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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 947 Views
Fascinating stuff damookster - 13/03/2017 10:52:58 PM 534 Views
Who knows? It could have been worse off. The Shrike - 13/03/2017 11:37:54 PM 631 Views
What's your opinion on Lenin? Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 02:06:59 AM 578 Views
Lenin. A monster. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 12:55:18 PM 598 Views
Thanks. I'll ask him too. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 03:01:36 PM 288 Views
Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky were all bloodthirsty mass murderers. Tom - 14/03/2017 08:59:06 PM 671 Views
That's fascinating. But give me a book recommendation! Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 09:15:57 PM 534 Views
Start with a general history of Russia The Shrike - 14/03/2017 10:17:22 PM 676 Views
Excellent. Thank you. It's next on the list. Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:11:14 AM 628 Views
Russian history is as depressing as they come. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:08:15 PM 599 Views
Read Figes first, I suppose. Tom - 14/03/2017 10:55:23 PM 572 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 280 Views
Which books have you put off reading? *NM* The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:05:32 PM 270 Views
DEMONS and THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV are the big two. Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:58:13 PM 554 Views
You don't necessarily need to know the history. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 03:15:38 PM 592 Views
I'm always afraid I'm missing something critical, though! Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 03:50:59 PM 551 Views
Annotations are amazing. My eBook version of War and Peace was the same. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 04:03:59 PM 568 Views
My High School English teacher neglected Russian literature. Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 01:46:29 AM 537 Views
Hmmmm. The Shrike - 16/03/2017 01:18:14 PM 564 Views
Tolstoy was a reprehensible human being Tom - 15/03/2017 04:02:52 PM 543 Views
I had no idea. I was under the impression he was deeply devout. Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 01:47:43 AM 564 Views
Here's one example: Tom - 16/03/2017 02:06:45 AM 564 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 274 Views
Pavel Basinsky's bio is best Tom - 16/03/2017 02:46:47 PM 757 Views
Getting it now. Thanks. *NM* Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 11:06:25 PM 272 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 637 Views
Didn't the 40k authors mainly crib from the Nazis, commissariat excepted? *NM* Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 03:00:17 PM 272 Views
I think that's entirely incorrect. Tom - 15/03/2017 04:00:54 PM 643 Views
Fascinating post. I so need to read up on Soviet history. And Russian history. *NM* Legolas - 15/03/2017 11:10:29 PM 286 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 526 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 547 Views
Good point Cannoli - 16/03/2017 09:52:29 PM 684 Views
I hear what you're saying, but... Tom - 16/03/2017 11:53:19 PM 570 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 332 Views
Attempt at clarification Cannoli - 17/03/2017 12:55:03 AM 658 Views
Hehehe..."Fuck off" Tom - 19/03/2017 05:23:49 PM 609 Views
Seems kind of nonsensical Cannoli - 14/03/2017 01:33:49 AM 657 Views
Good reply. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 12:57:47 PM 647 Views
They weren't really wrong Cannoli - 14/03/2017 01:30:07 PM 657 Views
I do enjoy historical "what if" situations. LiterateDog - 14/03/2017 01:47:27 AM 544 Views
Hi there. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 01:02:44 PM 520 Views
I still think democracy among those insidiously intrusive Western values Russia resists so fiercely Joel - 14/03/2017 02:37:39 PM 651 Views
Is it your persistant anti-Russia bias that makes you so dogmatic? damookster - 14/03/2017 02:51:23 PM 553 Views
I have no problem with Russia, only its government Joel - 14/03/2017 03:07:14 PM 675 Views
Really? damookster - 14/03/2017 03:15:10 PM 581 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 612 Views
You are just stunningly stupid. Not merely ignorant, but stupid. Tom - 14/03/2017 08:35:00 PM 677 Views
Very interesting article. One thing that's struck me more and more about WW1 is... Legolas - 14/03/2017 06:34:14 PM 684 Views
Kerensky risked a revolution if he pulled Russia out of the war Tom - 14/03/2017 08:21:05 PM 613 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 522 Views
What a terrible article Tom - 14/03/2017 08:04:50 PM 544 Views
Your criticisms of the scholarship found in posted articles never fail to make me laugh. damookster - 14/03/2017 09:02:54 PM 583 Views
I don't think anyone's ever gotten an open peer review from me *NM* Tom - 14/03/2017 11:54:45 PM 262 Views
Too bad. I would seek it out just for the amusement factor. *NM* damookster - 15/03/2017 02:18:33 AM 276 Views
I thought you would think this way. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:04:57 PM 631 Views
I can't decide what I think about Evans Tom - 15/03/2017 04:10:05 PM 539 Views
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