Reviews (18)

Adequate but not exceptional
I wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it suffers from having arrived at about the same time as Antony Beevor's far superior book on Vasily Grossman. Merridale is a perfectly adequate writer but occasionally her academic side peeks through; rather than telling a story, she is compiling a study, and it shows. Equally unfortunate is the difficulty in assembling primary sources; Merridale herself discusses these issues with great candor, but that doesn't really help the fact that they're there. The memories of Russian veterans are clouded by fifty years of relentless war-related propaganda (it is/was, after all, "the Great Patriotic War") and contemporary records are, by virtue of their times, often less than honest. The topic of the book is a fascinating one and definitely one deserving of study, but I can't help but feel that I got a better sense of the life of the common soldier from writers who, like Beevor, weren't afraid to narrow their focus. Merridale seems determined to adhere to her stated purpose and keep her book's focus broad, never following any of her "characters" too closely, and that is, I think, its major weakness.

An Essentially Tragic Tale
We know quite a lot about the American, British, and even French efforts in World War II.We've seen miniseries detailing every step of Major Dick Winters' company from training to the end of the War in

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Armies    3. Campaigns    4. Eastern Front    5. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    6. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    7. History    8. History - Military / War    9. History: World    10. Military - World War II    11. Modern - 20th Century    12. Social conditions    13. Soldiers    14. Soviet Union    15. World War II    16. World War, 1939-1945    17. History / General   

Reviews (3)

A vivid adventure comes to life in a compelling 'you are there' story.
Author Jeffrey Taylor used a custom-built boat to travel over two thousand miles to the Arctic Circle, recreating a journey first made by Cossacks over three hundred year ago, seeking a respite from the modern world. RIVER OF NO RETURN: DESCENDING SIBERIA'S WATERWAY OF EXILE, DEATH, AND DESTINY charts his journey, providing true life travel adventure at its best as Taylor comes to realize his guide is a bitter Soviet army veteran who hates all humanity - including Taylor. A vivid adventure comes to life in a compelling 'you are there' story.
Summer rafting in an extreme place with an uncertain future
Burdened with a brutal history of Cossack conquest, labor camps, gulags, displaced people and rapacious resource plundering, and all but abandoned by the state that exploited it, Siberia is the perfect choice for a certain sort of travel writer to go and reflect on the state of the world.
A PHOTO IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
This book is really two stories.One is about an adventurous trip down a Siberian river in a small boat.The other is about the frontierspeople who inhabit its shores.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Description And Travel    3. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    4. Former Soviet Republics    5. General    6. History    7. History: World    8. Russia (Federation)    9. Siberia    10. Siberia (Russia)    11. Special Interest - Adventure    12. Tayler, Jeffrey    13. Travel    14. Travel - Foreign    15. Travel - General    16. Voyages And Travels    17. Travel / General   

Reviews (44)

A solid historic book
This is one of the rare historic books reflecting the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict from both sides. It is reach in historic and political facts, and also reflects the author's own eyewitness of the war.
A must read on Azerbaijan
Thomas Goltz's book on Azerbaijan is unique, for many reasons. First, he was among the few western journalists to be and actually live in the Caucasus when hellbroke loose in the conflicts of the region. Secondly, He speaks the language, bringing him across cultural barriers that even Russian-speakers encounter though they seldom know they do in the non-Russian partso the former USSR. Third, Goltz has a smell for the events of the country and understands the backdoor politics.
Great book on caucasus region
This a a great source of informaiton for those who are interested to learn more about Azzerbaijan and it's relations with the neighbouring countries. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    2. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Political History    7. Azerbaijan    8. Biography: general    9. Civil war    10. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    11. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    12. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (5)

a little help
This book is NOT enough to pass the CLEP.It IS easy to read and does provide much knowledge.HOWEVER, I would have failed had I relied solely on this book. I also used Peterson's CLEP Success which helped me pass the exam much more than this book.I would suggest using them both.

