ATATÜRK and THE BOOK

Atatürk was a great soldier and statesman who was very intelligent, followed the events day by day with his far-sighted horizon, examined them in depth and, if necessary, made his decisions after learning what he thought of his people and expressed his views, and had a common sense in the military and politics. He always shed light on his surroundings with his views, sometimes reaching the level of prophecy, in the face of events both in the state administration and in the army. Beyond that, his military genius and his being a thinker besides being a statesman undoubtedly played a major role in his being among the most prominent figures of the last centuries. With his words and writings, which are an example of good eloquence in his speeches, and his lifelong passion for reading, he far exceeds his feature of being a good statesman. Atatürk is a very powerful speaker.

Based on this, we can learn what Atatürk read and how he read throughout his life, only from his close circle and his own memories. Mustafa Kemal was born into a family of his own. Neither fame nor fortune was left to him from his family. Not even an adequate education. He worked hard day and night to nurture his innate talents in line with his ideal. In particular, he read a lot. He learned great lessons from almost every step he took. For him, our valuable historian Enver Ziya Karal said: “When he started reading a work, he would not leave it unfinished. If he had to quit, he would mark the date he left, then the date he finished. In addition, while reading, he would mark the ideas that he saw as important and suitable for criticism, and he would discuss them with his close friends verbally or in writing. ” In his childhood, when Mustafa Kemal reached the age of reading, his father Ali Rıza Bey said, “To be a man, it is necessary to read and learn. There is no other choice.” In his words, he encouraged him to read at a young age. Perhaps these words were an important factor in awakening the curiosity of reading and learning in little Mustafa. Neighborhood friends tell me that he preferred reading books and playing on the street when he was still in primary school. Cemal Granda, one of Atatürk's servants, was describing a conversation between Atatürk and Vasıf Çınar; He also determines that the reading habit in him was acquired in childhood: Neighborhood friends tell me that he preferred reading books and playing on the street when he was still in primary school. Cemal Granda, one of Atatürk's servants, was describing a conversation between Atatürk and Vasıf Çınar; He also determines that the reading habit in him was acquired in childhood: Neighborhood friends tell that he preferred reading books and playing on the street when he was still in primary school. Cemal Granda, one of Atatürk's servants, was describing a conversation between Atatürk and Vasıf Çınar; He also determines that the reading habit in him was acquired in childhood:

I remember that in his spare time, books about history did not fall from Atatürk's hands. One day, Atatürk was reading a thick book on history. He was so immersed that he could not see his surroundings. Vasıf Çınar must have been a little annoyed by the fact that the President of the Republic devoted himself to history while there were many homeland issues, because I heard him say to Atatürk:

- "Pasha!.. Don't worry about history... Did you go to Samsun by reading a book on 19 May?"

Atatürk responded with a smile to Vasıf Çınar's sincere complaint as follows:

He answers, "  I was poor when I was a child. When I had two cents, I would have given a penny of it to the book. If I had not been like this, I could not have done any of these things." It is the love that the great leader, who has run from the front to the front throughout his life, has enough to fit nearly 4000 books in his life.

Atatürk's passion for books, which started in his childhood, continued even at the front during the war. When he took off the uniform from his back and entered civilian life, the time he devoted to reading increased even more. “I couldn't have done any of these things if I hadn't read the book,” he said. He addressed a painful deficiency in our country. And unfortunately, it tells us that our people do not have additional habits about reading books. And in this context, he explained that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk should be taken as an example with historical events, each more beautiful than the other. As the founder of a new state, Atatürk found the legitimacy of his reforms in books, not surprisingly. When he lived a life full of reading and thinking and combined with his farsightedness, his revolutions emerged. The food of our new state, our Republic, comes from books. While commemorating Atatürk once again,

In Atatürk, who said, "Science is the truest guide in life," studying and researching turned into a passion. Atatürk has a wide culture and a library consisting of many works. Thanks to his rich library, it is an indispensable part of his daily life to read books, do research, produce ideas, and discuss the subjects he researches and thinks about.

