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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
I would call it an unauthorized biography. It’s a lot of information pulled from media. A lot of bias from the American author. My only question is I wonder how Putin feels about it?
This book was an almost overwhelmingly detailed account of Vladimir Putin's life and rise to power. Although there were times reading this that I felt I was drowning in a profusion of minutiae, I actually found that it was a good way to learn. The details made the narrative that much more memorable for me. I absolutely feel that I gained an understanding of Putin as a leader, but perhaps less so as a man.
Which brings me to my only real complaint about this book: The author, Steven Lee Myers, was the New York Times's Moscow Bureau Chief for several years. As a journalist, Myers's writing style is almost wholly fact-driven. And that is all it is. There is very little analysis here. If you are looking for a deep dive into Putin's psyche, or theories as to what drives Putin, you will not find it in this book. Myers provides the necessary facts for you to make your own gander at deconstructing the Russian president, but you will have to do it on your own.
For example, Myers explains that Putin has been deeply impressed by the Russian political philosopher Ivan Ilyin, frequently quoting him in speeches and prompting CIA analysts to read up on the obscure Russian thinker. But Myers's exploration of Ilyin is cut short there. I would have liked even five more paragraphs summarizing the direction of Ilyin's thought, since it likely provides valuable insight into Putin's world view and perhaps therefore his motivation, but that summary never came.
Nevertheless, I did learn an enormous amount about Russia's recent history and Putin as its leader. I have a far better understanding of current events in Ukraine as well as Russia's recent (and, having read this, totally unsurprising) encounters with the U.S. military at Russia's western doorstep in the Baltic Sea.
4 Stars.
Which brings me to my only real complaint about this book: The author, Steven Lee Myers, was the New York Times's Moscow Bureau Chief for several years. As a journalist, Myers's writing style is almost wholly fact-driven. And that is all it is. There is very little analysis here. If you are looking for a deep dive into Putin's psyche, or theories as to what drives Putin, you will not find it in this book. Myers provides the necessary facts for you to make your own gander at deconstructing the Russian president, but you will have to do it on your own.
For example, Myers explains that Putin has been deeply impressed by the Russian political philosopher Ivan Ilyin, frequently quoting him in speeches and prompting CIA analysts to read up on the obscure Russian thinker. But Myers's exploration of Ilyin is cut short there. I would have liked even five more paragraphs summarizing the direction of Ilyin's thought, since it likely provides valuable insight into Putin's world view and perhaps therefore his motivation, but that summary never came.
Nevertheless, I did learn an enormous amount about Russia's recent history and Putin as its leader. I have a far better understanding of current events in Ukraine as well as Russia's recent (and, having read this, totally unsurprising) encounters with the U.S. military at Russia's western doorstep in the Baltic Sea.
4 Stars.
A good book to get up to speed on Putin and the recent history of Russia.
The book is written quite objectively carefully documenting what is clearly established versus what is speculation. For example
- In the case of Putin's alleged amassing of a fortune as a corrupt bureaucrat in St Petersburg, something which is essentially presented as fact by no less a journalistic luminary than Frontline, the book provides convincing evidence that the speculation is false.
- In the case of the apartment bombings, in which Putin's engineering of it all is taken as fact by Frontline, the book presents the cases both for and against.
- In cases where the evidence is clearer, for example, election rigging in 2012 the author is willing to put his foot down that it clearly did happen.
Although Putin definitely emerges as a bad guy overall for building a kleptocracy and smashing all but token opposition the book also documents positive changes he enacted: For example something of a move toward a market economy and the building of a rainy day fund which the author believes allowed Russia to survive the global financial crisis.
Putin's life before becoming Prime Minister and then President is not glorified. The author points out his recklessness such as street brawling while a KGB agent and his indifference to family life. On the other hand, he is not demonized. The author points out that Putin had gained a reputation as being loyal, even when coming at the cost of personal risk and being seen as above corruption prior to becoming Prime Minister. Indeed the author points out that Yeltsin appointed him precisely for these characteristics. It is remarkable that the book is engaging enough to get you through Putin's rather boring life pre-1998 without giving up on it all!
