The Book of Words (Abai)

"Kara söz" means "prose, plain words" in Kazakh. Abai wrote these pieces in the last years of his life, between 1890 and 1898; they were not published in his lifetime.

Each "word" is a short reflection in which Abai criticises idleness, envy and empty quarrels among his people and calls the young to learning, honest work, conscience and justice. "Being human" is his central question.

The book has been translated into dozens of languages and is studied in Kazakh schools; its sayings are still quoted by politicians and writers today.