Not even close!
I used this book solely as a review for the CLEP exam, and received a score of 55 (barely passing) as opposed to the actual CLEP books - I got a 96 using the "official CLEP guide". This book is good but not enough.
This book will help prepare for the exam but it is not enough to pass the test.I was able to pass because I also took the History I, Intro to Sociology, American Government, and General Humanities CLEPS.Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    3. History    4. Study Aids / CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)    5. CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)    6. Examinations, questions, etc    7. Social Science    8. Study Aids    9. Test Preparation & Review   

Reviews (63)

Scholarly, lively treatment. . . .
For anyone who wonders why Russia is the mess it is today--notwithstanding the glam and glitz of the many post-Soviet Union robber barons--Anne Applebaum provides instructive clues in her sensational book, "Gulag," which explores one of the most horrendous of all systems in Joseph Stalin's Russia. The "Gulag," where upwards of 30 million largely innocent people were insanely targeted by Stalin and his henchmen as political "conspirators."They were then seized, jailed for little or no reason, and then either executed or forced to live and work under some of the most abominable conditions on record.Indeed, Stalin's Gulag did more to kill social, political, intellectual and even artistic vibrancy than any war ever could.The seeds planted during Stalin's long reign have yielded a latter-day Russia that is steeped in corruption, saddled with a notoriously disfunctional public sector that exposes appalling disparities between the rich and the poor.Unlike many "dry" history books, "Gulag" is immensely readable, thanks to Applebaum's brisk writing style and her profound interest in her subject matter, which is contagious.A masterful narrative with exhaustively detailed footnotes, "Gulag" bears stunning testament to the human cost of totalitarianism.It's a must-have for European history buffs!

Excellent - extensive presentation
I can say I have read about 95% of the books published in English and in French on the gulag and this one is more like an anthology than anything else. It is thorough, clear and understandable by anyone. It will make the reader appreciate his or her life one (or two) step further. We are lucky to live in our protected world and reading this book just helps us enjoy our beautiful life a lot more. Two Thumbs UP!

Where was God?
Its a question you almost find yourself asking when reading this excellent account that has become an instant classic. The story of the system of Soviet concentration camps is a long and ultimately terrifying one. Begun by Lenin, the Gulag expanded until it reached its peak under Joseph Stalin around 1950. It came to enslave and imprison millions of people, and would lead to the deaths of millions as well. The Gulag would eventually disappear, but its legacy lives on its its countless victims. Today it stands a blood-soaked testament to the horror that was communism. "Gulag: A History" won the Pulitzer prize for the author, and quite deservingly so. The book is excellent in all respects, and should be required reading when it comes to 20th century history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concentration camps    2. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. Forced labor    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Prisons    9. Soviet Union    10. History / Former Soviet Republics   

Reviews (17)

A fascinating perspective
The authors have tapped into a vastly unknown arena, by seeking out survivors of the century's first genocide.It is a riveting read of testimonies, interwoven with sociological and psychological theory, to explain how the survivors have made it through and coped with the memories, losses and experiences.It is probably the largest collection of testimonies in one publication, and for students of psychology or sociology, it is a must-read.
"Adam" cut-n-pastes his review again..check it out!!!
...so he has posted the same review 7+ times on ANY book about the Armenian Genocide and the Turkish attrocities between 1890 and 1922.He HAS NOT READ any of these books so his reviews are as good as dirt.Please disregard his bogus immature approach.Check out the "All my Reviews" tab and you will see that "Adam" and many others were just sent here to Amazon to flood the gates with bogus reviews of perfectly good works of art.They are pushing Turkish propaganda on a site where literary ctitiscism is needed, not pushing agendas...

