You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
The writing is great and the man is a horror. The book tells the story of the almost accidental ascent of someone who seemed like a nobody but turned out to be a disaster (an ongoing and intensifying disaster).
The writing style is clear and despite the many figures that come in and out, it isn't confusing or overly heavy on detail.
I've seen reviews complaining that the author is too self-referential or "it's about her," which surprises me. I thought she went very light on the "I" in this story, and find those reviews a bit suspect to be honest, as though the reviewer either has some Putin sympathies or possibly just dislikes lesbians (though sexual orientation is very much not a topic until being touched upon in the epilogue, which DOES largely feature more of the personal story of the author Masha Gessen. I thought the epilogue and afterward worked well. It would never have occurred to me that it might be a turn-off for some readers since after all it's there to put contemporary Russia in context.
Anyway, it beggars belief how reprehensible Putin is, and the book is 10 years old.
The writing style is clear and despite the many figures that come in and out, it isn't confusing or overly heavy on detail.
I've seen reviews complaining that the author is too self-referential or "it's about her," which surprises me. I thought she went very light on the "I" in this story, and find those reviews a bit suspect to be honest, as though the reviewer either has some Putin sympathies or possibly just dislikes lesbians (though sexual orientation is very much not a topic until being touched upon in the epilogue, which DOES largely feature more of the personal story of the author Masha Gessen. I thought the epilogue and afterward worked well. It would never have occurred to me that it might be a turn-off for some readers since after all it's there to put contemporary Russia in context.
Anyway, it beggars belief how reprehensible Putin is, and the book is 10 years old.
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
Wow! This book felt like the darkest dystopian novel I've ever read - but it is real and largely unnoticed by the rest of the world. Saying Vladimir Putin is authoritarian or evil does not do the school shootings, dissident assassinations, and random acts of violence justice. In short, Gessen does a wonderful job painting a humanistic image of one of the darkest characters and landscapes our world faces.
Additionally, I felt like this book really gave me a good setting for Russian politics. I was reading other reviews and saw that a common complaint highlighted how this book did not just focus on Putin, but I loved that. Understanding the political climate in which Putin was immersed and eventually took over gave me a holistic picture that really made the world of this book strong.
From the amazing anecdotes Gessen shares (she has been embroiled in so much political tension over the past two and a half decades) to the wonderful research she does, this book was a success for me in nearly every way imaginable. Somehow she made a really bleak reality into a fun read. My only complaint is that the story got confusing at times - what with all of the different Russian names, many of them similar sounding - and the intricate financial plots, but the fact that I was able to understand as much as I did really was a testimony to how amazing this book was. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Five stars!
Additionally, I felt like this book really gave me a good setting for Russian politics. I was reading other reviews and saw that a common complaint highlighted how this book did not just focus on Putin, but I loved that. Understanding the political climate in which Putin was immersed and eventually took over gave me a holistic picture that really made the world of this book strong.
From the amazing anecdotes Gessen shares (she has been embroiled in so much political tension over the past two and a half decades) to the wonderful research she does, this book was a success for me in nearly every way imaginable. Somehow she made a really bleak reality into a fun read. My only complaint is that the story got confusing at times - what with all of the different Russian names, many of them similar sounding - and the intricate financial plots, but the fact that I was able to understand as much as I did really was a testimony to how amazing this book was. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Five stars!
The writing included a little too much personal opinion for my taste. While I find Russian history fascinating, by almost halfway I hadn't really learned much about Putin yet.
I got the feeling that the entire book is supposition. There are facts but how they pertain to Putin is entirely opinion. It reads like a blog, a well done one, but still one persons opinion on how things were/are. Well educated guesses but still guesses. Some of it can come across as a bit conspiracy theory.
And the conclusion that Russia hasn't changed as much as the West thought is entirely unsurprising.
I got the feeling that the entire book is supposition. There are facts but how they pertain to Putin is entirely opinion. It reads like a blog, a well done one, but still one persons opinion on how things were/are. Well educated guesses but still guesses. Some of it can come across as a bit conspiracy theory.
And the conclusion that Russia hasn't changed as much as the West thought is entirely unsurprising.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Gessen saw the writing on the wall with Putin within his first month in office. This book, published in 2012, feels up-to-the-moment ten years later, with the war raging in Ukraine. Gessen's anecdotes about Putin serve as illustrative material, helping the reader gain a better understanding of what motivates the man. Their writing is effortless, moving between journalism, historical story-telling, and memoir. Had world leaders read this book when it initially came out, little of Putin's actions today would surprise anyone.
Lately I've been very interested in accounts of revolutions, or the moments leading up to them. The moment where fear falls away. In the case of this book towards the end, and russia, when 30% of people around have white bands, when a man can pull his son out of the police van and the police let him. When the journalist "goons" start speaking like humans again on the news.