Although the book presents a decent amount of detail on Putin's personal life and habits, he ultimately remains a rather mysterious figure. I felt this was one weakness of the book. It does discuss Putin's hostility toward the west somewhat: for example his feeling that the west is imperialistic, ultimately intent on crushing Russia, arrogant and corrupting of family and religious value. It seemed that the author had just touched on the tip of the iceberg, however, and, perhaps, with more exposition Putin would seem less mysterious.
Another weakness of the book is its rather brief coverage of the events of 2014 in Ukraine. The events are sketched out but there is not enough detailed investigation to have a good sense as to whose version of events is more likely to be true. For example, to what extent was it far right Ukrainian nationalists behind it all versus a truly populist uprising? Who was responsible for things turning violent?
Like most Russian history, things are rather dreary and after reading the book my main sense was being lucky to live in the west and how important it is to keep corruption out of government.
The book is written quite objectively carefully documenting what is clearly established versus what is speculation. For example
- In the case of Putin's alleged amassing of a fortune as a corrupt bureaucrat in St Petersburg, something which is essentially presented as fact by no less a journalistic luminary than Frontline, the book provides convincing evidence that the speculation is false.
- In the case of the apartment bombings, in which Putin's engineering of it all is taken as fact by Frontline, the book presents the cases both for and against.
- In cases where the evidence is clearer, for example, election rigging in 2012 the author is willing to put his foot down that it clearly did happen.
Although Putin definitely emerges as a bad guy overall for building a kleptocracy and smashing all but token opposition the book also documents positive changes he enacted: For example something of a move toward a market economy and the building of a rainy day fund which the author believes allowed Russia to survive the global financial crisis.
Putin's life before becoming Prime Minister and then President is not glorified. The author points out his recklessness such as street brawling while a KGB agent and his indifference to family life. On the other hand, he is not demonized. The author points out that Putin had gained a reputation as being loyal, even when coming at the cost of personal risk and being seen as above corruption prior to becoming Prime Minister. Indeed the author points out that Yeltsin appointed him precisely for these characteristics. It is remarkable that the book is engaging enough to get you through Putin's rather boring life pre-1998 without giving up on it all!
Although the book presents a decent amount of detail on Putin's personal life and habits, he ultimately remains a rather mysterious figure. I felt this was one weakness of the book. It does discuss Putin's hostility toward the west somewhat: for example his feeling that the west is imperialistic, ultimately intent on crushing Russia, arrogant and corrupting of family and religious value. It seemed that the author had just touched on the tip of the iceberg, however, and, perhaps, with more exposition Putin would seem less mysterious.
Another weakness of the book is its rather brief coverage of the events of 2014 in Ukraine. The events are sketched out but there is not enough detailed investigation to have a good sense as to whose version of events is more likely to be true. For example, to what extent was it far right Ukrainian nationalists behind it all versus a truly populist uprising? Who was responsible for things turning violent?
Like most Russian history, things are rather dreary and after reading the book my main sense was being lucky to live in the west and how important it is to keep corruption out of government.
Can you give a book 5 stars & 1 star Simultaneously?
5 Stars: My eyes were completely opened to the way Putin operates, his views on the West and the complexity that is Russia.
1 Star: It feels like we (Ukraine currently, USA/the world futuristically) are all fucked. Putin has to be one of the greatest threats to World security to exist.
5 Stars: My eyes were completely opened to the way Putin operates, his views on the West and the complexity that is Russia.
1 Star: It feels like we (Ukraine currently, USA/the world futuristically) are all fucked. Putin has to be one of the greatest threats to World security to exist.
He's more Stalin, less Nicholas II. Which shouldn't be too surprising as a product of the Soviet Union. It'll be another generation or 2 before Russia is more democratic. Medvedev had the ideas and mentality to be the Democratic leader of Russia, but the shadow of Putin was too strong.
Not knowing much about Putin, I was interested to know how he rose to power and has kept it for so long. With state media in his back pocket and the ability to make unilateral decisions about nearly anything he wants, Putin can - and does - call the shots. The Russian constitution is mostly irrelevant. He decides what sectors get government support and which companies are awarded contracts. Anyone who dares challenge him publicly likely will be silenced, either through prison or assassination.
His reign, is, sadly, a familiar one in Russia. And it's their people who pay the price.
