Reviews

Putin's Russia: The Rise of a Dictator by Darryl Cunningham

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dahliaf1aff's review

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challenging dark informative medium-paced

3.0

becygee's review

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dark informative

2.75

Could have used graphic elements to its advantage better. Focus/thesis got a little away from itself. Learned a lot but still feeling like I am just touching the surface

whitecat5000's review

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informative medium-paced

3.0

While this was a good work, it's interesting because it was published right before Russia invaded Ukraine. So while this piece is advocating for the recognition of Putin as a dictator, it doesn't need to press the narrative so hard since the invasion.

maxandrambo's review

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dark informative tense fast-paced

4.0

jasonfurman's review

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3.0

I saw a good review of this graphic biography/analysis of Putin and thought it might be interesting for me and/or my children. I have not convinced them to read it (yet) but I did. It was a useful comprehensive summary of what is known about Putin's youth, his early rise in St. Petersburg politics, and then his tenure as leader of Russia (as President and also leading as Prime Minister) focusing especially on the many killings he has ordered and his bungled response (and possible complicity) in various disasters and attacks (the apartment buildings, theater, school and submarine). It did not add that much to my knowledge but filled in a few gaps and reminded me of a few things. At times it was a bit over the top, if one can say such a thing about the depiction of a murderous dictator, but Cunningham seems to believe and pass along just about every conspiratorial version of everything (including believing that Trump was a Russian agent). It was, however, generally nice drawn and written.