How bittersweet and painful to listen about a growing tide of protest that was not enough, against the backdrop of where we are now.
And Gessen's portrayal of putin as someone who wanted to recreate the kgb order of business, who had no care for human life, someone with a true compulsion to take that which rightfully belongs to someone else, well, it feels very accurate.
Edit, morning Jan 23 2023: today I woke up and read the news of quiet protests in Moscow. People are laying flowers at the base of a statue honoring a Ukrainian poet, Lesya Ukrainka, in protest of the recent bombing of a residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine. They are leaving flowers (in even numbers, which is only for funeral purposes), small plush toys to honor the children who have been killed, and pictures of the destroyed building. Even this is enough to get detained, and some have been. I don't believe this is enough to change anything, and I wouldn't disagree with anyone who said this is too little, but I'm reflecting on the importance of showing dissent whenever and wherever possible. It confirms to other quiet dissenters, yes, there are still others who think like you. It confirms to the world, no, not everyone has been brainwashed. I hope they continue laying flowers. I hope more and more people lay flowers. Until eventually it won't be possible to detain everyone laying flowers. Until the fear falls away, and the people become untouchable. These are naive hopes, I think.
How bittersweet and painful to listen about a growing tide of protest that was not enough, against the backdrop of where we are now.
And Gessen's portrayal of putin as someone who wanted to recreate the kgb order of business, who had no care for human life, someone with a true compulsion to take that which rightfully belongs to someone else, well, it feels very accurate.
Edit, morning Jan 23 2023: today I woke up and read the news of quiet protests in Moscow. People are laying flowers at the base of a statue honoring a Ukrainian poet, Lesya Ukrainka, in protest of the recent bombing of a residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine. They are leaving flowers (in even numbers, which is only for funeral purposes), small plush toys to honor the children who have been killed, and pictures of the destroyed building. Even this is enough to get detained, and some have been. I don't believe this is enough to change anything, and I wouldn't disagree with anyone who said this is too little, but I'm reflecting on the importance of showing dissent whenever and wherever possible. It confirms to other quiet dissenters, yes, there are still others who think like you. It confirms to the world, no, not everyone has been brainwashed. I hope they continue laying flowers. I hope more and more people lay flowers. Until eventually it won't be possible to detain everyone laying flowers. Until the fear falls away, and the people become untouchable. These are naive hopes, I think.
I expected a rather challenging read when I picked up Masha Gessen’s The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin , for a number of reasons. I had never read a biography before, and my knowledge of post-Soviet Russia was very limited. However, I chose to read this book as I assumed that it would help me to come to terms with some of the international issues in the 21st century; also, Vladimir Putin always appeared (to me, at least) to be one of the more interesting figures to read about.
Contrary to my expectations, this book was rather easy to read. Following the chapters documenting Putin’s ascendance, Gessen adopts a rather nonlinear narrative; this is for the best, in my opinion, as relevant individuals and events are revisited when appropriate, and this prevents the reader from having to backtrack and reread.
There is an obvious resentment towards Putin on part of author Masha Gessen, but the fundamental events and characters are recorded somewhat objectively; a figure as controversial and mystified as Vladimir Putin may be immune to an analysis devoid of at least some conjecture. Even if one was to disagree with Gessen’s arguments, this book is still worthwhile as there is an abundance of notes at the end of The Man Without a Face , citing Gessen’s sources and allowing for subsequent reading (which has led to me purchasing Alex Goldfarb’s Death of a Dissident , which I look forward to reading!).
Overall, I’d recommend reading this book as it is accessible, compiled from a myriad of interesting sources, and, more importantly, has informed me greatly on the politics and character of Vladimir Putin and his associates, many of whom I had never encountered before this read.
Contrary to my expectations, this book was rather easy to read. Following the chapters documenting Putin’s ascendance, Gessen adopts a rather nonlinear narrative; this is for the best, in my opinion, as relevant individuals and events are revisited when appropriate, and this prevents the reader from having to backtrack and reread.
There is an obvious resentment towards Putin on part of author Masha Gessen, but the fundamental events and characters are recorded somewhat objectively; a figure as controversial and mystified as Vladimir Putin may be immune to an analysis devoid of at least some conjecture. Even if one was to disagree with Gessen’s arguments, this book is still worthwhile as there is an abundance of notes at the end of The Man Without a Face , citing Gessen’s sources and allowing for subsequent reading (which has led to me purchasing Alex Goldfarb’s Death of a Dissident , which I look forward to reading!).
Overall, I’d recommend reading this book as it is accessible, compiled from a myriad of interesting sources, and, more importantly, has informed me greatly on the politics and character of Vladimir Putin and his associates, many of whom I had never encountered before this read.
Anyone with the slightest interest in Russia, in politics, in crime, or in brilliant writing should pick up this book. Immediately!!!