A review by snivets
The Adventures of Owen Hatherley in the Post-Soviet Space by Owen Hatherley

5.0

This book was the travel guide to the post-Soviet space I always dreamed of. In fact, in many ways it felt like a richer experience than I'd have if I'd actually gone there, as Owen's brilliant architectural knowledge is on full display. This is a much more lively book that uses architectural vernacular to get at the humanist questions at its core: what DID happen to the dream of the Soviet Union?

Surprisingly fun stuff, helpful geopolitically in understanding where and why there are dictatorships in these regions (because the other options suck more, basically), and I ended up with an unexpected interest in Soviet Asia. My only wish is for a version of this book with Owen having made it in to Turkmenistan!