During his military high school years, Atatürk was most interested in the writings of Namık Kemal, Abdülhak Hamit, Ahmet Mithat and Historian Murat Bey, and the national consciousness and spirit in these books attracted him. During his friendship with Atatürk, Fethi Bey (Okyar) played an important role in introducing French thinkers to his books. They were both reading and discussing thinkers such as Voltaire, Montesguieu and Rousseau. During the War College years, Atatürk became more interested in the affairs of the country. He was constantly reading, supplying the works that were mostly published in Iran, in which the concepts such as equality and freedom were covered, since it was forbidden to be published in the country, and he read them secretly. According to Yusuf Hikmet Bayur, Atatürk was reading these books in the dormitory, in bad light conditions, and meditating for a long time. In the academy,

Atatürk's love of reading and learning was not limited to his student years, of course. He continued to read at the front. Journalist Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın, who came to visit him at the height of the Dardanelles War, describes Atatürk's room and mentions that the works of Balzac, Maupassant, Boule de Suif and Lavedan are on his desk. Again, we see that Atatürk requested some books from his friend Ömer Lütfi Bey's wife in a letter he wrote during the Çanakkale War.

Atatürk, who was always busy with reading during his years in Eastern Anatolia as the Commander of the 16th Corps, gives the names of the books he read in the diary he kept during the years he spent there, and tells that he spent his days reading the part of his spare time.

Fevzi Çakmak is one of those who witnessed that Atatürk did not stop reading even on the battlefields. It tells that the Pasha studied Islamic History in the time between the Battle of Sakarya and the Great Offensive.

Atatürk, who loves to read books at the level of passion, could not manage to establish a library, although he wanted very much because he did not have a settled life until the post-Republican period, and was content to carry the books he wanted to read, liked and found useful. However, with his permanent stay in Ankara and Istanbul, he was able to establish a library. It has over 4000 books in its private library. After Atatürk settled in Ankara, he established his library in his mansion in Keçiören, but in time, a new mansion was built as this house could not meet its needs. Atatürk made two special requests from the architect who will build the mansion. One of them is a large and spacious dining room and the other is a large library. In fact, one of the main reasons Atatürk needed a new mansion was, According to Afet Inan, it was the need for a large library. The library of the old mansion was a place where Pasha both worked and received his day guests. After 1930, newly purchased books were no longer suitable for the library. Pasha worked for hours in this library, reading, underlining the books he read with red and purple colored pencils, marking the edges and taking notes. Atatürk wanted a large library in the new mansion to be built, and a large table in this library where he could spread his maps easily and put his books. He would mark the margins and take notes. Atatürk wanted a large library in the new mansion to be built, and a large table in this library where he could spread his maps easily and put his books. He would mark the margins and take notes. Atatürk wanted a large library in the new mansion to be built, and a large table in this library where he could spread his maps easily and put his books.

The American Ambassador to Turkey, General Charles H. Sherril, describes how he felt after Atatürk received him in his library. “Today Mustafa Kemal feels more comfortable than on the first day because he was in his library. People who love to read and research by nature appear in their own libraries, among their books, with all their strength and greatness. Now I won't talk about the maps spread out on the table, nor the books that fill the room with all its walls . . . ”

When Atatürk moves to Dolmabahçe Palace, he takes his books with him. The books were placed in ammo boxes. Agop Dilaçar, who was touched by this scene, would later describe the fact that the books were carried in ammunition boxes as 'the military war that was won turned into a cultural war'. Atatürk devoted himself to reading more than ever in order to be equipped with the information that will win the culture war. He collects and reads books from different fields, has books that are not available in the country brought from abroad, and has those written in a language he is not familiar with translated in a short time. He is the one who expresses his passion for reading, where the Great Leader retreats to his library for hours and wipes his eyes with a cloth when he is tired. It is also known that he brought and translated many books from abroad.