His reign, is, sadly, a familiar one in Russia. And it's their people who pay the price.
This man is an enygma. Through all this pages you can only see a glimpse of what he has done, but you're not sure about his motives. His actions speak loudly but still it's hard to reach the real Putin.
However one thing is sure by now "No Putin, no Russia".
That's the only thing that matters.
However one thing is sure by now "No Putin, no Russia".
That's the only thing that matters.
To the extent that I wanted a better knowledge of Putin, Russia, and its ongoing problematic relationship with the U.S., this book was a four-star read.
I got a lot (a LOTTTT) of information on Putin, through the fall of the USSR, Yeltsin's troubled presidency, his unexpected rise to power, and his machinations to keep it. I also got a better understanding of Russia's relationship with the Western world and how it's operated since the fall of the Berlin Wall. I feel better educated for it.
However, it's very obvious this book was written by a journalist. This isn't a bad thing - as I said, it's very detailed - but it fails to interpret the facts in any definitive way. Everything alleged against Putin has never been proven, and I don't feel like I was able to get inside his head. I think I have a lot more reading to do to really understand these issues.
That said, I enjoyed the book and would love to see an update since the 2016 election.
I got a lot (a LOTTTT) of information on Putin, through the fall of the USSR, Yeltsin's troubled presidency, his unexpected rise to power, and his machinations to keep it. I also got a better understanding of Russia's relationship with the Western world and how it's operated since the fall of the Berlin Wall. I feel better educated for it.
However, it's very obvious this book was written by a journalist. This isn't a bad thing - as I said, it's very detailed - but it fails to interpret the facts in any definitive way. Everything alleged against Putin has never been proven, and I don't feel like I was able to get inside his head. I think I have a lot more reading to do to really understand these issues.
That said, I enjoyed the book and would love to see an update since the 2016 election.
When it comes to understanding the motivations of one Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, it is necessary to turn to the words of that gifted singer of soul, Aretha Franklin.
That's right. All Putin's asking for is a little respect.
Like him or not, Vladimir Putin is the most influential leader in the world today. Sure, on paper the U.S. President still wields the most power, but he (or maybe, before long, she) doesn't have the power to steer the ship that is America more than a degree or two right or left of the course that others have set for it. The 16 years that Putin has spent in power - either as President or, from 2008-2012, as Prime Minister - have shown us that Putin is under no such constraints. He is his own Captain, free to steer an increasingly mighty Russian ship wherever he alone pleases.
Putin is also, by a wide margin, the most fascinating current leader on the world stage - and boy, does he ever treat the world like a stage! The man is clearly in a league of his own, but what truly fascinates is the fact that he's so clearly a relic of a lost era, an era in which rulers were not constrained by the pretense of democracy, but were free to do whatever they pleased with little regard to international conventions or precedents. He is a dictator in all but name, but one can't help but respect - despite the numerous human rights abuses and violations that have taken place in his Russia - the fact that he has so outmaneuvered his counterparts.
We can take any number of issues - from Russia's incursions into Georgia and Ukraine, to his singlehanded stymieing of U.S. efforts to topple Syrian President Assad - as examples of ways in which Putin has outplayed his peers. The fact that Presidents Bush and Obama both saw in Putin a man they could work with just underscores the degree of Western naivety towards him.
"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country."
That famous Bush quote from 2001 is, like so many Bush proclamations in hindsight, utterly laughable. "Committed to his country" was about the only part of it that he got right. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell is reported to have responded to the Bush quote by saying "I looked into President Putin's eyes and I saw the KGB". Arizona Senator John McCain later used a version of this rebuttal when campaigning for President in 2008.
President Obama, as late as 2012, laughed at Republican challenger Mitt Romney's declaration that Putin was the United States' "number one geopolitical foe." During events that culminated in whistleblower Edward Snowden's successful request for Russian political asylum the following year, Obama soon realized that he had spent the previous five years of his Presidency greatly underestimating Putin.
Too late.
