A History of the Soviet Union from the Beginning to the End Book

I was looking for a certain USSR ebook and couldn't find it. Instead, this caught my eye, so I downloaded it and started (rather slowly) reading.

Since there is an abundance of information on pre-October Russia, the Lenin era, and the Stalinist era, one would assume there to be a wide-ranging abundance on the following eras, the eras of Khrushchev and the "era of stagnation" under Brezhnev. Sadly, it seems like most of the historical perspectives on those two eras are rather muddled and harder to define in concrete terms.

This work, while obviously not the most unbiased or "even", is an excellent historical perspective on Russia's 20th century history, and especially on a lot of the easily-overlooked details.

Starting with the characters of October, one gets a sense of just how idealistic and ideologically pure the Bolsheviks believed themselves to be. Following the legendary October, one gets a feel for politics in the Lenin era and how they came to be increasingly manipulated by Joseph Stalin. As it carries on from Trotsky's deportation into the purges and forced collectivization, the mood starts to change into something growing drastically more "evil", if you will. When Stalin's era has come to a close, the Soviet Union has been ravaged by war and the aforementioned purges. The really interesting stuff comes with Khrushchev's political maneuvers around other potential leaders of the time, and gives a window into his ideological confidence in a more or less Old Bolshevik vision.

While much less is to be said of the "era of stagnation" and the USSR under ill-fated leaders Andropov/Chernenko, it seems relatively fitting. These leaders were the conservatives, those unwilling to act as reformers to meet an ideological vision that was by all means becoming somewhat exhausted.

Though like early leaders there is a wealth of information on the Gorbachev era, this work dedicates significantly less to Gorbachev's administration, and tends to focus on the currents developing right under his nose - that of Yeltsin's increasing anti-communist belligerence. Once more, it seems relatively fitting given the circumstance.

As for the final parts, covering the democratization of Russia, the dissolution of the USSR, and privatization, this is where the book really shines. It gives a seemingly balanced treatment to both the good and bad sides to modern Russia. While Yeltsin's reforms are acknowledged to have been disastrous at the time, the balance is pointed out in the declining living standards of late period USSR. The notes regarding Vladimir Putin's authoritarian tendencies also paint a fair picture of a dictator in training who is actually applauded by his people.

All in all, this is a fascinating work that covers a lot of ground. While there is some left to be desired, particularly regarding the Brezhnev/Andropov/Chernenko years, this is one seriously intellectually satisfying read for anyone wanting to know more about the USSR, whether first timers, communists in training, capitalists in dire need of ammo, or seasoned USSR veterans. I can only give it the highest recommendations!