While he was studying at the Military Secondary School (Rüştiye), it can be understood from the fact that the name Mustafa Kemal was seen at the head of the competitions on Science and Mathematics, which was opened by a weekly magazine called "Children's Guide", which was published in Thessaloniki at that time. While attending the Manastır Military High School (High School), Mustafa Kemal was constantly reading and even memorizing the works of Namık Kemal, who studied the concepts of homeland and freedom outside of his lessons, as well as the poems of Mehmet Emin (Yurdakul) and Tevfik Fikret. On the other hand, with the help of his friend Ali Fethi (Okyar) Bey, who spoke French very well, they read the works of thinkers who prepared the French revolution such as Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesqiue and discussed their ideas with their friends. Mustafa Kemal, Since he understood the necessity and value of knowing a foreign language at that time, he did not content himself with the French taught at school and attended the private courses of a French College in Thessaloniki during the summer holidays. During his education at the Military High School, History Teacher Mehmet Tevfik (Bilge) talked about the French Revolution, other events in the world and intellectual movements in his lectures, which aroused his interest and love for history. This interest increased and continued until the end of his life. Atatürk's years of education at the Military Academy were the years he followed closely other publications in his field of interest, with the help of foreign languages ​​he learned, especially history books that nourished his patriotic feelings and prepared his cultural background. on weekends, Together with his friend Ali Fuat (Cebesoy), he would go to the Zeuve Pub in Beyoğlu, right next to Galatasaray High School, read the foreign newspapers that came here regularly for hours, and in this way, he would read the events in the world and the articles published in the foreign press about the Ottoman Empire. In his memoirs, Ali Fuat Cebesoy and Asım Gündüz, who were his classmates from the Military Academy and the Military Academy; They write about how they secretly read the poems of Namık Kemal, Tevfik Fikret and Mehmet Emin Yurdakul at night in the dormitory, despite the bans of the administration. The well-known historian, Prof. Dr. Enver Ziya Karal's determinations on the subject are as follows: “The first stage of Atatürk's inexhaustible energy is seen in his upbringing. He learned French by his own effort and was written in this language, as well as about military education, politics, He also read works on law and literature. He made translations related to his profession. Atatürk's curiosity about reading and learning will continue throughout his life.”

During his years at the Military Academy, Atatürk begins to publish a handwritten newspaper at school in order to convey his political ideas and thoughts, which he brought to new dimensions, to his friends. These attempts are soon understood by the school administration and they are punished for this reason. Atatürk had a journalistic life for short periods in the following years. (They published Minber Newspaper with Ali Fethi Okyar). Mustafa Kemal was assigned to the 3rd Army in Thessaloniki in 1905 as a staff captain, first to Damascus and a short time later. While he was here, he made translations from General Litzmann and wrote his books on military service. These books are: Translated from General Litzman; Combat Practice of the Team, Thessaloniki 1908, Combat Practice of the Company, İst. 1912, Cumalı Camp, Thessaloniki 1908, Tabiye Practice Travel I, Thessaloniki 1911 (These works are in the hands of Prof. Dr. With the foreword of Afet Inan, Türkiye İş Bankası published it in Volume I under the title Atatürk's Works on Military Service.)

Again in 1913 (October), Mustafa Kemal, who was appointed as an Attaché to Sofia, spent his time outside of his official duties by reading books on various subjects. While he was in this position, he read the work of his friend M.Nuri (Conker) titled “Officer and Commander” and wrote “Officer and Commander and Hasbihal” in the form of a conversation, enriching his own ideas with examples. (This work was published in Ist. 1918.) Atatürk's professional brochures and translations published between 1908-1918 show that he wanted others to benefit from his ideas.

Mustafa Kemal, who was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1914 and later participated in the Çanakkale Wars as the Anafartalar Commander, did not give up studying even under fire at the front. Ruşen Eşref (Ünaydın), who came to meet him as a journalist during the days when the war was raging, was describing Mustafa Kemal's room in the Headquarters: “.....on his desk, Balzac's Colonel Chabert Maupassant's Boule de Suif, Lavedan's “Cervir” stood. There is no doubt that Pasha fills the void of his quiet moments with literature.” (This work of Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın was first published in the special issue of Yeni Mecmua with the title “Interview with Anafartalar Commander Mustafa Kemal” in 1918. The new edition was published in 1981 as “Mustafa Kemal tells about Çanakkale”. ) He always kept a book to read with him and had it brought from various places when necessary. Also these days, in a letter that Mustafa Kemal wrote to Corinne Lütfü Hanım, the wife of Captain Ömer Lütfü Bey (who was martyred in the Balkan War), his close friend from Harbiye, he asked the Headquarters Clerk to recommend books to buy and bring. is doing. This document must be another proof that he did not give up his passion for reading even under the most difficult conditions. The diary that Mustafa Kemal kept in the memories of his adjutant Şükrü Tezer while he was on the Eastern Front (D.Bakır) as the Commander of the 16th Corps, (November 7 – December 25, 1916) one of the sources. From the records here, on Philosophy and the Eastern Question in those days, For example, Ahmet Naim's “Mebadi-i Philosophy” translated from Georges Fonsgrive into our language, Şehbenderzade Ahmet Hilmi's “Is It Possible to Deny God?” On the other hand, it is understood that he read Namık Kemal's “Oriental Question”, “Tarih-i Osmani”, “Makalet-i Politikyye ve Edebiyye” and other works.

