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wintrovia's review
4.0
Slow going at times but the level of detailed research in incredibly impressive. It's also brave to write such a critique of an organisation when the book repeatedly shows what happens to the critics of Putin and "KGB capitalism". The book is a thorough account of Putin's career, including his early days as a spy, rapid ascent in Russian politics and the years he's been in power.
mark_von_oink's review
4.0
Great book, very detailed when it comes to the money being moved around. The only problem I saw was that it uses alot of anonymous sources, however this could be explained by simply looking at the subject of the book.
mogreig's review against another edition
5.0
Should be compulsory reading for anyone that cares about democracy.
Well researched and a hard to put down read.
Rather frightening the impact and future plans Putin has for his ideal world.
Well researched and a hard to put down read.
Rather frightening the impact and future plans Putin has for his ideal world.
saschabookishowl's review
4.0
As Russia is currently invading Ukraine (once again), it is very timely to read about the criminal behind it all: Putin. This book is absolutely terrifying in that it shows reality: how Putin and his cronies bought their way into so many political and economic crucial relationships of the world. I will say no more on it, since people have written excellent detailed reviews of this book on Goodreads and I could never do those justice. But I will say the author did her research well and wrote a dense account that is still very readable, interesting, compelling and terrifying.
yates9's review
4.0
An incredible story one would not believe if it was the plot of a film. Its credibility here is high but perhaps even more powerful than what is real is what one could imagine being the case. So in that sense the book has a bit of a conspiratorial tone and does not clarify how the system could remain sustainable and aligned over such a long timeline.
Ultimately discussion is franed in a west vs east conflict without considering the complexity of political discourse in countries around the world. The conflict might be better characterised by age old progressive versus conservative values where the tactics in the information age are much more sophisticated where countries and companies play through plausible deniability.
It would have been interesting to consider the expected way ahead. The book ends questioning sustainability of the system from economic point of view but does not spend much time explaining why and how it relates to governance.
I think the story is not considering a flip side of the system that must be producing some economic development wifh success and this is a key difference to the USSR. Maybe the route to a win win collaboration ahead some day.
Ultimately discussion is franed in a west vs east conflict without considering the complexity of political discourse in countries around the world. The conflict might be better characterised by age old progressive versus conservative values where the tactics in the information age are much more sophisticated where countries and companies play through plausible deniability.
It would have been interesting to consider the expected way ahead. The book ends questioning sustainability of the system from economic point of view but does not spend much time explaining why and how it relates to governance.
I think the story is not considering a flip side of the system that must be producing some economic development wifh success and this is a key difference to the USSR. Maybe the route to a win win collaboration ahead some day.
wannabekingpin's review
4.0
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: In the past decade, if not more, we heard of talks, rumors, and firm accusations, facts and all, of Russia’s involvement in foreign affairs. From spies, sleepers, to trolls, and election frauds for those in Russia’s favor. Putin’s People, the rotten root in Russia’s rich soil, once was known as KGB, remains. Under a different name, yet it commits the same crimes against others, and against their own people. No one is safe, inside or out, it seems.
My Opinion: It was an almost painful read, but very well written, and very necessary. Depicting most if not all major events where Putin, directly, had a hand. Solidifying in Ukraine, as they pay the highest price right here, right now. And not for the first time either. From protests, to clashes, to outright attack by the aggressor, invasion… Everyone should read this book, and many others, to understand just how incredibly sly this snake on a red throne is.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: In the past decade, if not more, we heard of talks, rumors, and firm accusations, facts and all, of Russia’s involvement in foreign affairs. From spies, sleepers, to trolls, and election frauds for those in Russia’s favor. Putin’s People, the rotten root in Russia’s rich soil, once was known as KGB, remains. Under a different name, yet it commits the same crimes against others, and against their own people. No one is safe, inside or out, it seems.
My Opinion: It was an almost painful read, but very well written, and very necessary. Depicting most if not all major events where Putin, directly, had a hand. Solidifying in Ukraine, as they pay the highest price right here, right now. And not for the first time either. From protests, to clashes, to outright attack by the aggressor, invasion… Everyone should read this book, and many others, to understand just how incredibly sly this snake on a red throne is.
nlbullock1's review
4.0
This book clearly demonstrates that Russia under Putin is a mafia state and is actively seeking to undermine the West as part of an ongoing Cold War campaign, to the detriment of people both in Russia and the United States.
admatthews's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Painstaking account of how Putin and KGB associates gathered and abused political and economic power to retake control after Yeltsin. The more alarming for the lack of any sensationalism. Final chapter on how the network got its hooks into Trump without him even being aware. (Published 2020 so no Ukraine after Crimea and no Trump re-election bid.)