History

A Short History of Russia

A Short History of Russia

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  • Create Date：2021-04-18 13:51:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Mark Galeotti
  • ISBN：1529106389
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Summary

Can anyone truly understand Russia？ Let one of the world's leading experts show you how， using the fascinating history of a nation to illuminate its future。

Russia is a country with no natural borders， no single ethnos， no true central identity。 At the crossroads of Europe and Asia， it is everyone’s ‘other’。 And yet it is one of the most powerful nations on earth， a master game-player on the global stage with a rich history of war and peace， poets and revolutionaries。

In this essential whistle-stop tour of the world’s most misunderstood nation， Mark Galeotti takes us behind the myths to the heart of the Russian story: from the formation of a nation to its early legends - including Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the Great - to the rise and fall of the Romanovs， the Russian Revolution， the Cold War， Chernobyl and the end of the Soviet Union – plus the arrival of an obscure politician named Vladimir Putin。

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Reviews

Lorenzo Coopman ，

This is an excellent starting point for those who want to know more about Russia and its long history。 It contains enough knowledge and dept to give a basic understanding of the trends and historical problems and the way it deals and has dealt with them。 It also has a lighter tone than many other works from contemporary writers （Timothy Snyder comes to mind， -A。 Appelbaum also-who tone is much darker and more exhausting。）who makes the reader feel like an impending apocalypse is near。 For all tho This is an excellent starting point for those who want to know more about Russia and its long history。 It contains enough knowledge and dept to give a basic understanding of the trends and historical problems and the way it deals and has dealt with them。 It also has a lighter tone than many other works from contemporary writers （Timothy Snyder comes to mind， -A。 Appelbaum also-who tone is much darker and more exhausting。）who makes the reader feel like an impending apocalypse is near。 For all those who are interested in this huge country， this is a good point to embark on this journey！ 。。。more

Gergely ，

For those who enjoy listening to Mark Galeotti's podcasts and many interviews on contemporary Russian politics， it will come as no surprise that this （indeed very short） history of Russia contains his trademark wit and humor whilst also getting to the crux of the key themes of each era。 Galeotti is strong on myth-busting （all nations use their versions of their history to embellish their present， and Russia is no exception， as he states）， and on showing how many of the challenges Russia faces （s For those who enjoy listening to Mark Galeotti's podcasts and many interviews on contemporary Russian politics， it will come as no surprise that this （indeed very short） history of Russia contains his trademark wit and humor whilst also getting to the crux of the key themes of each era。 Galeotti is strong on myth-busting （all nations use their versions of their history to embellish their present， and Russia is no exception， as he states）， and on showing how many of the challenges Russia faces （such as size， threats from abroad both real and perceived， the struggles of a centralized system to reform itself from above and the society from below） remain consistent throughout its history。 In the context of the modern vision of Russia's current President as a dastardly Machiavelli， always one move ahead on the chess board， and in the face of the largely sycophantic coverage seen in Russian state media， he also has a nice section at the end to， as he puts in， "put Putin in his place。" In case any of the chapters inspire you， each one is followed by a few suggestions of other popular history books for further reading。All in all， a very worthwhile weekend read even for those who have read a fair amount of Russian history already， and for those who have not， an excellent place to start。 。。。more