"The New Tsar" is a relatively lengthy read - nearly 600 pages - but it really isn't long enough. There is so much about decisions Putin has taken and events leading up to his rise to power that are only lightly covered. I suspect that this ultimately has less to do with the author and more to do with the fact that much about the inner workings of Putin's Kremlin and the extent of his KGB days that is still unknown - at least to those outside Russia. Despite this, "The New Tsar" is, to my knowledge, the most thorough biography of Vladimir Putin that has yet been done, an admirable feat in itself.
Whatever you ultimately think of Putin, my guess is that he will continue to confound and fascinate political observers for years to come. It is my hope that author Steven Lee Myers will release a second part to "The New Tsar" a few years down the road - perhaps after 2024, when Putin's fourth Presidential term is expected to end, because this volume will in no way be the last word worth being written on the man. It already isn't.
This volume ends with two events that happened in the Spring before the book's publication. The first is the murder of Putin opponent Boris Nemtsov on a street in full view of the Kremlin in February 2015, and the second is Putin's conspicuous, unexplained 10-day absence from public life the following month.
Despite the theories that swirled around that latter event, it is all but certain that the new Tsar won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Will subsequent years give him the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. that he longs for?
Only time will tell.
That's right. All Putin's asking for is a little respect.
Like him or not, Vladimir Putin is the most influential leader in the world today. Sure, on paper the U.S. President still wields the most power, but he (or maybe, before long, she) doesn't have the power to steer the ship that is America more than a degree or two right or left of the course that others have set for it. The 16 years that Putin has spent in power - either as President or, from 2008-2012, as Prime Minister - have shown us that Putin is under no such constraints. He is his own Captain, free to steer an increasingly mighty Russian ship wherever he alone pleases.
Putin is also, by a wide margin, the most fascinating current leader on the world stage - and boy, does he ever treat the world like a stage! The man is clearly in a league of his own, but what truly fascinates is the fact that he's so clearly a relic of a lost era, an era in which rulers were not constrained by the pretense of democracy, but were free to do whatever they pleased with little regard to international conventions or precedents. He is a dictator in all but name, but one can't help but respect - despite the numerous human rights abuses and violations that have taken place in his Russia - the fact that he has so outmaneuvered his counterparts.
We can take any number of issues - from Russia's incursions into Georgia and Ukraine, to his singlehanded stymieing of U.S. efforts to topple Syrian President Assad - as examples of ways in which Putin has outplayed his peers. The fact that Presidents Bush and Obama both saw in Putin a man they could work with just underscores the degree of Western naivety towards him.
"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country."
That famous Bush quote from 2001 is, like so many Bush proclamations in hindsight, utterly laughable. "Committed to his country" was about the only part of it that he got right. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell is reported to have responded to the Bush quote by saying "I looked into President Putin's eyes and I saw the KGB". Arizona Senator John McCain later used a version of this rebuttal when campaigning for President in 2008.
President Obama, as late as 2012, laughed at Republican challenger Mitt Romney's declaration that Putin was the United States' "number one geopolitical foe." During events that culminated in whistleblower Edward Snowden's successful request for Russian political asylum the following year, Obama soon realized that he had spent the previous five years of his Presidency greatly underestimating Putin.
Too late.
"The New Tsar" is a relatively lengthy read - nearly 600 pages - but it really isn't long enough. There is so much about decisions Putin has taken and events leading up to his rise to power that are only lightly covered. I suspect that this ultimately has less to do with the author and more to do with the fact that much about the inner workings of Putin's Kremlin and the extent of his KGB days that is still unknown - at least to those outside Russia. Despite this, "The New Tsar" is, to my knowledge, the most thorough biography of Vladimir Putin that has yet been done, an admirable feat in itself.
Whatever you ultimately think of Putin, my guess is that he will continue to confound and fascinate political observers for years to come. It is my hope that author Steven Lee Myers will release a second part to "The New Tsar" a few years down the road - perhaps after 2024, when Putin's fourth Presidential term is expected to end, because this volume will in no way be the last word worth being written on the man. It already isn't.
This volume ends with two events that happened in the Spring before the book's publication. The first is the murder of Putin opponent Boris Nemtsov on a street in full view of the Kremlin in February 2015, and the second is Putin's conspicuous, unexplained 10-day absence from public life the following month.
Despite the theories that swirled around that latter event, it is all but certain that the new Tsar won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Will subsequent years give him the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. that he longs for?
Only time will tell.