The fact that he has read some of the works that we know he has read before shows that he always carries them with him. Another source directly documenting his interest in reading is the diaries he kept in Karlsbad, which he went to due to his poor health (Karslbad Memoirs). prof. Dr. From the records in these notebooks published by Afet Inan, we learn that, in a short period of time between 30 June and 27 July 1918, he read the works describing the social currents of that period from the French originals, and took some passages and notes.

It is noteworthy that Atatürk read mostly works on Islamic history during the years of the National Struggle. Halide Edip, who was on duty at the headquarters at the time, said that in the middle of 1920, when the reactionary rebel forces, which the Istanbul Government had revolted to prevent the National Struggle, approached Ankara and the majority lived in fear and excitement, she was very calm and studied Islamic history. (Adıvar), in his novel about the days of the National Struggle (Türkün Ateşle İmtihanı), said: “....he was reading the first pages of the history of Islam, that is, the part containing the years closest to democracy. While examining the mighty influence of the Umayyads, he was perhaps considering how to obtain the religious elements in Ankara. prof. An example of Atatürk's readings in this direction during the years of the National Struggle in Afet Inan, It gives the testimony of Marshal Fevzi Çakmak. “Mustafa Kemal, Commander-in-Chief, is studying Islamic History between the Battle of Sakarya and the Great Offensive. He asks questions from this history to the teachers he meets on every occasion and prepares the public opinion.” Atatürk, who strengthened his personality with all these readings, had the opportunity to get to know his people better. After Atatürk liberated the homeland from enemy occupation and founded the Republic of Turkey, he started to read more intensively and more comfortably. Now, he wanted to put his victories on the battlefields on solid foundations with the reforms he planned to make in the cultural, social and economic fields. He believed that he should first obtain sufficient information on the revolutions he would make in this. Therefore, He had some books brought from abroad that he could not read until that day. He had those he found important or those written in a language he did not know translated into Turkish as soon as possible. The most reliable source that shows what kind of works he read on which subjects after the proclamation of the Republic is the "Atatürk's Private Library" Catalogue. This catalog is also very important in that it shows the documents of his intellectual and cultural life, as well as his unique personality as a commander and head of state. Among the collections of Atatürk's private library, history books occupy the largest place. This curiosity and interest, which started while he was still in military high school, has gradually increased. Especially on Turkish and Islamic history, as well as well-known foreign writers such as Leon Cahen, Barthold, Wells, Mustafa Celalettin, Aşıkpaşazade, Peçevi, He also carefully examined the works of Turkish history writers such as Hoca Sadeddin and Ahmet Refik. In short, we can say that Atatürk has read almost all of the history books written up to that day. He greatly benefited from this vast historical knowledge in various periods of his political life. The examples he gave from history in his speeches were sometimes a source of national excitement and sometimes a scientific discussion topic. His extensive knowledge of history has led to a history thesis and historical studies aiming to reveal the Turkish history from the beginning. In order for these studies to be carried out continuously with scientific methods, he established the Turkish Historical Society. (April 1931) We can say that Atatürk has read almost all of the history books written up to that day. He greatly benefited from this vast historical knowledge in various periods of his political life. The examples he gave from history in his speeches were sometimes a source of national excitement and sometimes a scientific discussion topic. His extensive knowledge of history has led to a history thesis and historical studies aiming to reveal the Turkish history from the beginning. In order for these studies to be carried out continuously with scientific methods, he established the Turkish Historical Society. (April 1931) We can say that Atatürk has read almost all of the history books written up to that day. He greatly benefited from this vast historical knowledge in various periods of his political life. The examples he gave from history in his speeches were sometimes a source of national excitement and sometimes a scientific discussion topic. His extensive knowledge of history has led to a history thesis and historical studies aiming to reveal the Turkish history from the beginning. In order for these studies to be carried out continuously with scientific methods, he established the Turkish Historical Society. (April 1931) sometimes it has been the subject of scientific debate. His extensive knowledge of history has led to a history thesis and historical studies aiming to reveal the Turkish history from the beginning. In order for these studies to be carried out continuously with scientific methods, he established the Turkish Historical Society. (April 1931) sometimes it has been the subject of scientific debate. His extensive knowledge of history has led to a history thesis and historical studies aiming to reveal the Turkish history from the beginning. In order for these studies to be carried out continuously with scientific methods, he established the Turkish Historical Society. (April 1931)