David Whitt ，

I found this book to be of great interest。 It is indeed a short history （216 pages） the author overall did a well in proving his point。 In short， Russia finds itself in a state of trying to balance between being both east and west resulting in Russia redefining itself as a nation。 For example， today many Russians feel pride over being the international villain。 They glamorize their past heroes， declare they have a higher morality as defenders of the true faith， and feel China as a source for ins I found this book to be of great interest。 It is indeed a short history （216 pages） the author overall did a well in proving his point。 In short， Russia finds itself in a state of trying to balance between being both east and west resulting in Russia redefining itself as a nation。 For example， today many Russians feel pride over being the international villain。 They glamorize their past heroes， declare they have a higher morality as defenders of the true faith， and feel China as a source for inspiration。 Yet， they feel behind in development， openly declare they are European （even if you are on the Asian side of the country）， and enjoy Western movies like Captain America。 This fine line places Russia in positions that leave us wondering what they are doing。 They feel strong， and weak， at the same time。 The author references a study that was done which found that Russians want to simply be， yet Russian leadership seek to recreate the nation as a world super power。 While this example shows current events， this pattern is repeated throughout Russian history， and the Russians are all to willing to rewrite it so they look stronger， and united。While I did find hid overall point quite interesting and in many way true， it's clear that the author is not religious。 He was quick to dismiss religious figures in Russian history as fictional and based on pagan beliefs。 He dose not spend much time on this， but I will need more proof before sharing the same idea。 My other only negative statement was how much time he spent on Tsarist Russia and how quickly he slimed over the Soviet Union。 Russia for most of its history was imperial， so this is where most of the focus would be。 But keeping the Soviet Union to just one chapter？ There is enough content to allow two chapters at least。In conclusion， I found this book to be a fun， and rather easy read。 At the end of each chapter he has a suggested reading list if you want to read more on that particular time in Russian history。 That feature alone I enjoy because it allows the reader to conduct more research into the topic。 。。。more

Dora Andraşoni ，

Even if it is such a short book， the author managed to present the major events and the main figures of Russia in an interesting manner。 I like that the book doesn't just present these events， but also analyzes the impact they had on Russia's development and its relation with the Occident。 It has all it takes to be a really good popularization book: history， geopolitics， psychology， sociology， all mixed up in an enjoyable reading。 Even if it is such a short book， the author managed to present the major events and the main figures of Russia in an interesting manner。 I like that the book doesn't just present these events， but also analyzes the impact they had on Russia's development and its relation with the Occident。 It has all it takes to be a really good popularization book: history， geopolitics， psychology， sociology， all mixed up in an enjoyable reading。 。。。more

Juliet ，

Usually when I read history books， I have to goad myself into reading them as they are often huge and daunting。However， admirably Mr Galeotti managed to condense all of Russian history into one slim volume。 This book was engaging， easy to read， interesting and at several times witty and humorous。 I am no expert in Russian history， but it greatly interests me and this was a brilliant introduction to its ‘palimpsest’ past。 Would definitely recommend！

Александър Стоянов ，

This is a well written account with all the short comings of a short history。 It pinpoints the most important stuff， but leave out plenty。 I'd recommend it to people with some knowledge of Russian history since names， events and historical processes lack context。 Galeotti's strength certainly lies in the modern era and this is evident from some technical mistakes regarding the Early Modern and Medieval period。 This is a well written account with all the short comings of a short history。 It pinpoints the most important stuff， but leave out plenty。 I'd recommend it to people with some knowledge of Russian history since names， events and historical processes lack context。 Galeotti's strength certainly lies in the modern era and this is evident from some technical mistakes regarding the Early Modern and Medieval period。 。。。more

Anirudh Pokhariyal ，

Phenomenal is the only word that can describe Mark Galeotti's work。 No amount of praise will help to make a non-reader of this book understand how crisp yet surprisingly detailed his work is。 Glad that I choose this book。 Phenomenal is the only word that can describe Mark Galeotti's work。 No amount of praise will help to make a non-reader of this book understand how crisp yet surprisingly detailed his work is。 Glad that I choose this book。 。。。more

Martinez Claudio ，

A good summary of Russian history， with a good list of further reading at the end of each chapter。 Useful book

Mark ，

Succinct， unsentimental， but also devoid of the wryness Galeotti is capable of in his writing and podcasts。 I enjoyed it， but not exactly a major exertion from the author。

Mark Peacock ，

Good， readable 50，000-ft overview of 1，100+ years of Russian history for someone who's just getting started in this area。 Each chapter ends with a focused "further reading' list if you want to dive deeper into a specific era。 Good， readable 50，000-ft overview of 1，100+ years of Russian history for someone who's just getting started in this area。 Each chapter ends with a focused "further reading' list if you want to dive deeper into a specific era。 。。。more