Keeps up the memory of the armenian genocide
Personal reports are the best way to silence those who are not ashamed to deny a genocide, even though it is a proven fact.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Middle East - General    6. ASIA    7. Asian / Middle Eastern history    8. European history: from c 1900 -    9. First World War, 1914-1918    10. History / General    11. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    12. Oral history    13. The Holocaust    14. Turkey   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (28)

Hauntingly Perfect
Thubron brings Siberia to life, he gives you the chill of the barren landscape while holding in the warmth of the people.He evokes Siberia in an almost Tolkien-like way, the barreness recalls the vast streches of Tolkiens middle earth.If you even have a passing intrest in Russia or Siberia get this book, it is worth every minute you get lost between the pages.If this book has a failing, that is a big if, it is that it is too short, I wanted to be lost in Thubron's Siberia much longer.

Beautiful--every sentence a poetic observation of Russia!
If you love Russia, or anything about Siberia you will love and cherish this book! Thubron writes with a Byronic majesty but in such a down-to-earth fashion. He draws the reader right into his travels and conversations with Siberian natives. A truly awesome book!

A serious book
This is a serious book, not a page turner, perhaps not a book for the young and optimistic who might prefer to look forward and meet hopeful young Siberians than to slowly unfold the memories of some of its older citizens. Nor is it a book for the lexically impoverished. I first encountered it as a full text audio book on about a dozen cassettes. I greatly recommend this slower-paced way of getting to know the book. Later consideration of the written text only confirmed my delight; this is an impressive writer who reconsiders his sentences and uses a wider range of the resources of our English language than many of us may be used to. As a result, he manages to give a precise and individual tone to each description, whether of the land or of its people, despite the similarities that will recur.Don't expect a travel guide or an engaging host: the book gives little or no practical information and reveals little too about the author, except his obvious talent for drawing out personal stories and his pluck in venturing into remote and dangerous contexts. No, this is a serious book and, all in all, a terrific achievement, as its readers will begin to understand a most significant and oversized piece of the jigsaw of human history. Every serious minded person should know about this book and try to find time to read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1939-    2. Description and travel    3. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    4. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    5. General    6. History    7. History: World    8. Journeys    9. Russia    10. Russia (Federation)    11. Siberia    12. Siberia (Russia)    13. Thubron, Colin,    14. Travel - Foreign    15. Travel / General   

Reviews (2)

A jolly good read
This is a jolly good read.The mixture of travelogue and political analysis is quite a surprising combination.
a great read
I make sure I read all of Ted Rall's columns, and I'm always amazed.A lot of writers write about subjects you already know about, they just word it differently from the others and throw in a few extra tidbits.Not Ted!When you read him you always learn massive amounts of facts and information that you didn't even realize you should know about.After reading him you wonder why you've never heard about these important topics.You will not regret buying this book if you're already familiar with Mr. Rall's work.If you're not, you're in for an eye-opening experience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Central    2. Description And Travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Former Soviet Republics - History - Post Cold War (1991-)    5. General    6. Graphic Novels    7. International Relations - General    8. Travel    9. Central Asia    10. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)   

Reviews (7)

Good Facts, Bad Premise
This book covers the history of "Ukraine" from time immemorial until the late 20th century, laying out all the important dates andleaders. It is without doubt the most extensive and lucid English-language account of the development of regions and peoples which constitute today's Ukraine.
For anyone who wants to learn about this fascinating land
First published in 1988, Orest Subtelny's Ukraine: A History has again been newly updated in a third edition. This 736 page volume spans from the earliest times to the modern day, covering everything from ancient Greek colonization to the recent Ukraine diaspora. Orest Subtelny (Professor of History and Political Science at York University) goes into extreme depth and detail with a text that is significantly enhanced with maps, tables, and the occasional black-and-white photograph. Highly recommended for its lucidity, meticulous attention to detail, and scholarly precision, Ukraine: A History is a "must" for anyone who wants to learn about this fascinating land and its people.

