Russia Books

It is the story of a young American who was in Germany and was imprisoned by the Soviets when they invaded Germany. When the Soviets quit feeding him, he found himself on the verge of dying. Finally he quit praying to God selfishly and simply put his life into God's hands. God saved his life miraculously, and he became a missionary in prison. He also served a sentence in a mining camp in Siberia. This book is for anybody who seeking reality in God.

I was captivated by this presentation of the diaries of Nina Lugovskaya and recommend it to anyone moved by the affect of cataclysm on deeply human lives.

Nina's words create the longing for the impossible ¬- wanting to meet the person at the centre of it all and wanting to know, wanting to feel, what her life was really like. How do you live a prosaic life in the midst of tumult? A life both 'ordinary' and 'extraordinary' at the same time - a fate shared then as now - by unknown millions. How do such situations come to exist, how do they come to warp the concerns of daily life?

These questions remain vital for the world today. Think Iraq; Zimbabwe; North Korea; Chechnya; choose your country.

The only qualifiers in works such as `I Want to Live' are the invisible hand of the editor - how much of the diary has been edited out? The reader may never know. The unnecessary value judgements of Nina's opinions included in some footnotes to chapters(how does this serve the author or the reader at all?) and the use of a colloquial style of translation, with cliched, TV expressions like - `anytime soon' - words that Nina herself would never have used. These things serve to degrade the reader's experience.

An interesting feature of the diary is how Nina, especially for such a young person, seemingly knew about events in the Soviet Union that apparently she `shouldn't have' - could it be that the Soviet people knew more about the dreadful things happening in their society than western commentators give credence? Perhaps.

In any case, `Bravo Lugovskaya!' a spirited `ordinary' life lived in sad and troubled times.

This is a carefully researched, thoughtful and well-written examination of the Russian speaking population in the "near abroad" since the break up of the Soviet Union. While my experience is largely with Lithuania, his discussion of the Russian speaking population in Estonia and Latvia seemed insightful. As a minor criticism, or perhaps more as a term of reference for readers, I should note that Laitin seemed more sympathetic to the diaspora Russians than to the local populations. His discussion of Baltic events struck me as distinctly pro-ethnic Russian, although not outrageously so. Persons with Baltic ties may disagree with some his views, but they will still find them interesting.

Major Elliot's informed analysis is just as valid in 2004 as it was in 1949. The Russian's relentless pursuit of nuclear arsenals and world hegemony is a true threat to world peace, and in particular, Major Elliot makes a strong case for protecting Norway from the high probability of Russian Attack (p. 141). The Soviet, er, Russian High Command will be anxious to get hold of Norwegian ports for the use of their submarines. And in the Middle East we must also be vigilant lest Russian columns strike from Transcaucasia in to Abadan and Kuweit. As Major Eliot writes, a burden of responsibility to protect the benefits of freedom and share its benefits with mankind has been laid on the shoulders of America as has no other country in history.

Actually, that last part probably actually still IS true today.

I miss the Cold War. The moral relativism that infects the heart of the West and America is a hard thing to deal with, and it may be our own apathy and over-acceptance of other cultures that will ultimately lose the current war of ideas and cultures.

If you want to get an excellent idea about the history of the domestic interior, this is the book for you. Every type of dwelling is to be found, with exquisite detail. From the very simple, to the palatial, one finds great delight in these wonderful watercolors. Culled from the domestic interiors of Europe, the Continent, Russia and America, these historic records give the reader an extrodinary glimpse into the past. It is an accurate record of the most minute details, from the floors to the paintings on the walls. Scholarly enough for students of Interior Design? Yes; but why should they have all the fun?

-perfectly conceived and perfectly executed. -a good read and a very well-made hardcover book. The same is true of the whole series: (One Work) by Afterall Books.

An amazing book.

A fascinating read as the story-line winds its way through the notes written by A. Iyas to Russian Foreign Ministry & other high ranking Russian officials. To know that Iran was the playground for the regional/super powers (Ottomans, England & Russia) during the last several decades of the Qajar Dynasty is one thing, to see it being micromanaged through the meticulous notes of a mid/high level civil servant, stationed in a particularly volatile region is quite another.

Then there are the images that breath life into the text and transport the reader to a time and place long gone. For example, there are some amazing photographs of Kurdish leaders, surrounded by their tribal warriors, that are so vivid as to make the reader feel the tension of the events leading to the taking of these pictures. The paper quality is near photographic paper quality; a true luxury that enhances the image quality several fold.

Meanwhile, the author does a wonderful job of filling in any blanks and giving background when it is absolutely needed to place people and events in context.
One may or may not agree with the innocence and purity of mind and intention attributed to the central figure (A. Iyas) but regardless of whether or not we buy that argument, all should agree that this book sheds lots of light on many hitherto unknown (or little known) actors who helped shape regional events in the years immediately preceding the Big War (WWI).

A must for any serious historian or lover of exquisite turn of the century photography.

Loved the book, and bought several more for friends & family to read.

True historians would shy away from this book, given the rather bold proclamation of its title.

They give short shrift to the legend of Alexander's disapperance because the odds of it having been pulled would seem to be so slight. Plus such a myth would seem so "Russian", so attractive as a mysterious tribute to "Alexander the Blessed."

I shared that reluctance, but found this to be a fine story of Alexander's life by a person with strong credentials and convictions. The bibliography is excellent.

So even if the premise is far fetched on a purely logical basis, examining this book is well worth the time. I am very happy that I did - and not entirely convinced but that the author's point is worth further examination.

I had assumed it was an amazingly bad translation that made the author sound schizo... maybe the author is schizo!? the language is a jumble of sensational slander against the czars - very entertaining. like 12 caesars and the secret history (less substancial and sensational/creative but completely bonkers).

ok. here my second take on why this writting is so askew. the author is so consumed with being clever that he fails to establish any historical factual foundation about any of the parties he's attacking. he just launches into an attack assuming that you already know whats going on. the authors cleverness is a bit monotonous but its relatively entertaining.

Dr. Paine spent several years in Russia, China, Taiwan, and Japan unearthing new documents on Russo-Chinese relations. These documents reveal that Russo-Chinese relations were not friendly, in contradiction to Russian and Chinese statements claiming that they were, and the two empires clashed constantly, especially along their lengthy borders. Outer Mongolia represents only the most recent border dispute, and Paine shows how the Soviet leaders handled this incident in a fashion that would have made their Tsarist predecessors proud. A thoroughly excellent and ground-breaking work and a must-read for any serious student of Asian history or International Relations.