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Zelensky: The Unlikely Ukrainian Hero Who Defied Putin and United the World
The first major profile of Ukraine's courageous President Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukraine's most popular comedic actor was an unlikely president of his country. And now, even more improbably, Volodymyr Zelensky has become the world's most celebrated statesman. Who is he? How did he become the international hero of our time?
Zelensky: The Unlikely Ukrainian Hero Who Defied Putin and United the World is a compelling account of this fascinating, enigmatic leader. Covering Zelensky's childhood, family history, and astonishing transformation from TV celebrity to first Jewish president of Ukraine, this audiobook tells you what you need to know about the newest star of the world stage.
No one has been more surprised by Zelensky's power to inspire and mobilize his countrymen and the world than Vladimir Putin, who expected Russia's conquest of its beleaguered neighbor to be the work of an afternoon. Outfoxed and isolated, Putin is not the first person to have underestimated the former comedian with a spine of steel.
Ukraine's most popular comedic actor was an unlikely president of his country. And now, even more improbably, Volodymyr Zelensky has become the world's most celebrated statesman. Who is he? How did he become the international hero of our time?
Zelensky: The Unlikely Ukrainian Hero Who Defied Putin and United the World is a compelling account of this fascinating, enigmatic leader. Covering Zelensky's childhood, family history, and astonishing transformation from TV celebrity to first Jewish president of Ukraine, this audiobook tells you what you need to know about the newest star of the world stage.
No one has been more surprised by Zelensky's power to inspire and mobilize his countrymen and the world than Vladimir Putin, who expected Russia's conquest of its beleaguered neighbor to be the work of an afternoon. Outfoxed and isolated, Putin is not the first person to have underestimated the former comedian with a spine of steel.
192 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2022
27 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
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June 9, 2022
I had hoped to learn more about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by reading this short biography. However, the book is comprised of excerpts from other articles, newscasts, and online posts and speeches that I’ve already seen or read. It was disappointing.
May 3, 2022
Like many recently, I have been inspired (and heartbroken) by the courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people. And, most notably, the bravery of all their citizens, President Zelenskyy included.
I’ve been wondering when a biography would come out and, imagine my surprise when this dropped at my library. I eagerly scooped it up and…
…this ain’t it.
Too much is happening in real time so this book is already out of date. Plus, it has several errors (more on that in a moment), needs better proof reading (did this even have an editor?), it’s VERY light on actual biographical information of President Zelenskyy (seriously, you could google for, like, 15 minutes and you’d have more info than this book presents), uses a map that spells Kyiv as “Kiev” (aka the Russian spelling), and also uses freaking MailOnline and the godawful Epoch Times as source material.
I wish I were kidding. Alas, I am not.
Now, on to the errors: (these were just the ones I caught so there might be more)
- Misspelled daughter’s name, p 93, (Oleksandra vs Oleksandar) and gives 2 different birth years for her, 2002 in chap 1 and 2004 in chap 7.
- Multiple spellings of their son’s name.
- Misspelled Poroshenko’s name, p95 (yes, he is oligarch trash - and a possible Russian stooge - but even oligarch trash should be given the courtesy of the correct spelling of their name so we know by which name to ridicule them)
If you want serious scholarship on Ukraine and Russia, follow Anne Applebaum on Twitter (and read her books). If you want daily updates on life on the ground in Ukraine, follow NPR’s Tim Mak and World Central Kitchen’s Nate Mook (also on Twitter, before El*n goes and sets fire to that, too).
Perhaps my biggest annoyance with this book is the fact that it refuses to spell Zelenskyy’s name with the President’s own preferred spelling*.
*For whatever reason, Goodreads is blocking the link, so here it is in all its unformatted glory: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/politi...
Give the President the respect he deserves and wait for actual, legitimate biographies to be published. Because, as I said at the start…
…This ain’t it.
2 stars is generous and only given because Slava Ukraini.
I’ve been wondering when a biography would come out and, imagine my surprise when this dropped at my library. I eagerly scooped it up and…
…this ain’t it.
Too much is happening in real time so this book is already out of date. Plus, it has several errors (more on that in a moment), needs better proof reading (did this even have an editor?), it’s VERY light on actual biographical information of President Zelenskyy (seriously, you could google for, like, 15 minutes and you’d have more info than this book presents), uses a map that spells Kyiv as “Kiev” (aka the Russian spelling), and also uses freaking MailOnline and the godawful Epoch Times as source material.
I wish I were kidding. Alas, I am not.
Now, on to the errors: (these were just the ones I caught so there might be more)
- Misspelled daughter’s name, p 93, (Oleksandra vs Oleksandar) and gives 2 different birth years for her, 2002 in chap 1 and 2004 in chap 7.
- Multiple spellings of their son’s name.
- Misspelled Poroshenko’s name, p95 (yes, he is oligarch trash - and a possible Russian stooge - but even oligarch trash should be given the courtesy of the correct spelling of their name so we know by which name to ridicule them)
If you want serious scholarship on Ukraine and Russia, follow Anne Applebaum on Twitter (and read her books). If you want daily updates on life on the ground in Ukraine, follow NPR’s Tim Mak and World Central Kitchen’s Nate Mook (also on Twitter, before El*n goes and sets fire to that, too).
Perhaps my biggest annoyance with this book is the fact that it refuses to spell Zelenskyy’s name with the President’s own preferred spelling*.
*For whatever reason, Goodreads is blocking the link, so here it is in all its unformatted glory: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/politi...
Give the President the respect he deserves and wait for actual, legitimate biographies to be published. Because, as I said at the start…
…This ain’t it.
2 stars is generous and only given because Slava Ukraini.
June 1, 2023
Kieran bought me a piece of Trump propaganda for Christmas and thought I wouldn’t notice!!! Anyways, I’m gonna need everyone involved in this “project” to log off and never log on again or so help me god…..
