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Start with a general history of Russia The Shrike Send a noteboard - 14/03/2017 10:17:22 PM

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I wasn't lying when I said I'm woefully ignorant of Russian history--I had no idea, for instance, that the revolution preempted an election the Bolsheviks would lose. Is there a good survey of the USSR?

If you say you don't know much about Russian history, then starting with the Soviets would be like starting US history in the 20th century. You need the foundation first to understand why what happened in 1917 happened the way it did.

Look at the review of Russia: A History 3rd Edition by Gregory L. Freeze

My review of this book.
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The February Revolution and Kerensky’s Missed Opportunity The Shrike - 13/03/2017 09:37:00 PM 997 Views
Fascinating stuff damookster - 13/03/2017 10:52:58 PM 584 Views
Who knows? It could have been worse off. The Shrike - 13/03/2017 11:37:54 PM 678 Views
What's your opinion on Lenin? Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 02:06:59 AM 630 Views
Lenin. A monster. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 12:55:18 PM 646 Views
Thanks. I'll ask him too. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 03:01:36 PM 311 Views
Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky were all bloodthirsty mass murderers. Tom - 14/03/2017 08:59:06 PM 722 Views
That's fascinating. But give me a book recommendation! Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 09:15:57 PM 577 Views
Start with a general history of Russia The Shrike - 14/03/2017 10:17:22 PM 718 Views
Excellent. Thank you. It's next on the list. Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:11:14 AM 678 Views
Russian history is as depressing as they come. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:08:15 PM 659 Views
Read Figes first, I suppose. Tom - 14/03/2017 10:55:23 PM 613 Views
Thanks, Tom. I've been putting off reading good literature because of my unfamiliarity with Russia. *NM* Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:12:10 AM 311 Views
Which books have you put off reading? *NM* The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:05:32 PM 294 Views
DEMONS and THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV are the big two. Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:58:13 PM 601 Views
You don't necessarily need to know the history. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 03:15:38 PM 641 Views
I'm always afraid I'm missing something critical, though! Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 03:50:59 PM 608 Views
Annotations are amazing. My eBook version of War and Peace was the same. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 04:03:59 PM 622 Views
My High School English teacher neglected Russian literature. Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 01:46:29 AM 588 Views
Hmmmm. The Shrike - 16/03/2017 01:18:14 PM 619 Views
Tolstoy was a reprehensible human being Tom - 15/03/2017 04:02:52 PM 585 Views
I had no idea. I was under the impression he was deeply devout. Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 01:47:43 AM 612 Views
Here's one example: Tom - 16/03/2017 02:06:45 AM 615 Views
Good lord. The man sounds deranged. But that's fascinating! Is there a good biography on him? *NM* Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 07:50:10 AM 296 Views
Pavel Basinsky's bio is best Tom - 16/03/2017 02:46:47 PM 807 Views
Getting it now. Thanks. *NM* Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 11:06:25 PM 293 Views
For what it's worth, I read Lenin & Trotsky as genuine idealists, while Stalin as just a thug Cannoli - 15/03/2017 11:16:36 AM 692 Views
Didn't the 40k authors mainly crib from the Nazis, commissariat excepted? *NM* Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 03:00:17 PM 295 Views
I think that's entirely incorrect. Tom - 15/03/2017 04:00:54 PM 690 Views
Fascinating post. I so need to read up on Soviet history. And Russian history. *NM* Legolas - 15/03/2017 11:10:29 PM 322 Views
I didn't mean stupid or brutish, I meant more like a mafia don than a statesman Cannoli - 16/03/2017 12:18:34 PM 579 Views
Well if you want to completely redefine the phrase "just a thug", perhaps you're right Tom - 16/03/2017 02:43:38 PM 596 Views
Good point Cannoli - 16/03/2017 09:52:29 PM 734 Views
I hear what you're saying, but... Tom - 16/03/2017 11:53:19 PM 622 Views
Yeah, it doesn't really matter if the motive is purely power seeking, or revenge. *NM* Cannoli - 17/03/2017 12:57:19 AM 357 Views
Attempt at clarification Cannoli - 17/03/2017 12:55:03 AM 717 Views
Hehehe..."Fuck off" Tom - 19/03/2017 05:23:49 PM 663 Views
Seems kind of nonsensical Cannoli - 14/03/2017 01:33:49 AM 714 Views
Good reply. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 12:57:47 PM 696 Views
They weren't really wrong Cannoli - 14/03/2017 01:30:07 PM 706 Views
I do enjoy historical "what if" situations. LiterateDog - 14/03/2017 01:47:27 AM 597 Views
Hi there. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 01:02:44 PM 576 Views
I still think democracy among those insidiously intrusive Western values Russia resists so fiercely Joel - 14/03/2017 02:37:39 PM 704 Views
Is it your persistant anti-Russia bias that makes you so dogmatic? damookster - 14/03/2017 02:51:23 PM 599 Views
I have no problem with Russia, only its government Joel - 14/03/2017 03:07:14 PM 735 Views
Really? damookster - 14/03/2017 03:15:10 PM 622 Views
Look, we both know I consider your knowledge of Russia to be non-existent and that your own bias The Shrike - 14/03/2017 03:27:05 PM 665 Views
You are just stunningly stupid. Not merely ignorant, but stupid. Tom - 14/03/2017 08:35:00 PM 732 Views
Very interesting article. One thing that's struck me more and more about WW1 is... Legolas - 14/03/2017 06:34:14 PM 737 Views
Kerensky risked a revolution if he pulled Russia out of the war Tom - 14/03/2017 08:21:05 PM 669 Views
Re: Very interesting article. One thing that's struck me more and more about WW1 is... The Shrike - 15/03/2017 11:58:01 AM 574 Views
What a terrible article Tom - 14/03/2017 08:04:50 PM 603 Views
Your criticisms of the scholarship found in posted articles never fail to make me laugh. damookster - 14/03/2017 09:02:54 PM 639 Views
I don't think anyone's ever gotten an open peer review from me *NM* Tom - 14/03/2017 11:54:45 PM 283 Views
Too bad. I would seek it out just for the amusement factor. *NM* damookster - 15/03/2017 02:18:33 AM 299 Views
I thought you would think this way. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:04:57 PM 691 Views
I can't decide what I think about Evans Tom - 15/03/2017 04:10:05 PM 600 Views
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