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1.03k reviews for:
Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice
Bill Browder
4.27 AVERAGE
1.03k reviews for:
Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice
Bill Browder
4.27 AVERAGE
2.5 Stars.
I went into this book blind, not knowing much about the Magnitsky act or post-USSR Russia, so I found the first half of the book intriguing. Bill Browder walks you through his personal experience of the privatization of Russian businesses, the mass theft of those businesses that was the source of many of the Russian oligarch's wealth, and the prison yard mentality that all of them have to protect their ill-gotten wealth.
However, the second half turns into a play-by-play of his campaign to pass the Magnitsky act, which is political and far less interesting. This exposes Bil Browders weak writing. In the first half, the incredible story makes it easy to miss that he his relating events in sequential order without any self-reflection or personal analysis (outside some perfunctory admitting to his mistake that led to the Magnitsky act), and his go-to tactic to create drama is to interrupt an exotic vacation with his family or other seemingly idyllic moment with a surprise phone call. He also loves to talk about his unparalleled presentations and attempts to make you think he's always running or working out in the morning and still doing business on, of course, his Blackberry (must have been mentioned in every chapter)! Wow, what a renaissance man!
Beyond the writing, my other major issue with this book is that it should be about the perils of capitalism and greed, and how Bill should have given up while he was ahead instead of sticking around out of greed, pride and a desire for power that allowed the inevitable to happen. He is no hero, and while he did take responsibility for his actions that contributed to Magnitsky's death, that should be expected, and praising him for it simply sets the bar too low.
So, I learned some Russian history that adds insight to my understanding of how Russia operates today, but I learned nothing from Browder, who despite his incredible life, is just another monopoly man, who prioritizes money above everything else until its too late.
I went into this book blind, not knowing much about the Magnitsky act or post-USSR Russia, so I found the first half of the book intriguing. Bill Browder walks you through his personal experience of the privatization of Russian businesses, the mass theft of those businesses that was the source of many of the Russian oligarch's wealth, and the prison yard mentality that all of them have to protect their ill-gotten wealth.
However, the second half turns into a play-by-play of his campaign to pass the Magnitsky act, which is political and far less interesting. This exposes Bil Browders weak writing. In the first half, the incredible story makes it easy to miss that he his relating events in sequential order without any self-reflection or personal analysis (outside some perfunctory admitting to his mistake that led to the Magnitsky act), and his go-to tactic to create drama is to interrupt an exotic vacation with his family or other seemingly idyllic moment with a surprise phone call. He also loves to talk about his unparalleled presentations and attempts to make you think he's always running or working out in the morning and still doing business on, of course, his Blackberry (must have been mentioned in every chapter)! Wow, what a renaissance man!
Beyond the writing, my other major issue with this book is that it should be about the perils of capitalism and greed, and how Bill should have given up while he was ahead instead of sticking around out of greed, pride and a desire for power that allowed the inevitable to happen. He is no hero, and while he did take responsibility for his actions that contributed to Magnitsky's death, that should be expected, and praising him for it simply sets the bar too low.
So, I learned some Russian history that adds insight to my understanding of how Russia operates today, but I learned nothing from Browder, who despite his incredible life, is just another monopoly man, who prioritizes money above everything else until its too late.
medium-paced
Never thought I would enjoy a book about hedge fund management, corruption in the Russian government, theft, and murder but this was a fantastic nonfiction book- would recommend to anyone!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
slow-paced
I’ve read so many glowing reviews of this book that I was blindsided by the way Browder recounted taking advantage of brutalized societies for his own gain while casually denigrating their food and culture. Yes, Putin and the oligarchs were and are a horror. But there wasn’t enough reflection on how the systems Browder helped build empowered them or were just as terrible for the average citizen. It was a difficult read.
dark
informative
slow-paced
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced