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A review by bub_9
The Last Empire - The Final Days of the Soviet Union by Serhii Plokhy
3.0
More Plokhy, same virtues/weaknesses.
The narrative is told in riveting detail, with an energetic and incisive counterpoint to the dominant narrative that America won the Cold War and basked in the unipolar moment after the USSR's collapse. Also interesting in examining the differing motivations of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus in agreeing to break up the Union. I wouldn't have minded more talk of Crimea, though, especially in light of the present day.
Also ... it really is mainly narrative.
The narrative is told in riveting detail, with an energetic and incisive counterpoint to the dominant narrative that America won the Cold War and basked in the unipolar moment after the USSR's collapse. Also interesting in examining the differing motivations of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus in agreeing to break up the Union. I wouldn't have minded more talk of Crimea, though, especially in light of the present day.
Also ... it really is mainly narrative.