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alanyoung's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Russia has been a major player throughout my life with decades of the Cold War, collapse of the Iron Curtain, promises of change and return recently to ‘old ways’ with the invasions of first Crimea and then Ukraine.
This book traces with pace and wry humour the contorsions that Russia has endured and the tensions that are inescapable in a geographically vast but ethnically varied country.
The particular pattern (not unique to Russia but almost raised to an art form in Russian hands) of re-writing history to suit a present desired narrative is so telling.
As I pray for the peoples of Ukraine and Russia suffering as a consequence of the current Putin-initiated war, the closing thoughts are reassuring. Putin’s ill-considered and historically-manipulated war contains the seeds of his own destruction. For those suffering peoples may it come soon.
This book traces with pace and wry humour the contorsions that Russia has endured and the tensions that are inescapable in a geographically vast but ethnically varied country.
The particular pattern (not unique to Russia but almost raised to an art form in Russian hands) of re-writing history to suit a present desired narrative is so telling.
As I pray for the peoples of Ukraine and Russia suffering as a consequence of the current Putin-initiated war, the closing thoughts are reassuring. Putin’s ill-considered and historically-manipulated war contains the seeds of his own destruction. For those suffering peoples may it come soon.
mo_mentan's review against another edition
2.0
maybe this wasn't what i was looking for. it sometimes seemed too detailed when it came to thing i didn't deem very important, let alone interesting, and said little about things i wanted to know more about. also, it had a very clear stance that was not proven at all within the text, especially on the personalities of leaders, but also on political happenings. it was an interesting overlook, but not my cup of tea.
connorlangham's review against another edition
4.0
Exactly the introduction into Russian history I was looking for - a valuable and accessible resource outlining Russia's relationship with its own history.
In terms of the writing, I found this book far more readable than those in the 'Shortest History Of' series that I've consumed so far (Germany & China).
In terms of the writing, I found this book far more readable than those in the 'Shortest History Of' series that I've consumed so far (Germany & China).