Peter ，

Eminently readable summary of Russian history that gives much needed perspective on what the heck Putin is up to。 Hint， he is following in a long tradition of autocrats， stretching back to the pre-Mongol days， trying his best to lord it over a geographic and ethnic vastness。

Nick ，

Exactly what is advertised， nothing more， nothing less。

Scott ，

nice concise overview of Russian history。

Ed ，

RussiaThis is a marvellous little book 。 Although only just under 200 pages you get the main points of Russian history and makes you want to learn more about this truly fascinating country 。

Michele ，

Listened to this wonderful but brief overview of the history of Russia narrated by the author。 Enjoyed it very much。 Now want to read some aspects in depth

Rachel McClain ，

I don't have a particular interest in Russia， but I realized I needed to fill in some gaps in my knowledge。 This was the perfect book to do that。 It's entertaining and educational。 I love that the author gives recommendations for further reading after each chapter。 I don't have a particular interest in Russia， but I realized I needed to fill in some gaps in my knowledge。 This was the perfect book to do that。 It's entertaining and educational。 I love that the author gives recommendations for further reading after each chapter。 。。。more

Mark Taurone ，

I liked it， seemed to be balanced， certainly understandable。 I like the summary method that was used。

Wesley Schweig ，

Een beknopte samenvatting van de geschiedenis van Rusland。 De diepte wordt niet opgezocht in dit boek， maar elk hoofdstuk heeft als afsluiter een boekenlijst waar deze diepte per onderdeel wel opgezocht kan worden。 Het geeft je een algeheel beeld van de geschiedenis van Rusland en hoe alles in elkaar overvloeit。

T。 G。 ，

Really solid and ambitious book。 Great intro。 for those wanting to know a bit more about Russia - beyond the churn of menacing daily headlines， sound bites， etc。 Galeotti also boldly mixed in some wit/irony， which speeds the book along w/o making it frothy。

Andrés Canella ，

As succinct an overview of over 1200 years of Russian History you'll probably find。 It runs after just 200 pages。 This could have benefitted from better cartographic references and a summary of terms。 Otherwise， a fine launching point for further reading。 Galeotti notably recommends these at the end of each chapter。 As succinct an overview of over 1200 years of Russian History you'll probably find。 It runs after just 200 pages。 This could have benefitted from better cartographic references and a summary of terms。 Otherwise， a fine launching point for further reading。 Galeotti notably recommends these at the end of each chapter。 。。。more

Angela Marshall ，

I found this book to be very enlightening since I don't know much about the history of Russia。 After reading the fictional series， The Winter Witch， I was interested in finding out more about pagan culture and it's turn to the present。 I was able to listen to this book on OverDrive from my library so I didn't have access to the maps， but the timelines were informative。 I found this book to be very enlightening since I don't know much about the history of Russia。 After reading the fictional series， The Winter Witch， I was interested in finding out more about pagan culture and it's turn to the present。 I was able to listen to this book on OverDrive from my library so I didn't have access to the maps， but the timelines were informative。 。。。more

Bonnie Messinger ，

Having never delved into Russian history， I found this book eye-opening。 Given the vast land area， the harsh climate and the brutal overlords， modern Russia is hardly surprising。 I would heartily recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about Russia。

