This study certainly differs in many ways than the ones I read about in my Econ and Stats classes. Gessen takes a interesting approach to solving the problem of the dying Russians. As is traditional, the topic is approached with empirical methods of analysis, researching STD rates, smoking rates, and other possible culprits for the high mortality rate in Russia. And eventually one is found: a high rate of cardiovascular diseases. However, this is where the research veers from the norm. When a cause for the high rates of heart attacks isn’t found, there is a turn away from the more “traditional” science approach. Instead, the culture and history of Russia is analyzed, and from there we seem to get our true culprit for the high mortality rate: a lack of hope. I certainly don’t disagree with the conclusion of the article, I can completely understand how the society that Russians live in has had an effect on their health in ways that may not be immediately clear through an empirical approach. However, I felt as though the authors of the research were too quick to conclude that this must ultimately be the reason why Russians are dying. I feel as though there was a lot left on the table that’s still worth researching, both from an empirical standpoint and from a method-driven approach.