Best Source for Ukrainian History
Mr. Subtelny's "Ukraine: A History" rates a notch above Mr. Magosci's. Well-written and very readable. This is the volume one reaches for when facts on the Ukrainian history are required. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern Europe - General    2. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Ukraine    8. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    9. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)    10. History / Europe / Eastern    11. World history   

Reviews (1)

Misleading title
I was assigned this book as part of the reading for a class I took at Princeton on Central Asia.I have very mixed feelings about it.
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Subjects:  1. 1991-    2. Asia - Central Asia    3. Asia, Central    4. Economic conditions    5. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    6. General    7. Government - International    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Politics and government    12. Social conditions    13. Central Asia    14. Local government    15. Political science & theory    16. c 1990 to c 2000   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (17)

partially an advertisement for two Soviet Agent's talent
This book was written with the help of several present and former Soviet Intelligence officers.Be aware that that colored the book with favorable views of these people's talent level and Soviet Intelligence in general. The book does contain valuable information along with important omission and advertising style hot air.I would suggest that you consider Venona by John Earl Haynes or The Venona Secrets: Exposing Soviet Espionage and America's Traitors by Herbert Romerstein.The former is an academic description of the 450+ Soviet agents disclosed by the US breaking Soviet codes used during the war. The latter is an inside story by two US espionage agents and experts.One of the gems it reveals is that President FDR was gullible and had several advisors who were Soviet agents.Stalin was afraid of a two front war in Europe and with Japan in the Pacific.He composed an insulting message for his agents to present to FDR who sent as is it to the Japanese government.This provoked the war in the Pacific.Had this not been done, The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would have been done much later or not at all.

Second thoughts
I reviewed this book in 1999, and gave it three stars.Over time, I've decided it was better than I first thought, and came back here to up it to four...

A Critical View of "The Haunted Wood"
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Subjects:  1. Military Science    2. Spies    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Espionage, Soviet    5. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    6. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    7. History / United States / 20th Century    8. International relations    9. Russia    10. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle    11. USA    12. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    13. 20th century    14. Soviet Union    15. Intelligence Operations    16. History    17. United States   

Reviews (10)

Prague:More Black than Gold
Professor Demetz is especially strong in exploring the religious history of the city.I wondered how he could be so erudite in explaining both the Hussite revolt against Catholicism and Rabbi Loew's conflict with the Jewish establishment.He explained in his beautiful, elegiac afterword that his father's family was Christian; his mother's, Jewish.He spent time in a Nazi labor camp for half-Jews.My suggestion would be to read the afterword first.The bibliography is also very helpful, with rather blunt appraisals of cited works.

Wandering bit of storytelling
What, I wonder, was the point of Prague in Black and Gold? The back cover actually refers to Peter Demetz's book as a city guide - why I have no idea, since it certainly is not even close to that style of writing. It looks suspiciously like a history text, and so I shall treat it, but problems remain. A comprehensive piece on Czech people and history
I have just returned from my first trip Prague and Ostrava. The history of the region is a bit confusing to us who are not familiar with this part of the world. This is an important part of the world, after all the genesis of the First World War is connected to the Bohemian Prince who was also a successor to the Habsburg throne.Read more

Subjects:  1. Central Europe - History    2. Eastern Europe - Czech Republic & Slovakia    3. Eastern Europe - Czechoslovakia    4. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History Of Individual Cities    8. History: World    9. Prague (Czech Republic)    10. Social Science / Sociology / Urban   

Editorial Review

Richard Feynman, brilliant physicist and inspirational teacher, wasn't much for coats and ties. He lived a life that the adjective "bohemian" doesn't begin to cover, scripting percussion scores for avant-garde ballet troupes, musing over life's imponderables, and delighting and annoying his many friends with odd-duck questions--all the while teaching generations of students at CalTech.Read more

Reviews (28)

More than a book...
It was all just accidental. I stumbled upon this book through a documentary that I rented, called Ganghis Blues. I like all types of music and thought "A documentary about Blues music, cool..." After realizing what a fortune of life I had found in this movie, I was drawn to everything TUVA. SO, to the book I go. The book of course came before the documentary, and obviously was an influence in the boys who produced it. When was the last time a book did something for your soul? This one touches your soul, your heart and your longing to achieve a goal or live out a dream. Aaaah. I loved it.

