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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 847 Views
Fascinating stuff damookster - 13/03/2017 10:52:58 PM 449 Views
Who knows? It could have been worse off. The Shrike - 13/03/2017 11:37:54 PM 537 Views
What's your opinion on Lenin? Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 02:06:59 AM 486 Views
Lenin. A monster. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 12:55:18 PM 517 Views
Thanks. I'll ask him too. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 03:01:36 PM 244 Views
Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky were all bloodthirsty mass murderers. Tom - 14/03/2017 08:59:06 PM 561 Views
That's fascinating. But give me a book recommendation! Ghavrel - 14/03/2017 09:15:57 PM 456 Views
Start with a general history of Russia The Shrike - 14/03/2017 10:17:22 PM 573 Views
Excellent. Thank you. It's next on the list. Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:11:14 AM 520 Views
Russian history is as depressing as they come. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:08:15 PM 515 Views
Read Figes first, I suppose. Tom - 14/03/2017 10:55:23 PM 477 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 229 Views
Which books have you put off reading? *NM* The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:05:32 PM 217 Views
DEMONS and THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV are the big two. Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 02:58:13 PM 470 Views
You don't necessarily need to know the history. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 03:15:38 PM 502 Views
I'm always afraid I'm missing something critical, though! Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 03:50:59 PM 452 Views
Annotations are amazing. My eBook version of War and Peace was the same. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 04:03:59 PM 474 Views
My High School English teacher neglected Russian literature. Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 01:46:29 AM 435 Views
Hmmmm. The Shrike - 16/03/2017 01:18:14 PM 473 Views
Tolstoy was a reprehensible human being Tom - 15/03/2017 04:02:52 PM 448 Views
I had no idea. I was under the impression he was deeply devout. Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 01:47:43 AM 471 Views
Here's one example: Tom - 16/03/2017 02:06:45 AM 472 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 229 Views
Pavel Basinsky's bio is best Tom - 16/03/2017 02:46:47 PM 647 Views
Getting it now. Thanks. *NM* Ghavrel - 16/03/2017 11:06:25 PM 219 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 526 Views
Didn't the 40k authors mainly crib from the Nazis, commissariat excepted? *NM* Ghavrel - 15/03/2017 03:00:17 PM 221 Views
I think that's entirely incorrect. Tom - 15/03/2017 04:00:54 PM 532 Views
Fascinating post. I so need to read up on Soviet history. And Russian history. *NM* Legolas - 15/03/2017 11:10:29 PM 231 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 430 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 449 Views
Good point Cannoli - 16/03/2017 09:52:29 PM 584 Views
I hear what you're saying, but... Tom - 16/03/2017 11:53:19 PM 477 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 289 Views
Attempt at clarification Cannoli - 17/03/2017 12:55:03 AM 560 Views
Hehehe..."Fuck off" Tom - 19/03/2017 05:23:49 PM 507 Views
Seems kind of nonsensical Cannoli - 14/03/2017 01:33:49 AM 564 Views
Good reply. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 12:57:47 PM 546 Views
They weren't really wrong Cannoli - 14/03/2017 01:30:07 PM 566 Views
I do enjoy historical "what if" situations. LiterateDog - 14/03/2017 01:47:27 AM 463 Views
Hi there. The Shrike - 14/03/2017 01:02:44 PM 436 Views
I still think democracy among those insidiously intrusive Western values Russia resists so fiercely Joel - 14/03/2017 02:37:39 PM 558 Views
Is it your persistant anti-Russia bias that makes you so dogmatic? damookster - 14/03/2017 02:51:23 PM 468 Views
I have no problem with Russia, only its government Joel - 14/03/2017 03:07:14 PM 584 Views
Really? damookster - 14/03/2017 03:15:10 PM 492 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 518 Views
You are just stunningly stupid. Not merely ignorant, but stupid. Tom - 14/03/2017 08:35:00 PM 584 Views
Very interesting article. One thing that's struck me more and more about WW1 is... Legolas - 14/03/2017 06:34:14 PM 589 Views
Kerensky risked a revolution if he pulled Russia out of the war Tom - 14/03/2017 08:21:05 PM 471 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 433 Views
What a terrible article Tom - 14/03/2017 08:04:50 PM 454 Views
Your criticisms of the scholarship found in posted articles never fail to make me laugh. damookster - 14/03/2017 09:02:54 PM 497 Views
I don't think anyone's ever gotten an open peer review from me *NM* Tom - 14/03/2017 11:54:45 PM 212 Views
Too bad. I would seek it out just for the amusement factor. *NM* damookster - 15/03/2017 02:18:33 AM 217 Views
I thought you would think this way. The Shrike - 15/03/2017 12:04:57 PM 538 Views
I can't decide what I think about Evans Tom - 15/03/2017 04:10:05 PM 432 Views
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