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

It's an excellent book, very comprehensive. While it was second hand, it was in perfect condition.

Wow! I just finished this book, and I must say that it TRULY was an excellent, and most informative read! I remember when I picked it up I had those funny little "brain thoughts" (the ones like your conscience that says things to you, silently within your head), "Are you SURE you really want to read stuff like this?" and "Why would anyone want to know anything about the Communist Party?". Well, let me tell you, this book, in actuality, should perhaps be placed on EVERY high school reading list. I was fascinated by this book. And, the information that I learned from it is almost stunning to know. How the demise of the Czarist system, already in a state of anarchy, lead to the easily successful October Revolution, and then to the Bolshevicks fighting the "Whites" for control of the country. Lenin and Trotsky setting up the State for Marxism, and Communism. From the original NEP, which sort of worked, through the ever-increasing and stupid purges of Stalin, hurting the Communist State so deeply it could really not recover from them, through the devastation of WWII in the already economically bankrupt country, through Kruschev's Reign, on through Breshnev's, Gorbachev's, and Yeltsin's and into the "modern" and "free" Russia under Putin, this book just grips and holds you all the way through. It is broken down into "ages" if you will, of the Soviet development, and is easily understandable and shows one with near photographic clearness the mistakes made by those in charge, and also the reasons why, Communism, or closed-government systems do not, and cannot, work. As the book progresses, it is ever-clearer just how far off the mark the government is getting, until finally, the implosion from within is unavoidable. A truly fascinating piece of clearly written history that EVERYONE should read....trust me! By all means, pick up a copy of this truly wonderful and educational "progression" of the Soviet and get to see why this kind of government cannot work, with clearly seen outcomes and happenings from our own lifetime that mark the slow demise of the "System". This book is yet another great example of the value of those old words from my grade school days "Please Read...and Grow Your Mind." I cannot recommend this book highly enough. ~operabruin

This compact and well-written book from Soviet historian Peter Kenez is an excellent short history of the Soviet Union. Perhaps the most welcome aspect of Kenez's book is his willingess to acknowledge the centrality of ideological considerations in shaping both the views and policies of the USSR's Marxist leaders. While this is not surprising given the author's previous interest in the "propaganda state," it is a needed corrective to the excessive emphasis on "social factors" that tend to dominate other histories of the USSR. Readers would have benefited from a more detailed bibliography or, better, a list of recommended readings from the author.

Peter Kenez outlines all of Soviet history succintly yet completely. He argues that the Soviet "golden age" during the NEP (New Economic Policy) was doomed to failure because the Bolshevik state, by definition, could only function as a one-party, authoritarian power. Indeed, Kenez argues that the Soviet Union was always authoritarian, with the exception of Stalin's reign, when it was a totalitarian state. Stalin ruled with power that was so absolute that the Communist Party was deemed insignificant, no other figured gained lasting influence in government, and all were potentially subject to his terror.The Soviet Union met its demise and fall because the the regime could not reform itself and still remain in existence. The flawed, top-down structure of the economy, particularly the constant failures of collectivized farms, assured that the Soviet Union could never see economic prosperity comparable to the West.Kenez's ideally-sized history offers an intriguing, and critical, history of the Soviet Union. It is anti-Soviet, but still objective: for example, Kenez argues that the Cold War Soviet Union had neither the desire, nor the capacity, to promote worldwide revolution. The one glaring flaw of this book is its sparse treatment of Cold War diplomacy, as it argues that the Soviet crises were almost entirely from within.The book is an effortless read. Its most gripping effect is that you likely walk away convinced that Josef Satlin was doubtlessly one of most evil men in recorded history.

This is a brief but complete history of Communism in the Soviet Union from the days of the October Revolution to its recent collapse. It's main focus is on politics and economics but other topics (including even cinema) are discussed. A little dry at times but always readable. Does not require any real background in history to enjoy. Higly recommended for anyone seaking an overview of this fascinating subject.