Discover the Inspiring Favorite Books of a Leading Editor and Co-Author

The stories shared by the heroes of this series inspire readers to pick up a new book, dive into its pages, and dream of building their own personal library.

Ludmila Sarycheva

Editor-in-chief of a renowned business publication and co-author of influential writing guides.

Which books do you cherish the most?

May I share many? Each book is unique, making it hard to pick just one. I'll focus on fiction since my work already involves plenty of professional reading.

Some of my favorites include Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Archibald Cronin's The Citadel, and Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. From Russian classics, Dostoevsky's The Idiot and Tolstoy's Anna Karenina stand out. I also enjoy short stories by Chekhov, Twain, Dovlatov, and O. Henry.

What truly captivates me in literature is the theme of an individual's struggle against the system, as explored in 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Citadel.

Do you have a favorite author? Which book would you recommend?

I prefer not to pick a single favorite author because truly appreciating one requires deep literary knowledge and understanding of their entire body of work. My appreciation is more casual.

Authors write across diverse genres, making comparisons difficult. That said, I greatly admire Dovlatov and have enjoyed all his works I've read.

While I appreciate Russian classics, I won’t dwell on that as it’s quite common.

Which childhood book holds your warmest memories?

Deniska's Stories are dear to me. I now read them aloud to my daughter, recalling my own childhood experiences. Recently, my husband and I laughed so hard at these stories during bedtime reading that we switched to daytime sessions instead.

As an adult, I appreciate the humor and subtle lessons in these stories, which feel kind and instructive without being preachy.

I also fondly remember various stories from the Roman-Gazeta magazine, which my mother read to my sister and me when we were about seven. Some tales remain vivid in my memory.

Which book do you often reread with joy?

Solo on the Underwood by Dovlatov never fails to make me laugh, even though I know the stories well. It brings tears of joy every time.

Which books do you recommend?

Many ask for recommendations for editors, so I always suggest Write, Shorten and The New Rules of Business Correspondence — outstanding guides that I highly endorse.

I also recommend First Say No, an essential read for everyone. For professional growth, Editing by Design and the insightful Kamasutra for Speakers on public speaking are excellent choices.

Which book inspired you to take action?

First Say No profoundly changed my approach to interacting with others and remains the most impactful book in my life.

Have you ever been unable to put a book down until finishing it?

Almost all my favorite books are like that. I read The Citadel into the early morning hours, waking up at dawn to continue. I stayed up late with Anna Karenina and War and Peace. I even missed a project deadline because of To Kill a Mockingbird, though I caught up afterward.

Not all books captivate me equally; for example, a novel by Ulitskaya was excellent but challenging to get through. Books that keep me awake all night are special, though now with a child, I avoid sacrificing sleep for fiction.

Is there a book everyone should read? Why?

A former colleague shared a story about receiving a meaningful book as a gift, but his turned out to be Lord of the Flies without any hidden message. This illustrates that there’s no single must-read book for everyone. People’s diverse lives and perspectives mean each person’s special book is unique.

What have you read recently, and why?

Recently, my reading consists mainly of children's poems and stories because of my child. I’ve also tried audiobooks like Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Emotional Intelligence.

However, I find audiobooks challenging because I often get distracted and miss parts of the content.

Which book has been professionally beneficial to you?

I prefer to focus on books that nourish the soul rather than professional titles.

Which recent fiction book left a lasting impression?

Doctor Aybolit stands out, so memorable that I can recite it by heart. Although the character can be overly whiny, it’s fascinating how all the animals respond to his pleas for help. I’d prefer if he asked more calmly!

What good book did you read based on someone else's recommendation?

My sister Katya, a philologist and avid reader, is my best source for book recommendations. She keeps up with new releases, modern authors, and classics. Whenever I seek fiction, I turn to her advice.

How do you prefer to read: print, digital, or audiobooks? Why?

I love physical books for their tactile feel and scent, but limited space means I mostly read digitally now. Digital books also eliminate delivery delays.

I use iBooks because it’s convenient and requires no extra setup.

Do you take notes, save quotes, or write reviews?

Honestly, I tend to be too lazy for that.

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