From 10 to 13 September 2026, Lviv will host the 33rd Publishers’ Forum, bringing together over 200 events across ten program clusters. The UCU Business School has prepared a curated selection of books for BookForum 2026, centered around the key values of our time: the decolonization of culture, coming to terms with the experience of war, preserving collective memory, and supporting mental health. This thematic selection will serve as an intellectual guide for leaders seeking to build resilient organizations and shape the country’s future.
Why is this selection important for today’s leaders?
In times of challenge and change, culture becomes a strategic asset. For leaders, entrepreneurs, and managers, it is critically important to understand the deep-rooted foundations of social processes. Namely:
– to be aware of how imperial narratives sought to instill an inferiority complex and how the restoration of memory strengthens national agency;
– being able to recognize the real psychological and personal changes in people without resorting to simplistic heroism;
– maintaining the psychological resilience of teams, overcoming anxiety, and helping one another in times of crisis.
Which books on memory, culture, and war are worth reading?
Cultural resistance and the decolonization of consciousness
1. ‘Against Cultural Amnesia’ – Vira Ageeva
Literary scholar Vira Ageyeva explores the role of memory in shaping national identity. She views the Ukrainian experience as a continuous struggle against the politics of forgetting, the prohibitions of colonizers, and imperial interpretations. The author emphasizes that the preservation and revitalization of collective memory are prerequisites for a nation’s survival.
2. ‘Cultural Colonization: Fear, Humiliation and Resistance in Ukraine within the Soviet Empire’ – Radomyr Mokryk
A comprehensive analysis of how culture has served as a battlefield for centuries. Radomir Mokryk highlights the tools of Soviet-Russian cultural colonization – from the falsification of history to the creation of an inferiority complex – and also sheds light on the resistance of the 1960s activists and dissidents who fought for our future.
The author, Radomir Mokryk, will take part in the discussion ‘How are resistance figures incorporated into national narratives in Eastern Europe?’ in the History Cluster (Sun 13 Sept, 16:00, Regional Scientific Library).
3. ‘The Sheep Are Safe’ – Yevheniia Kuznetsova
A novel by Yevheniia Kuznetsova about the realities of life during a modern war. Postgraduate student Yana returns from abroad to her home village for the New Year and Christmas holidays to gather material on winter rituals for her dissertation. In a half-abandoned cottage, she faces power cuts and the cold, but meets the artist Maxim. Amid the roar of generators, explosions, and air defense systems, the characters try to find comfort, unity, and light.
Reflections on war, memory, and identity
4. ‘Hemingway Knows Nothing’ – Artur Dron
The prose debut of the poet and veteran Artur Dron was written whilst he was recovering from a serious injury. The author contrasts the war prose of world classics with the reality of the Russian-Ukrainian war, drawing a distinction between war for the sake of adventure and war for a nation’s survival. The book offers a critical reflection on phrases such as ‘Heroes never die’, calls on civilians to stand shoulder to shoulder with defenders, and proposes the foundations for a new anti-war yet not pacifist literature.
A discussion of the English translation of the book took place in the ‘Translation as a Practice of the Future’ cluster (Thu 10 Sept, 18:00, Pivden Cultural Hub).
5. ‘The Dress-Up Game’ – Artem Chekh
A frontline diary and autobiographical prose by the soldier and writer Artem Chekh. The central metaphor is the ‘changing’ of a civilian into a military uniform, leading to the forced loss of one’s former identity and profound internal transformations under the pressure of brutal circumstances.
The work aligns with the ‘War Literature’ cluster at the R. Ivanychuk Library, which is dedicated to reflecting on modern warfare.
6. ‘Bakhmut’ – Myroslav Laiuk, photographs by Danylo Pavlov
A collection of reports and essays compiled whilst the authors were alongside infantrymen, medics, chaplains and civilians in Bakhmut during the fiercest fighting in the winter and spring of 2023. The text and photographs capture the reality of war, irreparable losses, the city’s history, and the interplay of memory and oblivion.
Co-author and photographer Danylo Pavlov will be speaking in the ‘Photobooks’ cluster (Sat 12 Sept, 15:00, Municipal Arts Center).
Mental resilience and caring for people
7. ‘Walls in My Head: Living with Anxiety and Depression’ – Volodymyr Stanchyshyn
Volodymyr Stanchyshyn’s psychotherapeutic guide on how to understand one’s own anxiety, panic, depression, and PTSD. The author explains how the nervous system works and provides cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques to help readers learn to live with these conditions or manage them effectively.
Anyone interested can visit the Professional Cluster and initiatives discussing mental health during the festival.
How can you plan your itinerary effectively for BookForum 2026?
To make the most of your time at the festival, follow the organizers’ advice on planning your day:
– Choose a base location: each cluster is assigned to a specific venue in Lviv, so planning your events around a single location will save you time traveling between venues.
– Allow plenty of time: make sure to leave at least 30 minutes between discussions to visit the book fair and attend book signings.
– Keep an eye out for updates: the program may be subject to change, so check the schedule for your chosen cluster on the official websites before your visit.
