Every summer I read a classic that I have never read before. This summer is a little different. I read George Saunders’ most recent work which discusses seven Russian short stories: 3 by Chekhov, 2 by Tolstoy, 1 by Gogol and 1 by Turgenev. Saunders’ approach to these authors and their works is humorous, self-effacing and easy to understand. He takes examples from his life as a writer, a teacher and an average human being. After reading A Swim in a Pond in the Rain I had a greater respect for the four Russian authors even though I had already admired them. I also sincerely wished that I could take a class, any class, that George Saunders was teaching.