Off-beat , wonderful video!
If you are a fan of Richard Feynman, the nuclear physicist that dreamed of going to Tuva, you will just love this video. If you know nothing of Mr. Feynman, you will still enjoy it. It tells the story of Paul Pena's visit to Tuva in a delightful way. You will like seeing the culture of these peaceful, music-loving people.

Great story, though it loses its steam
I would never had read this book had I not recently had the chance to see Huun Huur Tu, a throat-singing voice from Tuva. But now that I am fascinated by this little-known, remote area along the Russian-Mongolian border, I found this book very entertaining. It chronicles the enormous challege of trying to visit such a remote land in the days before Glasnost and a fascinating cast of characters at its heart.
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Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Feynman, Richard Phillips    6. Physicists    7. Russia (Federation)    8. Scientists    9. Travel    10. Travelers    11. Tuva    12. Tuva (Russia)    13. United States    14. Journeys    15. Science: General Issues   

Reviews (2)

A Sad Story
This book may well be the very best history of the native peoples of Siberia and their conquest by the Russians in the past centuries.
Forsyth narrates the stages of Soviet exploitation of Siberi
Reviewed by Johanna Granville, Clemson University, Clemson, SC USARead more

Subjects:  1. Eastern Europe - General    2. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. ASIA    8. Asian / Middle Eastern history    9. Ethnology - Russian S.F.S.R. - Siberia    10. History / Former Soviet Republics    11. History / Russia (pre- & post-Soviet Union)    12. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    13. History-Eastern Europe - General    14. History-Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    15. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    16. Russia   

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & Latin American    2. Civilization    3. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Latin America    8. Latin America - South America    9. American studies    10. Cultural studies    11. History / Latin America    12. History, World | Latin American    13. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (7)

For the Layman
This is the true story about the struggle the people of Chechnya are going through - a region I know little about. It is written through the eyes of a war correspondent - an occupation I know little about. Goltz brings some understanding to the layman with a direct, no-nonsense writing style that will capture your attention and send your senses reeling through sorrow, joy, dispair, hope and more. A must read for anyone who wants to gain some knowledge of the on-going struggle of Chechnya without wading through a dull textbook.

How we really feel
I'll state straight away that I count myself a an old and loyal friend of Thomas Goltz, and I'm a journalist too, so my five stars should perhaps seen in that context. But I believe they are well deserved, not least for the personal bravery the author displayed in getting the story. For me, this book's particular value is that for once it strips away the shield that we reporters feel necessary to arm ourselves with to protect ourselves from emotional involvement with the subjects of our reportage. This is the first time I read the account of someone who has faced up to naked realities of this situation. The result is a rare and compelling tale of the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewed, and set against a backdrop that shows how both sides behave and above all feel when trapped in forces outside their control.

An improvement
This book is a sign Goltz has matured since writing "Requiem" and "AZ Diary", and has found his niche. This is to say, maybe he's realized he isn't much for political synthesis or history. He has obviously done a lot of good and original thinking about journalistic ethics in wartime and the "Hawthorne effect"--these are the reasons you want to read this book.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Chechnia (Russia)    4. Civil War, 1994-    5. Eastern Europe - General    6. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    7. Former Soviet Republics - History - Post Cold War (1991-)    8. Goltz, Thomas    9. History    10. History: American    11. Journalists    12. Military History (General)    13. Personal Memoirs    14. Personal narratives, American    15. United States    16. War correspondents    17. History / Europe / Eastern   

Subjects:  1. Cookery, Estonian    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Europe - Former Soviet Republics    5. General    6. History    7. Estonia    8. National & regional cuisine   

Editorial Review

A correspondent for the Read more

Reviews (10)

Intelligent but Dated
This 1998 book examining the war between Russia and its breakaway republic Chechnya is a product of great expertise and tremendous thoroughness.The war is examined from all angles in great detail.Furthermore, author Anatol Lieven has an affecting writing style when he relates his personal experiences among the Chechens.But things are still unsettled in the former Soviet Union, and events have overtaken this book.New wars have broken out in ways and in places that call Lieven's theories (which were based on the best information available at the time) into question.