Jillian Sweet ，

Informative but dull。

June ，

I've read many histories of the Russian empire， the USSR， and the Russian Federation， from Anglophone authors as well as Russian ones， and I usually dread the solo authors of books on ambitious topics who seem to feel they can sum up Russia in simple terms， often spouting the perspectives that reflect whatever generation they grew up in。 But I was pleasantly surprised that this author allows for the ambiguity and plurality of viewpoints that are unavoidable when studying a such a large， complex I've read many histories of the Russian empire， the USSR， and the Russian Federation， from Anglophone authors as well as Russian ones， and I usually dread the solo authors of books on ambitious topics who seem to feel they can sum up Russia in simple terms， often spouting the perspectives that reflect whatever generation they grew up in。 But I was pleasantly surprised that this author allows for the ambiguity and plurality of viewpoints that are unavoidable when studying a such a large， complex place where records and statistics were often hidden， altered， lost， or never kept in the first place。Plus， at 224 pages， this is a handy reference for anyone who needs to get up to speed quickly。Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC。 。。。more

Laura ，

A lovely overview of Russian History from the disparate coalition of Viking conquerors， Asian herders， and various tribes of the Caucuses region， to the larger than life Czars， and onward through the Soviet period and Putin's eventual ascendance over current day Russia。 This history provides clear timelines and further reading at the beginning and end of each chapter。 Very readable and great place to start if you are new， as I am， to the scope of Russia's long history。 A lovely overview of Russian History from the disparate coalition of Viking conquerors， Asian herders， and various tribes of the Caucuses region， to the larger than life Czars， and onward through the Soviet period and Putin's eventual ascendance over current day Russia。 This history provides clear timelines and further reading at the beginning and end of each chapter。 Very readable and great place to start if you are new， as I am， to the scope of Russia's long history。 。。。more

Dustin ，

Probably too short for most readers， it's still smart and entertaining Probably too short for most readers， it's still smart and entertaining 。。。more

Peter Kopec ，

Great short history of why Russia is Russia

Barry Smirnoff ，

Short History of RussiaThis is a book designed to provide a guide for novices to begin the study of Russian history。 Each chapter provides a brief bibliography for the period。 The author is conflicted as to which viewpoint is most convincing， but that is for the responsibility of the students

Tiffany ，

Short easy read that necessarily leaves a lot out。 But I appreciated the further reading suggestions and suspect I will make use of them。

Kristina ，

Mark Galeotti’s A Short History of Russia: How the World’s Largest Country Invented Itself， From the Pagans to Putin is exactly what it states—a short history。 Galeotti somehow manages to boil down Russian history from before it was Russia to present-day Putin’s Russia into a coherent book。 If you want specifics and in depth analysis of events， this is not the book for you。 However， if you want to want to familiarize yourself generally with Russian history with guidance towards further reading， Mark Galeotti’s A Short History of Russia: How the World’s Largest Country Invented Itself， From the Pagans to Putin is exactly what it states—a short history。 Galeotti somehow manages to boil down Russian history from before it was Russia to present-day Putin’s Russia into a coherent book。 If you want specifics and in depth analysis of events， this is not the book for you。 However， if you want to want to familiarize yourself generally with Russian history with guidance towards further reading， Galeotti’s Short History will be fine。 The author compares Russia to a palimpsest， a document that is used over and over again， written on and rewritten， yet earlier writings can still be deciphered。 Russia， says Galeotti， is a palimpsest。 Time and again， its leaders write over Russia’s past failures and highlight its victories to redefine the country in whichever way the current leaders want。 Russia struggles to define itself—is it Asian？ Is it European？ What does being Russian mean？A Short History of Russia isn’t an extraordinary book; however， it’s concise with well-written， somewhat humorous prose。 Galeotti follows his theme of Russia as a palimpsest nation， a country struggling to define itself， throughout。 Each chapter ends with several suggestions of further reading， with brief commentary about each suggestion。 Due to Russia’s increasing presence in American lives， I wanted to know more about the country。 I found the book helpful in giving me a good summary of historical events which shaped Russia’s past and continues to affect its present。 The last few chapters deal with the break-up of the USSR and the rise of Putin， events I am most interested in。 I recommend this book if you’re generally interested in Russia but feel overwhelmed as where to start reading。 Galeotti’s reading suggestions about specific time periods are helpful。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=A Short History of Russia

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=A Short History of Russia&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,A Short History of Russia&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0