Stalin

by Harold Shukman

Stalin was one of the most ruthless and authoritarian dictators in world history. This concise title presents Lenin's heir from his beginnings for priesthood to General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Russia

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 1999

Reviews

[Will Cafferky · Rating 2 out of 5]

bad editing, lacking detail, quite ranty

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lettlest og kort. Gir fint innblikk i Stamina liv og virke, passe detaljert, men fortsatt kort og greit.

[Eric Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of a crop of very short biographies of Soviet dictator published in recent years. Here is what I loved about it: Harold Shukman is a well-known academic, an expert on Soviet history. He knows what he’s talking about. His book is very short — and I love short books. It is more than competent: it’s accurate, not sloppy, and very readable. And it ends with a warning to the citizens of Vladimir Putin’s Russia: Stalin was not a good, strong leader – he was a monster. (I doubt if the book is being published in Russian, but it should be.)

The downside: There isn’t any, really. Maybe slightly gossipy regarding Stalin and his women. He may or may not have had a relationship with his house-keeper who collapsed in tears while Stalin was dying. And maybe one of the reaons why his younger, second wife shot herself was jealousy over Stalin’s flirtacious behaviour with women at Kremlin social events. But otherwise, a clear, accurate and concise book. (Did I already mention that it’s a short book? I may have done.) Recommended.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent, short, biography about one of the most evil people in history. It does not condemn him too much, but is pretty objective and does not shy away from lot of the deaths this man is responsible for. I would say this is the kind of introduction to Stalin I wanted to read but don't expect too much. It is simple and straightforward, with lots of names to keep track of as well as communist jargon, but all in all - ok.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertainment & Engagement: Poor. The book lacks entertainment value and suffers from poor writing and editing.

Educational Value: Great. It offers a wealth of information for those interested in Stalin and the Bolsheviks.

Effort, Accessibility & Aesthetic Impact: Average. The writing is simple and the chapters are long, but it’s not difficult to read.

Practical Application: None. This is not a book intended for practical use.

Value for Writers: Good. As with most biographies, it’s useful for character creation and brainstorming. The book provides a concise exploration of Stalin’s life, covering multiple aspects in a compact format.

[Michael Gerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just a slim volume, less than 200 pages. Gives a rather fair assessment of Stalin and is a good appetizer before reading a more comprehensive biography.

[Frankie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i need to find new hobbies