Estonian Zoologist Aleksei Turovski Shares His Favorite Books

Aleksei Turovski, a well-known Estonian zoologist, ethologist, and zoosemiotician, has shared his personal literary preferences, highlighting that his ultimate "favorite book" is his life partner. Turovski, who has a long career at the Tallinn Zoo and is recognized for his engaging explanations of animal behavior, believes that rereading cherished works is a natural and enriching experience. He notes that his own perspective as a reader evolves over time, making the revisiting of favorite books a dynamic encounter.

When asked for recommendations, Turovski expressed the difficulty of suggesting specific titles to a broad audience due to diverse individual tastes. However, he offered a selection of books that hold personal significance for him. Among these, he particularly praised Rein Kuresoo's "Where the Swallows Winter," describing it as a work by an excellent zoologist knowledgeable about animal behavior and ecology. The book, he noted, offers concrete encounters with specific species in their African habitats and is well-illustrated, making it accessible to both specialists and general readers.

Turovski also lauded Hermann Hesse's "Steppenwolf" as an epic cult classic exploring an individual's inner journey and its interaction with others' inner worlds. He also recommended Hesse's "Narcissus and Goldmund," a tale of two friends with contrasting personalities and life paths. Another significant recommendation was Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita," a book Turovski first read as a student in the late 1960s. He was captivated by its characters and Bulgakov's distinctive and beautiful use of language, even in its unofficial, hand-printed form at the time due to ideological unsuitability.

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Stepihunt on lausa eepiline kultusklassika, mis räägib ühe väärika, targa ja haritud inimese rännakutest oma hingemaailma ja sellest, kuidas see maailm on teiste inimeste hingemaailmadega vastastikuses toimimises.