Plot summary, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera in 7 Minutes - Book Review

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera is a philosophical and political novel set against the backdrop of Czechoslovakia’s Prague Spring and the 1968 Soviet invasion. It explores themes of love, desire, and existential questions about life’s meaning through the lives of four characters: Tomáš, Tereza, Sabina, and Franz. The novel is structured in seven nonlinear parts, each delving into dualities such as lightness and weight, exploring Nietzsche's idea of eternal recurrence, and the tension between personal freedom and political oppression. The characters' complex relationships intertwine with the socio-political climate of the time, ultimately offering a meditation on the human condition.