Kotkin provides ample citations for everything, which are worth reading over, and a comprehensive bibliography as well, which i...  Read More

Kotkin provides ample citations for everything, which are worth reading over, and a comprehensive bibliography as well, which includes both titles anyone somewhat familiar with the topic will recognise, and plenty of original archival material and lesser-known works.  Read Less

Kotkin seamlessly weaves together stalin's story with the events simultaneously happening in russia and around the globe in suc...  Read More

Kotkin seamlessly weaves together stalin's story with the events simultaneously happening in russia and around the globe in such a way that allows the reader to understand stalin's context, his worldview and the conditions that allowed him to obtain his power.  Read Less

Pretty good story, though i found it hard to identify with the main character.

Pretty good story, though i found it hard to identify with the main character.  Read Less

He does flirt with the idea that lenin did not write the testament, but he never fully embraces this view.

He does flirt with the idea that lenin did not write the testament, but he never fully embraces this view.  Read Less

He achieved his goals--no matter the cost to his country.

He achieved his goals--no matter the cost to his country.  Read Less

Though at times i felt i couldn't bear more arcana of bolshevik infighting, overall i found the author's detailed history of th...  Read More

Though at times i felt i couldn't bear more arcana of bolshevik infighting, overall i found the author's detailed history of the revolution, its antecedents, and its process of consolidation extremely useful in understanding the origin and nature of stalin's remarkable victories over competitors and enemies.  Read Less