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informative
slow-paced
Only minor editing flaws mar the overall well-written biography that also attempts to see Lenin's actions from the perspective of a convinced revolutionary. This is not the biography of an evil man, nor of a genius, but a person acting from their deepest - and sadly flawed - convictions.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It's always strange to discover that even dictators are just ordinary people with ordinary problems too.
This biography makes you fall into the story, and as with any story, you want the hero to succeed, which for Vladimir Ilych is no small feat.
This biography makes you fall into the story, and as with any story, you want the hero to succeed, which for Vladimir Ilych is no small feat.
Lenin: The Man, the Dictator, and the Master of Terror lays it all out in the title. Sebestyen’s book wastes no time in showing that there was little good about Lenin’s intentions or the legacy he left behind. This was a “Worker’s Revolution” in name only - Lenin’s cynicism knew no bounds. Prior to reading this book, I imagined Lenin to have a seed of idealism eventually corrupted by power. Instead, we see an individual primarily motivated by revenge; Lenin’s older brother was executed by the monarchy during the endless upheaval of Russia’s late 19th/early 20th century. After his death, Lenin’s middle class family was ostracized by its peers. As a result, Lenin quickly learned to hate the Russian establishment. Marxism became a convenient frame to organize around, an ideology useful as motivation against the unjust Tsar. After spending a stint in Siberia (which sounded less harsh than one might imagine - Lenin lived there in a small home with a servant) he emigrated to Switzerland and spent many years organizing from abroad.
Lenin privately denigrated Russians as lazy, ridiculed attempts to increase literacy rates amongst the poor, and complained to his mother about the high expectations French servants had for their food. His incendiary propaganda called for workers to rise up in violent revolt, but he avoided direct involvement in conflict. Lenin skillfully factionalized the competing revolutionary ideologies, building the name of his Bolsheviks, even when they were not the most popular party.
The book makes clear that life under the Tsar was awful and the country was ripe for revolt. The government’s secret police kept close tabs on revolutionary groups of all kinds, and thousands and thousands of citizens were killed or imprisoned. The government would occasionally make a movement toward modernity like loosening press restrictions or instituting economic development, but these changes would be abandoned when they didn’t immediately quell unrest.
As World War I dragged on and millions of Russians died, Lenin correctly identified that his moment had arrived. His coup was almost comically easy; there was just no support for the government. After consolidating power, the Bolsheviks started their own reign of terror, with a corrupt and abusive secret police force, not much different from the Tsar’s. Lenin denied calls for freedom of speech, claiming that workers only cared about seeing an improved economy. Despite this, horrible famines plagued the new regime, the result of bad economic policies. Meanwhile, Lenin sent millions of Rubles to revolutionary groups around the world, in an attempt to further increase his own influence. After several strokes enfeebled him, we see the shaky transfer of power towards Stalin start. Lenin didn’t have a plan for succession, and nepotism ruled the day. The author cynically notes that Vladimir Putin’s grandfather worked as Lenin’s cook, demonstrating that little has changed in the last hundred years.
The book goes light on Lenin’s writings. We hear handfuls of critical quotes, but it’s clear that he wrote copiously, and I still don’t have a real sense of what those works looked like. We do get insight on his personal relationships with his wife Nadya and mistress Inessa. Passages describing the espionage and trickery employed to deliver contraband newspapers and Lenin’s secret trip through Germany to kickoff revolution are entertaining. Not much happens for much of the book’s middle, while Lenin bounces from country to country, writing and waiting. The book smartly kicks off with the Bolshevik’s coup attempt before a flashback, so the reader has motivation to stick it out. Sebestyen doesn’t give Lenin much sympathy, but all evidence suggests he doesn’t deserve any.
Lenin privately denigrated Russians as lazy, ridiculed attempts to increase literacy rates amongst the poor, and complained to his mother about the high expectations French servants had for their food. His incendiary propaganda called for workers to rise up in violent revolt, but he avoided direct involvement in conflict. Lenin skillfully factionalized the competing revolutionary ideologies, building the name of his Bolsheviks, even when they were not the most popular party.
The book makes clear that life under the Tsar was awful and the country was ripe for revolt. The government’s secret police kept close tabs on revolutionary groups of all kinds, and thousands and thousands of citizens were killed or imprisoned. The government would occasionally make a movement toward modernity like loosening press restrictions or instituting economic development, but these changes would be abandoned when they didn’t immediately quell unrest.
As World War I dragged on and millions of Russians died, Lenin correctly identified that his moment had arrived. His coup was almost comically easy; there was just no support for the government. After consolidating power, the Bolsheviks started their own reign of terror, with a corrupt and abusive secret police force, not much different from the Tsar’s. Lenin denied calls for freedom of speech, claiming that workers only cared about seeing an improved economy. Despite this, horrible famines plagued the new regime, the result of bad economic policies. Meanwhile, Lenin sent millions of Rubles to revolutionary groups around the world, in an attempt to further increase his own influence. After several strokes enfeebled him, we see the shaky transfer of power towards Stalin start. Lenin didn’t have a plan for succession, and nepotism ruled the day. The author cynically notes that Vladimir Putin’s grandfather worked as Lenin’s cook, demonstrating that little has changed in the last hundred years.