Another of Atatürk's intensive reading and working areas is on the Turkish language. He also established the “Turkish Language Institution” in order to save the Turkish language from the words taken from foreign languages, to bring it to a pure Turkish and to conduct serious research on our language. (1932). He was closely involved in the work of both institutions until the end of his life. Georges Duhamel, who best characterized his leadership, said in his work “The New Turkey”: “This work is completely different from what the English, French and Russian Revolutions achieved. For example, none of them dealt with language, writing, etc.” After the alphabet reform, M.Kemal Atatürk is one of the statesmen who never used the old script. He generally followed the currents of ideas of the time and, for example, Auguste Comte, who is considered the representative of positivism, was written in 1916 by Şehbenderzade A. Hilmi's “God, Is Denial Possible?” He got to know her from a part of her work, and then read the author's "Cours de Philosaphie Positive". On the other hand, he also read Descartes' "Discours surla Methode", which is considered the representative of rationality. He got to know Emil Durkheim not only through the Turkish thinker Ziya Gökalp, who is accepted as his representative in Turkey, but also by reading the works of the thinker from the originals. Atatürk announced in a speech he made in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 1921 that he had read the works of the thinkers who prepared the Great French Revolution, and especially all of the works of JJRousseau, whom he was fascinated with regarding his understanding of freedom. He carefully examined the author's famous "Contrat Social" from its translation made in 1913, It can be seen from the fact that many pages of the book are marked. Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, who witnessed Atatürk's speech on Philosophy one evening at the table conversations at the Çankaya Mansion, could not understand where he got so much knowledge from. This knot formed in the poet's thought is only untied after a conversation with Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın. It stems from ijtihad. When meeting with him after the Dardanelles wars, he told me that he had at his disposal a complete collection of the “Ottoman” magazine, which was published by the Young Turks in Europe. I can't understand where he got so much information from. This knot formed in the poet's thought is only untied after a conversation with Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın. It stems from ijtihad. When meeting with him after the Dardanelles wars, he told me that he had at his disposal a complete collection of the “Ottoman” magazine, which was published by the Young Turks in Europe. I can't understand where he got so much information from. This knot formed in the poet's thought is only untied after a conversation with Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın. It stems from ijtihad. When meeting with him after the Dardanelles wars, he told me that he had at his disposal a complete collection of the “Ottoman” magazine, which was published by the Young Turks in Europe.

Another subject that Atatürk was interested in was law. In order to put the social structure of the state he founded on solid foundations, he also read the law books and discussed these issues with the relevant people. Atatürk also read a wide variety of books in sociology, economics and other fields. Atatürk would not be content with the books in his private library, but would buy books from the libraries where he went on country tours. For example, when they went to Kastamonu to start the "Hat Revolution", various institutions and organizations visited the city library during their visit and asked for a few books. multiply the number of them,” he said. He continues his work in the summer months when he comes to Istanbul to rest, He had many books taken from the Istanbul University Library, which was enriched with the collections of the Yıldız Palace Library, especially on his own orders. When Atatürk came to Istanbul, he would often bring some books from his own library. The librarian and the head chef put the books to be taken into empty ammo boxes. Guardsmen would also carry them to cars. The placing of books in ammo chests was a majestic symbol that evoked deep excitement. Places them in empty ammo crates. Guardsmen would also carry them to cars. The placing of books in ammo chests was a majestic symbol that evoked deep excitement. Places them in empty ammo crates. Guardsmen would also carry them to cars. The placing of books in ammo chests was a majestic symbol that evoked deep excitement.

Atatürk spent most of his working hours in his library. As his relatives stated in their memoirs, he would sometimes shut himself in his library and read for hours day and night. Reading was a necessity that became a passion for him. Detailed information about Atatürk's love of books and reading passion was given to Prof. We learn from the memories of Afet Inan. On this subject, he says: “As we know, Atatürk always had an intellectual life. He read for pleasure, read for knowledge, and finally read to be a source for his political speeches and writings. In short, regardless of the direction or subject of the book, it was a valuable asset for Atatürk's intellectual life. A good and instructive book has always had a great place in Atatürk's life.” From childhood to the end of his life, One of the distinctive features of Atatürk, who continued to read even in the most difficult conditions, is that he did not put down the books on the subject he studied, or on the subjects that interested him, until they were finished. Falih Rıfkı Atay mentioned this feature of Atatürk; “When he was curious about a book, even if it was a whole volume, he could not sleep until it was finished, or he would continue to read with very little sleep interruption.” Uluğ İğdemir stated that he reviewed many of the books in Atatürk's library and said, “Atatürk did not collect these books as an ornament, he read most of them and put various signs on the margins. Atatürk was a person who read a lot and quickly and thought about what he read.” “When he was curious about a book, even if it was a whole volume, he could not sleep until it was finished, or he would continue to read with very little sleep interruption.” Uluğ İğdemir stated that he reviewed many of the books in Atatürk's library and said, “Atatürk did not collect these books as an ornament, he read most of them and put various signs on the margins. Atatürk was a person who read a lot and quickly and thought about what he read.” “When he was curious about a book, even if it was a whole volume, he could not sleep until it was finished, or he would continue to read with very little sleep interruption.” Uluğ İğdemir stated that he reviewed many of the books in Atatürk's library and said, “Atatürk did not collect these books as an ornament, he read most of them and put various signs on the margins. Atatürk was a person who read a lot and quickly and thought about what he read.”

On this subject, General Secretary Hasan Rıza Soyak writes in his memoirs: “He loved to read. He was constantly trying to increase his general knowledge. He had a rich library.” His reading was like his work, he would not leave the book he was holding until it was finished if he found it interesting. In the books he read, he could clearly and accurately identify and summarize the basic ideas put forward and the targets pursued.” As soon as I got off the train in the morning after a trip, I went up to the Köşk. When I asked the ministers of his ministry how he was doing, they said, “He has been reading nonstop for two days and two nights.” When I took leave and went to him: I received a history book. I don't know how long I've been reading?" said. Aren't you tired, Pasha? when I asked him, “No, I just have tears in my eyes. I found the solution for it. I had a few meters of cheesecloth removed. Here I cut it piece by piece as you can see, I dry my eyes between them.” Another remarkable feature of Atatürk in reading books is that he determined the important parts of the book he read with his own signs, drew the lines between the lines, usually with red and blue colored pencils, and took notes in the margins of the pages. By examining the marked places of the books Atatürk read, an evaluation can be made about which authors' works he liked or which ideas he adopted. While making such an assessment, it should not be overlooked that he was an intellectual who could make a unique synthesis with his great insight and unique genius from the information he had read and observed throughout his life. to determine with distinctive signs, to draw between the lines, usually with red and blue colored pencils, and to take notes on the margins of the page. By examining the marked places of the books Atatürk read, an evaluation can be made about which authors' works he liked or which ideas he adopted. While making such an assessment, it should not be overlooked that he was an intellectual who could make a unique synthesis with his great insight and unique genius from the information he had read and observed throughout his life. to determine with distinctive signs, to draw between the lines, usually with red and blue colored pencils, and to take notes on the margins of the page. By examining the marked places of the books Atatürk read, an evaluation can be made about which authors' works he liked or which ideas he adopted. While making such an assessment, it should not be overlooked that he was an intellectual who could make a unique synthesis with his great insight and unique genius from the information he had read and observed throughout his life. An evaluation can be made about which authors' works he liked or which ideas he adopted. While making such an assessment, it should not be overlooked that he was an intellectual who could make a unique synthesis with his great insight and unique genius from the information he had read and observed throughout his life. An evaluation can be made about which authors' works he liked or which ideas he adopted. While making such an assessment, it should not be overlooked that he was an intellectual who could make a unique synthesis with his great insight and unique genius from the information he had read and observed throughout his life.

We can say that one of the least known aspects of Atatürk is his writing. Apart from Speech, Atatürk has political, social, cultural and military works. One of them is Civil Knowledge and the other is Geometry. In his Geometry book he wrote in 1937, he introduced concepts such as angle, tangent, latitude, longitude, horizontal and vertical as Turkish equivalents to geometric concepts. Based on the documents we have, we can say that Atatürk had a wide culture. In the light of the knowledge he gained from the books he read throughout his life, with the synthesis he made with his unique genius, Atatürk created a new Turkish society from a people left as illiterate for centuries, and based the foundation of the Republic he founded on culture. “The foundation of the Turkish Republic is culture.

As a result, we can say that; The savior of the Turkish nation and the founder of the Turkish Republic, the great man of universal dimensions, Ataturk, just one of his numerous services and achievements could have given him a very honorable place in history. Atatürk is a great soldier, a great state founder with his success in wars, as well as a universal leader with his solid views, accuracy, realism, reliability in international relations, determination, peace and humanity. He is the leader who established a national, fully independent Turkish state by defeating imperialism and started and succeeded in bringing this state to the level of contemporary civilization. There is no miracle in Atatürk's success. In his success, there are human values ​​such as faith, reason, knowledge, courage and realism. Moreover, his passion for reading, learning,

Author:  Bünyamin SARAÇ, Ege University Ataturk's Principles and Revolution History Department.

Resources

1- Ali Fuat Cebesoy, My Classmate Atatürk, İst. 1981

2- Memories of Relatives, Asaf İlbay Tells, İst. 1955.

3- Faik Reşit Unat, “Atatürk's Educational Life and the National Education System of the Age in which He Was Raised”, Atatürk Conferences I, Ank. 1964

4- Şerafettin Turan, Events Affecting Atatürk's Thought, Ank. 1982

5- Mustafa Baydar, “Atatürk and the French Revolution”, Journal of Turkish Language, 27 (254) II. 1972

6- AsımGündüz, My Memories (Haz. İhsan Ilgar), İst. 1973

7- Enver Ziya Karal, “Atatürk as a Human Being”, Journal of Turkish Language, (256), 1968

8- Afet Inan, Memories and Documents About Ataturk, Ank. 1984

9- Ruşen Eşref Ünaydın, Anafartalar Commander Mustafa Kemal Interview, İst. 1981

10- Şükrü Tezer, Atatürk's Diary, Ank. 1988

11- Sadi Borak, Atatürk's Private Letters, İst. 1961

12- Afet Inan, Memoirs of M.Kemal Ataturk in Karlsbad, Ank. 1983

13- Halide Edip Adıvar, The Test of the Turk with Fire, Ist. 1988

14- A. Niyazi Banoğlu, “Some Books Ordered by Atatürk” Atatürk Research Center Journal, Vol. III. p. 8, 1987

15- Catalog of Atatürk's Private Library, Ank. 1973

16- Gürbüz D. Tüfekçi, The Books Atatürk Read, Ank. 1983

17- Mehmet Önder, Atatürk's Country Travels, Ank. 1975

18- Falih Rıfkı Atay, Çankaya, İst. 1984

19- Leman Şenalp, “Atatürk's Passion for Reading”, Atatürk Research Center Journal, March, 1989, CVS14

20- Hasan Rıza Soyak, Memories from Atatürk, IC İst. 1973

21- Fethi Tevetoğlu, “The Newspaper Published by Atatürk and Okyar: Minbar”, Journal of Atatürk Research Center, CV Issue: 13, 1988

22- Mehmet Önder, “How was the National Struggle's Newspaper Dominated by Milliye?” Journal of Atatürk Research Center, C. VII, P. 20, 1990

23- Sami N. Özerdim, The Atatürkist's Handbook, (A Gift to Atatürk on the 100th Anniversary of His Birth) Ank. 1981

24- Ergün Aybars, “Nationalization and Modernization Leader Atatürk” Journal of Atatürk Research Center, Vol. 1990

25- Cemal Granda, I was Atatürk's Servant, İst. 1988