Which books about Caucasus are worth to read? This is the question I will try to answer in today’s episode of The Caucasus podcast. What to focus on and notice when choosing a book about this region and why.
Today I have gathered for you 4 rules, guidelines that are useful when you choose a book to rad about Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan or North Caucasus. How those guidelines were created? I have read lots of book from this region (hundreds for sure). Some of them were better, some not so good. Some written by the authors from the Caucasus, like the Literature express by Lasha Bugadze, some not. Some were novels, some popular science, memoires, cookbooks etc. So here come the guidelines.
Are books from the Caucasus worth reading?
If you are to remember only one thing from today’s episode let it be just this. Yes, it is really worth reading books about Caucasus and from the Caucasus. Of course, if you are at least a bit interested in the region as such. Reading books from the region you are fond of widens your perspective. If you have just started thinking: oh, but I prefer to talk to people, experience the relations with them. I have slightly bad news. You’ll just stay in the opinions bubble of the people you are able to meet.
What gives you reading, is seeing many points of view. For me it’s like getting to know Caucasus for the first time several times.
Which books are worth reading?
The short answer is: all of them. To be more precise, it’s worth starting with the genre you like the most and add others step by step. You may start with reportage for example (there are really many of them written). Then read popular science book, next a novel by author from the region and a piece about the history of the Caucasus countries.
The other dimension is the country. Start with the one you like the most (or simply know a bit about it). Probably you know Georgia the most (it is most popular due to touristic reasons). Then add a book about Armenia, maybe a bit about Azerbaijan. Do not leave North Caucasus alone, though. If you do not know where to start from, I will be recommending books I like in the Caucasus podcast episodes. So you can just follow my book lead and start with the ones I enjoyed reading.
Since we talk about the genres, I have to add a bit about the cookbooks. I’m not talking about the typical ones with recipes only. There are also cookbooks with not only lists of ingredients, but the stories behind food preparation, food culture, history and more. Those are the books I love. At least for a second, I do feel like sitting there in the kitchen and participating in all the discussions and preparations.
What is interesting in the Caucasus?
The first version of this episode has emerged in my head few weeks after Russian invasion on Ukraine. Firstly, I wanted to tell you more about which content about Caucasus or wider post USRR region do we consume. About how easily we fall and are being trapped in our information bubble. Therefore noticing the complexity of some topics is truly hard to grasp. Example of it are the conflicts in the Caucasus. Then I thought that instead of talking more about any particular publication, we can focus more on how to search for it in the books. So what is interesting in the Caucasus? For me it’s exactly the complexity of a region with so many cultures, religions, languages and states. This is what makes it unique for me.
Can we trust the reportage books about Caucasus?
If you are not the Caucasus newbie, you probably know already the Caucasus is not a linear region and the multitude of dimensions may give you a headache. That is why when reading a memoire or a reportage, please remember that this is not a dogma and the one and only truth. This is just a small piece of someone’s reality. Something that was experienced by this particular person or their interlocutors. What I admire and value in the book authors is adding the footnotes (ok, footnotes to Wikipedia do not count…) and they reveal what are the sources of any dates, numbers, facts etc. There are too many books I have read about Caucasus, I had no clue where the data had come from, that I even really started to notice it. So to sum up, the reportage shows you a piece of Caucasian reality, not “this is how the whole region looks like”. No more, no less, only as much and so much.
How do I know this book about Caucasus is worth reading?
The next rule I follow (so advise you to do the same), is the reference and bibliography. This applies mainly to popular science books, but for other is great as well. I am not talking here only black and white – so the references should be. No, I go further and say they should be of good quality. For example, there is no Wikipedia listed. Yes, I am that harsh 😉 Additionally, there are sources in at least two languages. Let’s imagine situation someone uses only English books. It means everything you read is minimum third-hand information. My experience also as a Caucasus scientist shows that this often is distorted at least a bit. So check the bibliography when deciding whether to buy a book (not only about the Caucasus).
Additionally, when talking about popular science books I go even further and believe the author should speak at least one of the languages from the region. That’s it – no compromises there. Unfortunately, I have encountered the books, in which the author A refers to the book by author B, in which is the reference to other book of the author A. None of them however has looked it up in the actual source.
Whose books about Caucasus to read?
Last but not least, the author experience. Some time ago we had in Poland the boom of Caucasus popularity. Let me know how does it look like in your country! The popularity boom made me happy in general (more people interested in what we do in Languages of the Caucasus). There isthough the dark side of it. Some of them knew the Caucasus, some not so much, some not really. That is why one of my guideline is to read books written by someone who actually spent some time in the region, not only 2-week holidays. The ones who live in the region, come here often, have friends, speak language (at least a bit). Those are the most trustworthy for me.
Additionally, go for authors born and raised in the region as well. If you follow me already some time, you probably know by now that I am a great supporter of reading books written by the people from the Caucasus. Why is that? At least for giving yourself the opportunity to see the region via their own eyes. Additionally, if you like Caucasus, you can help the authors to popularize their work and simply earn money for their great writing.
How did you like my guidelines?
Maybe you already have favorite book about Caucasus?
Let us know in comments what were your thoughts! Additionally, if you like our series, you can let us know by liking it or following us. We are on Facebook and Instagram or you can go directly to our website – the link you can find in the description. If you liked this episode, you may also share it with your friends. It will help us a lot in connecting with other fans of the region.