Alexander Strashny examinines what defines Ukrainians as a people and makes them tick. Based on an analysis of Ukraine's history, everyday life, economy, military affairs, gender, religion, art, music, and other cultural aspects, the Strashny, a trained psychoanlyst and prolific author, outlines those psychological features of Ukrainians that define them as a distinctive nation. Upon examining similarities and differences between Ukrainians and Europeans, on the one hand, and Russians, on the other, the author singles out the fifty most salient features of the Ukrainian outlook, whose combination constitutes the essence of the Ukrainian mentality. The book explains how the population of a relatively small country successfully resists a more powerful and ruthless aggressor.
"The original systematization of the material, the integrity of the author's generalization of the diversity of features of the Ukrainian mentality, and the positive charge that this book carries make it attractive and interesting." -Valery Yarovoy, Professor of History, Shevchenko University of Kyiv