David Remnick's "Lenin's Tomb: A Look Into the Final Days of the Soviet Empire"

Grant11955: Extremely well written, but depressing topic because of the make up of the Russians and Vladimir Putin. It’s always hard to see things in Russia because it’s such a tough life for anyone. admirable that Russians are so stoic and accept life this way.

United States on Aug 08, 2023

Murphaleen: This book arrived in an unblemished jacket and book itself was in great shape. Considering all the news of current Russian intrigue, I'm anxious to dive into this to gain some perspective. It was written 20 years ago, but has recently been referenced on several of my favorite shows. I am aware that David Remnick has released an updated version of the book, but this 1993 version will serve me [and my pocketbook well.

United States on Jul 06, 2023

J&J: Very interesting history of how we arrived at the Russia of today.

Canada on Jun 04, 2022

Jeffrey J. Ward: I started reading Remnick’s book after Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The book was much recommended by everyone and I was seeing David’s frequent appearances on the responsible cable news networks and in articles in the New Yorker with his insightful comments on today’s events in Ukraine and Russia. When I realized the book was finished thirty years ago, I wondered whether it remained relevant to issues today. My conclusion is that the book is of timeless importance and should be read by any serious student of recent Russian history. Looking at today’s events and knowing the crucial part the intellectual life has played for so long in Russian society, it seems very unlikely that Putin can succeed for very long in his efforts to suppress speech and misinform with propaganda a society that has so many people in it who are highly educated, principled and among the world’s most profound thinkers. They have long, tragic memories of being lied to by Russia’s governors.

United States on Apr 24, 2022

dmiguer: “In the years after Stalin’s death, the state was an old tyrant slouched in a corner with cataracts and gallstones, muscles gone slack. He wore plastic shoes and a shiny suit that stank of sweat. He hogged all the food and fouled his pants. In the mornings his tongue was coated with the ash taste of age. He mumbled and didn’t care. His thoughts drifted like storm clouds and came clear only a few times a year to recite the old legends of Great October and the Patriotic War. The state was nearly senile but still dangerous enough. He kept the border key in his pocket and ruled every function of public life. Now and then he had fits and the world trembled. A magnificent life support system of agents, informers, police, wardens, lawyers and judges worked at his bedside to keep the old tyrant breathing.” - David Remnick, ‘Lenin’s Tomb’

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David Remnick won the Pulitzer Prize for ‘Lenin’s Tomb’ in 1994, and became editor of the New Yorker in 1998. Prior to that he wrote as a Washington Post Moscow correspondent for four years, from 1988 through the end of the Soviet Union. He draws from interviews and personal experiences of his time in Russia,...

United States on Apr 08, 2022

Paradesi K.Yarikipati: David Remnic takes you to Soviet era and makes you feel as living and seeing the events unfolding...a Live account of tragic history...must read

India on Oct 19, 2021

Christopher Livesay: Remnick's writing and analysis is superb. Given today's new Cold War, I was anxious to see if this pre-Putin book would still hold up. Indeed it does, and provides invaluable background that seems remarkably current.

Italy on Jan 13, 2018

Amazon Customer: This book is not just informative, it makes the story it's telling come to life. Great for anyone with deep or casual interest in Soviet history.

United Kingdom on Jan 01, 2018

Luiz Carlos Robortella: Muito bom livro, escrito por jornalista que viveu na URSS na época de Gorbatchev. Estilo caro e clima de romance,

Brazil on Apr 17, 2017

Gene Zafrin: The book is a compilation of short stories (each chapter a dozen pages or so) about the author's first-hand experiences in the Gorbachev's Soviet Union. From Baltic to Sakhalin and from coal miners to Gorbachev himself, from Stalin to Yeltsin and from Solzhenitsyn to Sakharov, the book paints the picture of the monolith's fall. This colorful collage describing the critical period in Russian history, combined with keen commentary, creates for the reader the distinct flavor of the time.
For Russia, it was the age of confusion and disillusionment. Gorbachev's half-hearted reforms (the interest in truth ended where the Party interests were concerned, the pursuit of democracy gave way to the pursuit of the runaway republics etc.) were matched by the half-hearted '91 coup (no real plan, no propaganda with the military, Lenin wouldn't have approved).
For generations, Russian people did not know much of the sad history of their country and less still about the life in the West. The blissful ignorance was one thing that helped them in their miserable existence. Their various degrees of belief in the grand ideals were the other. With glasnost, Gorbachev aimed at opening the gates of...

United States on Mar 04, 2004