The book goes light on Lenin’s writings. We hear handfuls of critical quotes, but it’s clear that he wrote copiously, and I still don’t have a real sense of what those works looked like. We do get insight on his personal relationships with his wife Nadya and mistress Inessa. Passages describing the espionage and trickery employed to deliver contraband newspapers and Lenin’s secret trip through Germany to kickoff revolution are entertaining. Not much happens for much of the book’s middle, while Lenin bounces from country to country, writing and waiting. The book smartly kicks off with the Bolshevik’s coup attempt before a flashback, so the reader has motivation to stick it out. Sebestyen doesn’t give Lenin much sympathy, but all evidence suggests he doesn’t deserve any.
Audiobook listen. The timeline and politics were described very clearly. I felt this book filled many gaps in knowledge I had. There were a few instances where the author couldn't help but throw in his personal opinion into Lenin's personality or choices, that made the book feel a bit biased but not enough for me to discount the history being told.
As someone fascinated by all things related to the Russian revolution and world war I, one of the biggest gaps of my understanding of this time period was, well, Vladimir Lenin. Was he actually evil? Or was there a possibility he was a well-intentioned socialist who mistakenly created an evil state? To what degree was he responsible? And how did he get put in this place to begin with?
Sebestyen answers all of these questions and much more, filling out my understanding of Vladimir Lenin in a supremely readable and clear manner, maintaining the narrative and the story without injecting any superfluous literary flourishes. This is a straight ahead biography of the man, following his whole life, from birth, to the formative deaths of his father and brother, his radicalization, his exile, his personal life and how it affected his work, his adeptness as a political tactician, all the way through his rise to power as dictator, his death and legacy.
The subject matter is enthralling on its own, but I was particularly impressed with the author's skill and clarity in relaying the information. Very well done.
I feel like I came away with satisfying answers to my questions going in. Was he actually evil? Essentially yes, and not only did he hate the bourgeoisie with a passion, but he did little to improve the lives of the working class and peasantry (in fact, he undoubtedly made their lives worse). Was this a case of well intentioned socialism gone awry? No. Lenin essentially invented his own brand of Marxism (now referred to as Marxism-Leninism) which conveniently allowed for a party to take power on behalf of the proletariat, and rule over them like some sort of "benevolent" dictator. And of course he saw himself as the dictator. He was very much responsible for the terrible state he created.
I sort of see him as a case of a master tactician who came to power and lost his purpose for attaining power early on. Whether it was because of necessary consequence of communism or his own distinct lack of care for actually achieving the ideals of communism, he failed to create the utopian state he and his followers wanted. He was blinded by the game he was playing and hatred for his enemies (even/especially those close to him such as the Mensheviks), and possibly worst of all he left Stalin in power, all but sealing in 70 years of suffering for many millions of people.
And those are just the big picture takeaways. There are many pointed details revealed in this biography that I will look back to in the future. The details of the coup, his relationships with Nadya and Inessa Armand, his style as an orator, his dealing with the Romanovs, to name a scant few.
Overall excellent, highly recommended. 5 stars.
Sebestyen answers all of these questions and much more, filling out my understanding of Vladimir Lenin in a supremely readable and clear manner, maintaining the narrative and the story without injecting any superfluous literary flourishes. This is a straight ahead biography of the man, following his whole life, from birth, to the formative deaths of his father and brother, his radicalization, his exile, his personal life and how it affected his work, his adeptness as a political tactician, all the way through his rise to power as dictator, his death and legacy.
The subject matter is enthralling on its own, but I was particularly impressed with the author's skill and clarity in relaying the information. Very well done.
I feel like I came away with satisfying answers to my questions going in. Was he actually evil? Essentially yes, and not only did he hate the bourgeoisie with a passion, but he did little to improve the lives of the working class and peasantry (in fact, he undoubtedly made their lives worse). Was this a case of well intentioned socialism gone awry? No. Lenin essentially invented his own brand of Marxism (now referred to as Marxism-Leninism) which conveniently allowed for a party to take power on behalf of the proletariat, and rule over them like some sort of "benevolent" dictator. And of course he saw himself as the dictator. He was very much responsible for the terrible state he created.
I sort of see him as a case of a master tactician who came to power and lost his purpose for attaining power early on. Whether it was because of necessary consequence of communism or his own distinct lack of care for actually achieving the ideals of communism, he failed to create the utopian state he and his followers wanted. He was blinded by the game he was playing and hatred for his enemies (even/especially those close to him such as the Mensheviks), and possibly worst of all he left Stalin in power, all but sealing in 70 years of suffering for many millions of people.
And those are just the big picture takeaways. There are many pointed details revealed in this biography that I will look back to in the future. The details of the coup, his relationships with Nadya and Inessa Armand, his style as an orator, his dealing with the Romanovs, to name a scant few.
Overall excellent, highly recommended. 5 stars.
