One of the most famous intellectuals of our country and the entire post-Soviet space, undoubtedly, is Anatoly Wasserman. His track record is full of worthy victories in such popular television programs as “Own Game”, “Brain Ring”, “What? Where? When?" and many others. However, not all viewers who admired his encyclopedic knowledge know the details of his biography. In this article we will try to fill this gap.
Biography of Anatoly Wasserman
The now famous intellectual was born on December 9, 1952 in sunny Odessa, in a friendly Jewish family. His mother, Lina Ilyinichna, worked as an accountant, his father, Alexander Anatolyevich Wasserman, was a well-known thermophysicist in scientific circles. He paid great attention to the life and fate of his eldest son. From a very young age, Anatoly strove to be like his father. This probably explains his early thirst for knowledge.
The future intellectual and expert has a younger brother who, like his father, became a thermophysicist and chemist. Parents never chose activities for their children - or did so very subtly and unnoticed. At the same time, they participated in their fate and always answered their many questions.
As a child, Anatoly Wasserman was always told that he was a capable child. The future intellectual learned to read syllables at the age of three and a half, and fluently at the age of four. At the age of eleven, Anatoly began to actively study the encyclopedic reference book on mechanical engineering in fifteen volumes, which he practically learned by heart by the age of fourteen.
School years
The boy grew up weak and sickly. His parents taught him to count and write on his own; he was sent to school only at the age of eight, but immediately into second grade. True, due to frequent illnesses, the child missed many classes and spent the bulk of the school year at home. In high school, health problems were compounded by problems in relationships with classmates. They say that due to the constant attacks of several bullies, Anatoly completed not only his homework, but also his offenders.
He had to change schools several times. And after some time, Anatoly Wasserman fell out of favor with school teachers, whom he corrected and argued that they did not master the subject. Relationships with history teachers were especially difficult. It is for these reasons that, despite the role of an intellectual, the young man was never an excellent student during his school years.
Student years
The situation began to improve little by little only when Anatoly graduated from school. Having received the coveted certificate, the young erudite applied to the Technological Institute in his native Odessa. Five years later, he received a diploma in thermal physics engineer and got a job at NPO Kholodmash in Odessa as a programmer, where he worked for three years. Then he continued his career at the Pishchepromavtomatika Research Institute.
Books by Wasserman
Today more than twenty books by Anatoly Wasserman have been published. The first of them came out in 2010. The debut in literature was a book called by the author “Russia, including Ukraine. Unity or destruction." It is dedicated to Russian-Ukrainian relations.
Wasserman continues to work on general historical topics, and in 2011 another book appeared on bookstore shelves, Skeletons in the History Closet. In 2012, two books by the author were published: “The Chest of History” and a collaboration with the former captain of the team “What? Where? Where?" Nurali Latypov “Reaction of Wasserman and Latypov to legends, myths and other jokes of history.”
In 2020, one of the author’s last works was published - the book “In the Footsteps of Writers. Something for Odessa." This book tells about the amazing history of the city, talented people who fell under the spell of Odessa. Among them are Gogol and Pushkin, Babel and Bunin, Korney Chukovsky.
Participation in mind games
Anatoly Wasserman and Nurali Latypov
First appeared on the all-Union screen on October 14, 1989, in the team of Nurali Latypov, in the club “What? Where? When?”, then - in the team of Viktor Morokhovsky at the Brain Ring. In 1991, Wasserman, while on the Odessa team, lost and was deprived of the right to play in an elite club along with another master of intellectual games, Boris Burda. In 1995, he was granted amnesty and even appeared in the hall among experts, but never took part in the games or even gave interviews.
In the television “Own Game” he won fifteen victories in a row in 2001-2002 and became the best player of the decade in 2004[14], and in 2008 he became the champion of the 2008 Automobile Cup, confidently winning six victories in a row and ripping off the car key[ source not specified 255 days
]. Five-time champion of Ukraine in the sports version of “Own Game” (2005, 2006, 2010-2012). Five-time (May 1, 2008, April 24, 2011, May 2, 2013, May 15, 2020, May 12, 2019) champion of Moscow in the sports version of “My Game” (according to the club “Not for nothing”), bronze medalist of the same competition in 2006, silver in 2020 of the year. Silver medalist of the “Connoisseur Games” (World Games of Connoisseurs) in 2010 in “My Game”, lost to Ilya Novikov in the final[15].
In the sports “What? Where? When?" plays for the Nemchinovka team (Moscow), the team of Evgenia Kanishcheva (Simferopol) and a number of others. As a member of them, he became the winner and prize-winner of various competitions, in particular, the Ukrainian Championship in 2005 (1st place), 2006 and 2011 (2nd place)[16]. As a member of the Phoenix team, he is the champion of Ukraine in erudite quartet (team version of “Own Game”) in 2007. Bronze medalist of the Moscow championship in erudite quartet as part of the team “Domodedovo and the rest of Russia” in 2010 (according to the Association of Moscow Intellectual Games Clubs)[17].
He was one of the main participants in the TV game A Beautiful Mind. On October 14, 2009, he participated in the “Taxi” program[18]. He also took part in non-fiction television programs, in particular, “Dinner Party” and many talk shows. He also took part in the “Big Question” program on STS in the “Russian Vest” section[19].
He repeatedly took part in the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” program, where he won different amounts.
Journalism
Having completed his career as a professional expert and intellectual, Anatoly Wasserman, whose photo we posted in this article, began working in journalism. His specialization was political issues. Many considered the journalist’s statements radical. They caused a wide public outcry and, in most cases, mixed reviews due to their categorical nature.
In a number of publications that appeared in both the Ukrainian and Russian press, he admitted his communist views and promoted the idea of reunification of Ukraine and Russia.
A television
Even while working in industry, Anatoly continued his intellectual education and acquired encyclopedic knowledge. Wasserman participated in the qualifying sports competitions of the intellectual game “What? Where? When?”, where he achieved great success. Such preparation anticipated the intellectual's television popularity in the next 10 years.
Anatoly Wasserman - “What? Where? When?"
Victories in the sports “ChGK” allowed 37-year-old Wasserman to begin his television biography in 1989 and make his debut on all-Union television in the program “What? Where? When?" in the team of Nurali Latypov. Then the intellectual participated with the team of the famous Odessa resident Viktor Morokhovsky in the “Brain Ring” program, in which another famous Odessa intellectual, Boris Burda, became Anatoly’s partner.
After many bright victories, the colorful connoisseur was invited to the new intellectual program “Own Game”, in which Wasserman set a kind of record - he won 15 victories in a row and received the title of best player of the decade.
Anatoly Wasserman - “Own Game”
After finishing his career as a professional polymath, Wasserman began working in journalism, specializing in political issues. Anatoly Alexandrovich’s statements were quite radical, caused a resonance among the public and, for the most part, an ambiguous assessment due to their categorical nature. Perhaps this reaction was the reason that Wasserman, who was running for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, did not receive the required number of votes. The journalist also repeatedly stated that he would like to become the mayor of Odessa, but did not participate in any of the election campaigns.
In the new millennium, Wasserman became a professional political consultant. The teleerudite collaborated with many famous politicians and published his articles and essays. The intellectual also started a blog on LiveJournal, where he had the opportunity to freely post notes, observations and thoughts. Wasserman's LiveJournal has a simple and strict design. Anatoly Alexandrovich liberally moderates this space. As he admitted in an interview in 2012, he blocked access to his profile to only 4 people in 7 years.
In 2005, Wasserman became a regular participant in the intellectual show “Mind Games,” where he acts not as a participant in the competition, but as an opponent of the show’s guests. The television show ends that same year. In addition, from 2008, for 2 years, Wasserman published the research journal “Idea X,” which specialized in computer technology.
Anatoly Wasserman - “Open Text”
Anatoly Alexandrovich continues to cooperate with the media. On the television channels NTV and REN TV, the intellectual hosts the programs “Wasserman’s Reaction” and “Open Text”, and on the radio “Komsomolskaya Pravda” the program “Gazebo with Anatoly Wasserman” is broadcast.
In 2020, the TV erudite appears in the humorous intellectual show “Big Question” in the “Russian Vest” section. This is a non-permanent column, and its availability depends on the participants in the issues. If a guest of the program correctly answered the TV presenter’s question, he can call Wasserman, and if the popular polymath makes a mistake in the same question, he can double his points.
Change of citizenship
Anatoly Aleksandrovich Wasserman, a Ukrainian by birth, became a Russian citizen on January 27, 2020, having accepted Russian citizenship. In September 2020, the Ukrainian Armed Forces opened a criminal case against him, accusing him of calling for a change in the constitutional system. In the same year, Anatoly Wasserman took part in the political life of Russia. He nominated himself for deputy on the Moscow regional list from the A Just Russia party in the elections to the State Duma. He took second place in the district, losing only to Anton Zharkov.
Personal life
Wasserman claims that in his youth he took a vow of chastity, which he still observes, so he never tried to change his marital status. This happened during an argument with a classmate, to whom Anatoly wanted to prove that he supported the idea of an open relationship between a man and a woman not for his own pleasure.
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A post shared by Anatoly Wasserman (@baccepmah) on Jun 9, 2015 at 8:47am PDT
Anatoly Wasserman
According to Wasserman, the man regrets his vow, but believes that at his age it is already difficult to improve his unsettled personal life. Remembering his relationships with the opposite sex, Anatoly mentioned only the childhood love that happened to him in the 5th grade. According to the publicist, he had no further experience of love, partly due to the fact that in his youth the intellectual considered himself even less attractive than in adulthood.
