Revolution from Within: The YMCA in Russia’s Ascension to Freedom from Bolshevik Tyranny

by Catherine Baird

REVOLUTION FROM WITHIN is the story of determination, unlikely partnerships, and concepts that are increasingly relevant worldwide. Freedom, creativity and compassion sit at the heart of this book as the author ties the events from more than a century ago back to parallels occurring today."When 160 of Russia's most promising intellectuals were exiled, YMCA Director Dr. John Mott and the YMCA Press supported their continuing development of ideas and philosophy. From the Bolshevik Revolution to the fall of the Soviet Union, 'Revolution from Within' tells a true story of intrigue, politics, religion, and uncertainty. A committed group of Y professionals risked their lives and livelihoods to preserve Russian culture, ideas, faith, and beliefs. In doing so, they provided relief, morale, hope, and encouragement to Russians who remained in the U.S.S.R. and to two million emigres throughout Europe." -- Kristen Obaranec, YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta."I was intrigued to find out about these ideas on Russian spiritual philosophy, and the individuals--The 160--and how they were influenced by YMCA. Overall, this is an astounding and little-known story about a remarkable moment in time--about two or three years in the early 20s when an extraordinary conflux of historical events, outstanding individuals, and big ideas came together to help lay the groundwork for one of the greatest historical events of the 20th century--the fall of Communism." -- Beth Haddon, Journalist and Former Broadcast Executive, CBC."While I have always been keenly interested in Russian history, along with the demise of the Soviet Union, until I read this work I was completely unaware of the integral and vital part played by the YMCA in this quest for freedom or of the power and reach of the YMCA Press. I had no idea that the YMCA played such a pivotal role in Russia and other nations with respect to political transformation." -- Lisa Moore, The Moore Firm.

557 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2015

Reviews

[Denny Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book was a real find. Almost an answer to a prayer along the long path of reading that I have done about Russia and Russians and books written by Russians. This is a very interesting, and I guess a somewhat unknown, story about the preservation of philosophy destined for obscurity had it not been for some key people from the US, France and especially Russia under the guise of the YMCA. I think it was a matter of Divine intervention given what happened to thousands upon thousands of contemporaries to those on the “Philosophers’ Ship” of 1922. This to me this is an outstanding and well told story about one of God's rare corners in the human tragedies of the last several thousand years where perhaps it can be seen as an echo destined to ring even louder if we are fortunate enough to partner with the Divine Realm to truly solve the human enslavement by forces still widely unknown or totally misidentified to date.