--- title: Amor Towles description: "Book of the Month: “A Gentleman in Moscow”, by Amor Towles" image: https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/08/25/2016-08-17-gentlmaninmoscow-towles-charbage_wide-e5382da28e490e582abecad07e94bb96bc9600cf.jpg?s=1400 --- [![Main-Logo-01-1](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Main-Logo-01-1.png?width=250&height=43&name=Main-Logo-01-1.png "Main-Logo-01-1")](https://www.thebusinessofgood.org) # | Blog ## [Amor Towles](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/amor-towles) ** Feb 27, 2020 3:03:48 PM / by [Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/author/tim-mccarthy) #### Book of the Month: “A Gentleman in Moscow”, by Amor Towles ![2016-08-17-gentlmaninmoscow-towles-charbage_wide-e5382da28e490e582abecad07e94bb96bc9600cf](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/08/25/2016-08-17-gentlmaninmoscow-towles-charbage_wide-e5382da28e490e582abecad07e94bb96bc9600cf.jpg?s=1400) Editor’s note:  This historic fiction is beautifully written.  Towles adds well-researched context along with poignant social commentary to make it the best book I’ve read in many years.  I’m planning to re-read it so that I might pick up more of the type of excerpts you will see below.  I noted at least a half dozen worth remembering on my first read.   Favorite excerpt:    *“When you reach our age, Vasily, it all goes by so quickly.  Whole seasons seem to pass without leaving the slightest mark on our memory…But surely there is comfort to be taken from that.  For even as weeks begin racing by in a blur for us, they are making the greatest of impressions upon our children.  When one turns seventeen and begins to experience that first period of real independence, one’s senses are so alert, one’s sentiments so finely attuned to every conversation, every look, every laugh may be writ indelibly upon one’s memory….Perhaps the aggregate experience of Time is constant and thus for our children to establish such vivid impressions of this particular June, we must relinquish our claims upon it”.* * * *“So that they might remember, we must forget”, Vasily summed up.* * * *“Exactly”, said the Count.    * Tags: [Creativity & Favorites](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/topic/creativity-favorites) ![Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tim-square%20edit-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Tim-square%20edit-1.png) #### Written by [Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/author/tim-mccarthy) ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Creativity & Favorites (686)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/creativity-favorites) - [Monthly Newsletter (232)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/monthly-newsletter) - [Learning and Knowledge (209)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/learning-and-knowledge) - [Organizational & Operational Excellence (34)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/organizational-operational-excellence) - [Personal Well-Being (30)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/personal-well-being) - [Communication & Relationships (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/communication-relationships) - [Professional Growth and Development (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/professional-growth-and-development) - [Business & Entrepreneurship (27)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/business-entrepreneurship) - [Social Impact & Responsibility (9)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/social-impact-responsibility) ### Posts by Topic - [Creativity & Favorites (686)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/creativity-favorites) - [Monthly Newsletter (232)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/monthly-newsletter) - [Learning and Knowledge (209)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/learning-and-knowledge) - [Organizational & Operational Excellence (34)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/organizational-operational-excellence) - [Personal Well-Being (30)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/personal-well-being) - [Communication & Relationships (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/communication-relationships) - [Professional Growth and Development (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/professional-growth-and-development) - [Business & Entrepreneurship (27)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/business-entrepreneurship) - [Social Impact & Responsibility (9)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/social-impact-responsibility) [See all](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/amor-towles#) ### Recent Posts --- Listen to Tim's Monthly Favorites on Spotify --- See Tim's Library at GoodReads ## [Tim's Book of the Month Library](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/16122954-tim-mccarthy?shelf=books-of-the-month&utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [![The Hunter](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692131625l/174156145._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602634062?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [The Hunter](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602634062?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Tana French](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/138825.Tana_French) [![Man’s Search for Meaning](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535419394l/4069._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636003?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [Man’s Search for Meaning](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636003?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Viktor E. Frankl](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2782.Viktor_E_Frankl) [![New Seeds of Contemplation](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348656473l/1145854._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636488?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [New Seeds of Contemplation](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636488?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Thomas Merton](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1711.Thomas_Merton) [![Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1284082691l/27533._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602638191?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602638191?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Muhammad Yunus](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1254841.Muhammad_Yunus) [![goodreads.com](https://s.gr-assets.com/images/widget/widget_logo.gif)](https://www.goodreads.com/) Share [book reviews](https://www.goodreads.com/) and ratings with Tim, and even join a [book club](https://www.goodreads.com/group) on Goodreads. ### Sign Up for Monthly Thoughts # Contact Tim Email me or connect on LinkedIn ** [tim@thebusinessofgood.org](mailto:tim@thebusinessofgood.org) [ Click the Icon to Connect ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mccarthy-97869790/) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/TimMcCarthyBoG/) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mccarthy-97869790/) Copyright 2026 | Designed with ** by [the Business of Good](http://thebusinessofgood.org) [**](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/amor-towles#)