According to his political beliefs, Wasserman is a Marxist and Stalinist. In terms of religion, he is a convinced atheist, but has repeatedly spoken out about the beneficial role of the Orthodox Church in the public life of the population. The publicist defends the bill banning the adoption of children by couples promoting non-traditional relationships. The journalist adheres to traditional views on the family, in which a husband and wife should raise a child.
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A post shared by Alexey Dembitsky (@alexey_dembitsky) on Nov 27, 2020 at 10:04am PST
Vest of Anatoly Wasserman
Anatoly Alexandrovich is the inventor and sole owner of a vest with a huge number of pockets, in which he carries all the necessary things from a tool kit and GPS navigator to flashlights and voice recorders. The weight of this vest exceeds 7 kg. The journalist himself is 160 cm tall and weighs 83 kg. According to Wasserman, he orders clothes from. The journalist designs wardrobe items for himself. Since the company does not produce items in single copies, he has to buy back batches of trousers and jackets.
On January 27, 2020, Wasserman, being a citizen of Ukraine, accepted citizenship of the Russian Federation. Also in 2016, Anatoly Alexandrovich managed to take part in the political life of his new homeland. The intellectual was nominated as a candidate for deputy on the Moscow regional list from the A Just Russia party in the elections to the State Duma of the 7th convocation. Took 2nd place in the district. The publicist was ahead of Anton Zharkov, a United Russia candidate.
Anatoly Wasserman: personal life
Even in his youth, the famous intellectual took a vow of chastity, which he still observes today. It was for this reason that he never married. According to him, today he regrets the vow he took, but he is sure that it is already difficult to change his unsettled personal life. Anatoly Wasserman made this vow in his student years in the heat of the moment, in an argument with a fellow student, when they were talking about the relationship between men and women.
Journalists often wonder if it’s time to renounce the vow that doomed him to loneliness. Anatoly Alexandrovich usually answers these questions that he is an extremely stubborn person, especially when it comes to his own life. But at the same time he always emphasizes that he has already regretted his decision many times.
His last big crush was in fifth grade. I fell in love with a girl for whom all my classmates sighed. Perhaps, if such vivid feelings had appeared at a more mature age, Wasserman would have broken his vow. Oddly enough, women periodically appear in his house. But as a rule, these are just acquaintances who come to the capital and stay with the hospitable Anatoly.
No one will deny that it is impossible for a long life without meeting a single attractive and interesting woman. They met throughout Wasserman's life - both on television programs and among numerous acquaintances. Anatoly even thought about marriage several times. However, these thoughts quickly disappeared, without in any way affecting further relationships.
At the same time, the famous erudite never felt lonely, since he has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. His life, of course, is not arranged in the best way. Anatoly Wasserman doesn’t know how to cook; he usually just heats up semi-finished products or visits a cafe. Regarding the issue of procreation, which was always of great concern to his parents, Anatoly Alexandrovich jokes that in general terms this problem has been solved thanks to his brother Vladimir.
The most famous scholar of our country has a niece - Masha. This is a multifaceted, gifted child who develops creatively. She draws beautifully, goes to art school, enjoys dancing, and is interested in modern and classical music.
Interesting Facts
According to his political beliefs, Anatoly Wasserman is a Stalinist and Marxist. In terms of religion, he is an atheist, although he has repeatedly spoken out about the role of Orthodoxy in the public life of the country.
Wasserman is the inventor and owner (the only one) of a vest that has a huge number of pockets in which he carries all the things he needs, from a GPS navigator and a set of tools to voice recorders and flashlights. The weight of such a vest exceeds seven kilograms.
Anatoly Alexandrovich studies foreign languages. Today he is fluent in Ukrainian, English, Russian and Esperanto.
[edit] Notes
- awas1952: Self-organization of civil society
- ↑ 2.02.1 Anatoly Wasserman received Russian citizenship
- ↑ 3,03,13,2 Blog profile in LiveJournal
- Currently not in the header, copy of the post about the herd
- Profile page on odnako.org
- Personal page on Wikipedia (blank)
- Wikipedia is invincible // Program “Expert”, Russia.Ru, December 5, 2010.
- List of winners of the Runet Blog competition - 2011
- https://news.mail.ru/politics/23350973/
- https://ria.ru/society/20160127/1365991612.html
- Answer to the question about reading Lurkomorye
- Answer to the question about Upyachka.
- Answer to the question about facts about Wasserman.
- Wasserman will receive 110 thousand rubles for “Onotole” // ITAR-TASS, June 14, 2012.
- LS Wasserman
- copy of now deleted thread
