# The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

28 Hacker News commenters recommended The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky and 8 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Readers praise its vivid characters, psychological depth and enjoyable reading; the length, many names and slow pace are the common complaints.

## Why people recommend it

- Favorite or great book (5 comments): ""The Brothers Karamazov" is my favorite book of all time, and I always find it quite an easy and enjoyable read." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49906579)) "It’s topping The Idiot for me- and a fitting way to end the year." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46396465)) "My favorite Dostoyevsky is The Brothers Karamazov." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48667610))
- Easy, enjoyable read (4 comments): ""The Brothers Karamazov" is my favorite book of all time, and I always find it quite an easy and enjoyable read." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49906579)) "they read like my own thoughts from the very start and I never had any trouble finishing" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48670484)) "Now I'm back reading The Brothers Karamazov and it's instantly captivating!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48682290))
- Rich themes worth slow unpacking (2 comments): "Maybe in terms of how navel-gazey it is, but the themes are not at all young adult." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48673032)) "There is so much to unpack, which requires very slow treatment." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46388438))

## What people warn about

- Difficult and exhausting to read (3 comments): "I also found it rough to get through" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48668245)) "I've taken several stabs at it over the years but I always give up in exhaustion." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48668627)) ""The Brothers Karamazov" was especially difficult." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48670218))
- Less enjoyable than other Dostoyevsky (2 comments): "I think of all the Dostoyevsky works the Brothers is the least enjoyable one" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48669067)) "I have never read a book I hated more than The Brothers Karamazov." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48667824))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/crime-and-punishment.md): 39 recommend
- [Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/infinite-jest.md): 26 recommend
- [The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://hackerapproved.com/p/great-gatsby.md): 24 recommend
- [Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand](https://hackerapproved.com/p/atlas-shrugged.md): 23 recommend
- [Moby-Dick by Herman Melville](https://hackerapproved.com/p/moby-dick.md): 22 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0140449248?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780140449242) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky", https://hackerapproved.com/p/brothers-karamazov/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).