While I know this was generated as an "intimate" portrait of Lenin -- and on that account, it succeeded very well -- I think Sebestyan could have infused just a bit more of Lenin's political philosophy, especially in his deeper thinking of how to accommodate (or some would say bypass) Marxist theory to the Russian situation.
I am always surprised by the so-called tenderness of ruthless people, and this biography moves Lenin well up the list; while he allowed and even ordered the deaths of so many people (mere abstractions on paper), Lenin clearly had a soft spot for individuals when he encountered them personally, and he allegedly came face to face with only three dead people in his life -- not of whom were his victims.
I am always surprised by the so-called tenderness of ruthless people, and this biography moves Lenin well up the list; while he allowed and even ordered the deaths of so many people (mere abstractions on paper), Lenin clearly had a soft spot for individuals when he encountered them personally, and he allegedly came face to face with only three dead people in his life -- not of whom were his victims.
I thought this was a fantastically readable biography about a person I know virtually nothing about. When I compare it to the other "great communist revolutionary" biography I read recently, [b:Ho Chi Minh: A Life|564927|Ho Chi Minh A Life|William J. Duiker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1385191000s/564927.jpg|552040], this one was vastly superior. Partly that is because Sebestyen has the advantage of the fall of the USSR unsealing lots of documents about Lenin that had been kept secret for decades. But beyond that, Sebestyen has simply created a very readable book. (Maybe it is his background as a journalist?)
The book is 600 pages but fairly flew by for me, which is interesting because Lenin really didn't do much with most of his life. He spent most of it in exile writing books and newspaper articles. Hardly the stuff of a dashing revolutionary. He let others take all the risks, even his own allies sometimes wondered if he was a coward.
This book is focused on Lenin -- some biographies have a tendency to wander and go in depth on other topics & people beyond just the subject. This means that some topics where Lenin isn't present get short shrift. The planning for the October 1917 revolution and the Russian Civil War are the two biggest examples. But I'm okay with that. The book is already 600 pages. Lenin's story is complicated enough that the alternative would be a multi-volume biography.
But one victim of this -- and the reason I gave this otherwise tremendous biography 4-stars instead of 5-stars -- is that Lenin's philosophy always remained murky to me. His actual writings never get more than a sentence or two of thumbnail synopsis. And once he is actually in power, there is very little written about his governance. There's some kind of land reform, I gather? And a brief mention of people being paid in-kind? And when the New Economic Plan comes along, it is a temporary retreat but...what exactly Lenin planned -- how they were going to regroup and continue the transition -- was unclear.
At some point I'll get around to reading a biography of Mao to complete the trio of big three communist revolutionaries.
The book is 600 pages but fairly flew by for me, which is interesting because Lenin really didn't do much with most of his life. He spent most of it in exile writing books and newspaper articles. Hardly the stuff of a dashing revolutionary. He let others take all the risks, even his own allies sometimes wondered if he was a coward.
This book is focused on Lenin -- some biographies have a tendency to wander and go in depth on other topics & people beyond just the subject. This means that some topics where Lenin isn't present get short shrift. The planning for the October 1917 revolution and the Russian Civil War are the two biggest examples. But I'm okay with that. The book is already 600 pages. Lenin's story is complicated enough that the alternative would be a multi-volume biography.
But one victim of this -- and the reason I gave this otherwise tremendous biography 4-stars instead of 5-stars -- is that Lenin's philosophy always remained murky to me. His actual writings never get more than a sentence or two of thumbnail synopsis. And once he is actually in power, there is very little written about his governance. There's some kind of land reform, I gather? And a brief mention of people being paid in-kind? And when the New Economic Plan comes along, it is a temporary retreat but...what exactly Lenin planned -- how they were going to regroup and continue the transition -- was unclear.
At some point I'll get around to reading a biography of Mao to complete the trio of big three communist revolutionaries.
Before reading Lenin The Dictator, I had read no biographical books, and I had read no non-fiction books...except Horrible Histories, and I still uphold that that series is the best thing in the history of anything ever. Either way, by the time I closed this book, I realised what I'd been missing out on.
I first saw this book in the bookshop and picked it up, because I've developed a keen interest in the history of socialism over the past year. I read the first chapter there and then, but had to wait a few more weeks before I could actually buy it. When I did, I slogged through the first three quarters and whipped through the last quarter. That's not to say the first three quarters are bad, I just read most books that way.
If you have any interest in Russian history, socialism, or Lenin himself, read this book. It reveals countless interesting details about his private life, and the life of those around him.
I've not got much else to say, just read this.
I first saw this book in the bookshop and picked it up, because I've developed a keen interest in the history of socialism over the past year. I read the first chapter there and then, but had to wait a few more weeks before I could actually buy it. When I did, I slogged through the first three quarters and whipped through the last quarter. That's not to say the first three quarters are bad, I just read most books that way.
If you have any interest in Russian history, socialism, or Lenin himself, read this book. It reveals countless interesting details about his private life, and the life of those around him.
I've not got much else to say, just read this.