A review by mkesten
Between Two Fires: Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin's Russia by Joshua Yaffa

2.0

While I found the essays in this book interesting and well-written I must say I found the execution of the book as a survey of life in today’s Russia insufficient. How anyone can write about ambition and compromise in Russia and ignore the super-wealthy is beyond me. This is one of several books I’ve read recently by New Yorker journalists in which the author seemingly has repurposed or expanded on work they have done for the magazine. Among the better of these books are Jane Mayer’s book on right wing billionaires and Patrick Radden Keefe’s book about the “troubles” in Northern Ireland.