How to Survive Authoritarianism: A Russian's Phrasebook for Everyday Life in America

by Maria Kuznetsova, Dan Storyev

Genres: Politics, Language, History, Nonfiction, Russia

232 pages, Hardcover

Published September 29, 2026

Reviews

[Jerry Edward Stephens]

“Authoritarianism” is generally defined as a strongly centralized governmental control imposed in a repressive manner. There may, in fact, be many other ways to describe authoritarianism and its effect on those being governed. “Oligarchy” is one such word increasingly applied in the United States and many other countries around the world to identify the ruling elites who most benefit from an increased authoritarian government control. The two authors of this book on authoritarianism have extensive personal and family experience with this societal trauma. Kuznetsova is a Ukraine native whose family migrated to the United States after the collapse of the Soviet Union. She is now a professor of creative writing at Auburn University in Alabama. Storyev is an independent researcher and journalist who also migrated to this country from Russia. Both are active human rights experts. The two have more recently begun to write about their political experiences in linguistic terms. In part, that meant addressing authoritarianism through a handy phrase book — a sort of short glossary of authoritarianism — designed to help Americans name the new political reality facing the nation. This book identifies some 100 Russian words and terms which are frequently used to describe such authoritarian behavior. Recognizing that an oligarchy is seen as increasingly strong in its organization, the authors identify the Siloviki as an influential group who help the authoritarian leader establish his power over the government. The word can be translated as men of power, or a political caste authorized to use violence against citizens and others. The authors explain that this group of influential people are often members of the police, the border control, the army, the security services, and the spies and state intelligence services. For their loyalty to the regime, they are rewarded with economic investments and other measures of control over community and societal institutions. This new book is based on the notion that it is much easier to contest what is happening in our country when we can define and accurately describe what is actually happening. A useful companion book to read is Anne Applebaum’s Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Rule the World (Doubleday 2024). Applebaum’s book addresses the global network of autocracies that support each other to maintain political power and undermine democratic societies. This new book by Kuznetsova and Storyev is highly recommended to concerned readers as a way to understand and recognize the potential erosion of democratic norms this country and others now face as realistic threats.

[Eliza's Reading]

This was written in such a way that I devoured it in one sitting. Not only was the subject of authoritarianism timely but having the perspective being from the authors point of view having lived in Russia gave this book much more credibility. I absolutely loved how they explained things through Russian terms and phrases. The writing was engaging and thought provoking on many levels. When you see authoritarianism through the lens of an administration of another country and can see the parallels to your own country clearly it does strike panic. You can basically read each chapter section by section and compare both worlds. How to Survive Authoritarianism is accessible for young and old alike. It was a short but to the point necessary read.

Thank you, Maria Kuzentsova, Dan Storyey and W.W. Norton & Company for providing this e-ARC via NetGalley for review.

[Leah]

Regardless of which side you fall on in the political realm, the word “authoritarianism” is being thrown around from all sides. This tome is timely in that regard. The authors take there experiences living in Russia and shares with us Russian idioms and phrases that have come to define terms related to life in Russia under Putin. The explanations are short and simply stated giving the reader a clear understanding. Not only does the book offer a look into current state of Russia today, it also allows us to look inward and apply these ideas to our own experiences and what is happening here at home.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. The opinions are my own.

[Migdalia Jimenez]

This slim book packs a powerful punch.

Full of interesting historical facts and interesting tidbits on Russian culture, it would also appeal to fans of books on linguistics.

This is the book of the moment, given what we are currently living through.

[Audrey]

This book wis a short guide of how certain terms and phrases became part of Russian doublespeak to give common voice to those fighting autocracy. Short bits of relevant history provide context. Thanks to the publisher and edelweiss for an advance reader copy.