is an interesting figure as a scientist, who was brave enough to talk about the responsibility of scientist for his own creation. His work on nuclear weapon in USSR influenced his views, he describes how he realized the immorality of the people, who were controlling these weapons at the end.
In his articles and speeches (including Noble Peace Prize speech) Sakharov is speaking about the importance of human rights, of the danger of global nuclear war and importance of international safety and trust. These speeches and his actions aimed to help people, who were unjustly persecuted for their views in USSR, led to his deportation to Gorkiy with his wife. For seven years he had to live in exile, constantly controlled by special guards. His name is USSR was presented as the name of a traitor, an enemy. Many believed it. But Sakharov kept trying to tell people about his views. He believed, that human consciousness will win, that people will realize their cruel mistakes.
In the 21st century many of the horrors of that time don't exist anymore. We can express our opinions freely now, we can move and travel easier, and the danger of nuclear war doesn't occupy our minds. But still some of the Sakharov's arguments are very valid, for example, the arguments about the ecological dangers, caused by the society, and the political courses that our leaders take. The battle for peace and consciousness is still continuing, and Sakharov is one of the remarkable people in the history of that battle, one of the moral examples of modern times.
September 1, 2014
Andrei Sakharov seems to be a largely forgotten figure today, given the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. This book, a collection of works about by him, gives a good sampling of his contribution.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews