A recent report circulating on a Telegram channel reveals that a Russian publishing house named Alpina Publisher addressed the controversy surrounding the publication of American author Mark Manson’s work titled Everything is bad. The publisher clarified why certain portions of the text were removed before the book reached Russian readers, noting that the edits were made in response to legal and regulatory requirements applicable in the country. The communication emphasizes that deletions were not arbitrary but carried out to comply with the law as currently enforced in Russia.
The publication in question features a visual cue where the removed passages are displayed in gray. This design choice signals to readers that a portion of the original content has been deliberately omitted, while still allowing them to understand where and how the text was altered. The accompanying note makes this action explicit, explaining that the blacked out sections reflect content that was deleted in accordance with a specific legal provision. The note clarifies the process by which the publisher determined which material required removal under applicable statutes, offering readers a transparent account of the edits rather than presenting an opaque alteration of the text.
According to the source, the deleted segments included content that compared the Soviet Union with Nazi Germany and described the Red Army’s actions in Poland. This sensitive historical framing, which touches on highly contested aspects of World War II, has long been a focal point in public discourse and literary discussion in the region. The publisher states that the decision to delete these elements was driven by the necessity to abide by Russian legislative norms, rather than by any intent to suppress or misrepresent historical events on purpose. The published material thus reflects a balancing act between preserving the author’s narrative and conforming to legal boundaries set by the state.
In explaining the rationale, the publisher notes that the note accompanying the removed text clearly identifies which sections were excised in line with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation. This approach is presented as a formal compliance measure designed to maintain integrity and accountability within the publishing process. The emphasis here is on adherence to law and the provision of a clear, auditable trail showing how content was filtered to meet statutory obligations while still conveying the core ideas that remain accessible to readers.
The broader regulatory context is marked by government actions that oversee public discourse about World War II and the roles of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in that conflict. In April 2022, the Russian president signed a measure imposing fines for publicly describing the roles of both adversaries in World War II in a manner considered inaccurate or inflammatory under new legal definitions. This legislative development has influenced how publishers and authors frame critical historical analysis and discuss sensitive topics in official Russian markets. The current case illustrates how publishers navigate these laws while trying to present a work that engages readers with provocative ideas and historical questions.
In summary, the incident represents a clash between literary ambition and legal constraint, a tension many publishers confront when distributing translations and adaptations in jurisdictions with strict regulatory regimes. Alpina Publisher has framed its actions as compliance-driven, ensuring that readers have access to a version that remains faithful to the author’s core message while reflecting the boundaries set by national law. The publication thus serves as a case study in how modern publishing practices adapt to legal realities without completely abandoning a writer’s original intent, offering a pathway for readers to engage with challenging topics in a legally responsible manner.