gakingmusic 's review for:

The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin by Steven Lee Myers

4.0

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This is a thorough, detailed biography of Vladimir Putin, from his childhood dream of joining the KGB to his invasion of Ukrainian Crimea. Steven Lee Myers has a strong foundation in Russian history, culture, and politics, having years of experience reporting on Russia for the New York Times in Moscow. He adds to this the work of other journalists and researchers, as well as interviews, leaked diplomatic cables, and pro-Putin and anti-Putin sources in Russia. What is perhaps most impressive is that Myers is well-versed in the complexities of international diplomacy, post-Soviet economics, Ukrainian politics, and more. This book is a fantastic starting point for anyone who wants to develop a thorough understanding of Putin and virtually all Russian political activity in the Putin era.