Perestroika, global challenge Book

Historically, this is a very important book, at least for anyone who wants to understand about a significant stage in the Cold War. And, anyone who doesn't think the Cold War was not a great threat to the lives of all, doesn't understand the Cold War. (It's not over, by the way, just not in one of its worst stages.)

It is split into two parts. The first is about restructuring the government and economy of USSR. The second is about foreign relations between USSR and the rest of the world, and technical doesn't have much to do with Perestroika (Restructuring) itself.

The perestroika portion is tough to read, as it is laced with politically correct (by Soviet standards) propaganda, in particular maintaining the cult of Lenin. There are still important concepts to be found here. One is the decentralization of control and shifting it to lower levels, which is very much part of Marxist-Leninist ideology, just not well carried out in USSR. (Except, perhaps, in Siberia, because it is a long way from Moscow; Canadian Farley Mowat had some interesting observations in his book on Siberia.) The concept that good accounting, and that profit produces economic incentive and efficiency, does not imply capitalism (profits go to capital investors, as opposed to labor investors), is quite important.

The foreign relations part is less spoiled by propaganda, but of course plays down USSR's contribution to the Cold War, but this is certainly much less than what I grew up with in USA from my government. In my experience, Gorbachev's take on the matter is better than most US sources, and I write with at least some expertise, as a former Star Warrior (system engineer) during the time this book was written.

This is one of those books that can be rated from quite low to quite high. As a book to enjoy reading for pleasure, it is a 1. As an important book, not just about a minor detail in history, but of some of the most important events of my lifetime, it is a 5. I find 4 is the correct balance.