Roads to the Temple: Truth, Memory, Ideas, and Ideals in the Making of the Russian Revolution, 1987–1991

by Leon Aron

Leon Aron considers the “mystery of the Soviet collapse” and finds answers in the intellectual and moral self-scrutiny of glasnost that brought about a profound shift in values. Reviewing the entire output of the key glasnost outlets in 1987-1991, he elucidates and documents key themes in this national soul-searching and the “ultimate” questions that sparked moral awakening of a great “Who are we? How do we live honorably? What is a dignified relationship between man and state? How do we atone for the moral breakdown of Stalinism?”    
 
Contributing both to the theory of revolutions and history of ideas, Aron presents a thorough and original narrative about new ideas’ dissemination through the various media of the former Soviet Union. Aron shows how, reaching every corner of the nation, these ideas destroyed the moral foundation of the Soviet state, de-legitimized it and made its collapse inevitable.  
 

Genres: History, Russia

497 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2012

Reviews

[Mike Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very few revolutions turn out as intended. Given what the Russian people had to suffer though during their seventy (plus) years under communism, you would have hoped the ending would be different from them. A well researched and detailed book on the causes and beginnings of the fall of communism in the Soviet U ion. It turns out that the failure of the revolution was commingled with the causes of the revolution. A tragic story at every turn.

[Erik Ryberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a lot of coverage of the crimes of Stalinist USSR as well as the economic realities. There is less a focus on national discourses during glasnost which is what if feels like the book should focus on. It is a good review or comprehensive summary if one is new to the topic.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was impressed with the magnitude of resources the author presented to document beyond a shadow of a doubt the horrible attrocities of the Soviet state. The utter waste of natural resources, most notably its own people, is sickening. While Gorbachev was a breath of fresh air in leadership for this country, sadly, now with former KGB agent Putin, it appears Russia is again being led down the path of deception, betrayal and double-speak. To not apologize for at least the worst of the crimes against humanity, many against their own citizens, is to not fully begin the road back to healing a nation, whose citizens deserve a chance to choose a progressive path and be spared a return to the same oppression they endured for the 70 years leading up to perestroika.

My only issue with the book, is that towards the author seemed to begin repeating earlier references.

[Martin Whatwouldthefoundersthink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roads To The Temple is an exploration of what statism or etatism does to a people, a culture, and a country. Author Leon Aron meticulously examines the historical record leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1987 – 1991 as it relates to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. It is only in the context of the previous seven decades that there can be any possibility of understanding this second Russian Revolution and what its chroniclers were referring to in the things they wrote.

Read the rest of this review at WhatWouldTheFoundersThink?