What Is To Be Done?: The Book That Helped Spark the Russian Revolution
This article explores Nikolai Chernyshevsky's influential novel, *What Is To Be Done?*, a book that profoundly impacted the course of Russian history. The novel critiques Tsarist authoritarianism and societal inequalities, proposing a utopian society based on cooperative principles, led by an educated elite. From Lenin to Xi Jinping, leaders have drawn inspiration from its radical ideas. The article analyzes the novel's characters, its views on art's role in society, and compares its concept of the 'new human' with Ayn Rand's interpretation. Ultimately, *What Is To Be Done?* endures due to its unwavering belief in societal transformation and its call for a better future, making it not just a novel, but a revolutionary social manifesto.