January 19, 2024
Raamat on pigem kõnede ja meediaartiklite kogumik. Algul häiris selline formaat väga, eriti, et küljenduse poolest oli teiste loomingu markeerimiseks kord kasutatud jutumärke, kord kaldkirja, siis jälle tekstirea pikkusega mängitud.
Lõpuks harjus sellega ära ja raamat muutus isegi täitsa loetavaks, kuid vaba maailma juht väärib kindlasti paremat biograafiat. Zelenskõist endast rääkis tegelikult vaid mõni üksik peatükk, üldine foon oli siiski sellest, miks lääs nii vähe abi Ukrainale annab.
Kuigi autorid lubavad viimase peatüki lõpus, et peagi tuleb raamatule ka järg uutest arengutest Ukrainas, võiks vilja koristada alles pärast selle valmimist ja ühest tragöödiast raamatu kirjutada alles pärast selle lõppu. Nii ei jääks ehk ka vastikut maiku, et teos oli kiiruga kokku klopsitud, sest kõik, mis räägib Ukrainast, muutus 24. veebruarist 2022 kullapajaks.
Lõpuks harjus sellega ära ja raamat muutus isegi täitsa loetavaks, kuid vaba maailma juht väärib kindlasti paremat biograafiat. Zelenskõist endast rääkis tegelikult vaid mõni üksik peatükk, üldine foon oli siiski sellest, miks lääs nii vähe abi Ukrainale annab.
Kuigi autorid lubavad viimase peatüki lõpus, et peagi tuleb raamatule ka järg uutest arengutest Ukrainas, võiks vilja koristada alles pärast selle valmimist ja ühest tragöödiast raamatu kirjutada alles pärast selle lõppu. Nii ei jääks ehk ka vastikut maiku, et teos oli kiiruga kokku klopsitud, sest kõik, mis räägib Ukrainast, muutus 24. veebruarist 2022 kullapajaks.
October 27, 2022
A must read for everyone to hear the voices of the Ukrainian president with his struggle to keep an aggressive army out of his country.
His plea for international help was answered by his neighbours and friends.
Highly emotional speeches by the European president Van Leyen and Mr Zelensky and the First Lady showing the world children and vulnerable people are being killed in this illegal invasion of a peaceful country.
What I liked best was the saying from Zelensky when offered exile in the USA.
“I don’t need a ride, I need weapons to defend my people”.
His plea for international help was answered by his neighbours and friends.
Highly emotional speeches by the European president Van Leyen and Mr Zelensky and the First Lady showing the world children and vulnerable people are being killed in this illegal invasion of a peaceful country.
What I liked best was the saying from Zelensky when offered exile in the USA.
“I don’t need a ride, I need weapons to defend my people”.
February 11, 2023
I definitely have read more in-depth biographies and better sourced bios than this one (The Epoch Times? 🥴) but it was perfect for listening to while working. Learned the basics, but most importantly, I learned that Zelenskyy’s sitcom Servant Of The People is available in English on YouTube, so I’ll be heading over there, y’all.
January 19, 2023
DNF - This "bio" is everything I was sorta concerned about when I picked it up from my local library. I am echoing what other two and three star reviews have noted: it is not actually a biography on Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
I fall into the category of Americans who, prior to February 24, 2022, vaguely knew where Ukraine was located on the world map. I vaguely recalled seeing their president's name pop up on the American news in 2019. I vaguely recalled learning about the land area of Ukraine while taking a B.A. level course on the History of the Russian Empire (it was a dreary course, my friends). Much to my shame (as a Swede-Finn American whose personal family history was shaped by Russian aggression and occupation and should therefore care a whole LOT MORE) I simply skated by with the most meager facts of MANY European countries.
And then Russia invaded Ukraine and in what felt like a crash course I chose to learn about Ukraine, with sources that understood their sovereignty. I had already learned Russia's side from my college course and trust me when I say, they are using a very worn and well-known playbook. But what Ukraine's playbook is composed of has been previously ignored or not understood until now.
But this book is not that, this book is just...weird. It includes facts I already know and very little about Zelenskyy. There's a lot of articles from questionable news sources. The authors (Australian, I believe?) interject a lot of personal opinions on world leaders. Which means they are not able to be objective. They tend towards hero worship of Zelenskyy, and while I can say that he has earned my respect, he is still a very human leader. He has flaws. He makes mistakes. Perhaps his biggest mistake was not preparing his country more for an imminent invasion. History will judge him for his actions and inactions. He knows this and continues on.
I would like to see a biography co-written by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a Ukrainian biographer, then translated into English for our market here. Why? Because I apparently had access to more facts regarding the Ukrainian president by simply googling him than the authors of Zelensky did. About two months ago I stumbled across a reputable article (from before the war, no less) about his childhood and youth in Kryvyi Rih, the history of that town, what Kvartel-95 actually is and how it has shaped his life. I even learned his childhood nickname. I have followed the war in articles spanning many newspapers and magazines, including ones in Finnish and Swedish, in tweets, in announcements from the office of POTUS and UK's Prime Minister (Boris Johnson). And of course, in following Zelenskyy's own social media. And I chose to watch Servant of the People, because I wanted to see HOW Volodymyr Zelenskyy chose to portray President of Ukraine (flawed and with a lot of humanity and humor). Someday, if he survives this, perhaps we will get the autobiography he deserves to have. Written with his own hand and humor and spelling his name correctly (with two yy's in English). Until then, look elsewhere, 'cause this book ain't it.
I fall into the category of Americans who, prior to February 24, 2022, vaguely knew where Ukraine was located on the world map. I vaguely recalled seeing their president's name pop up on the American news in 2019. I vaguely recalled learning about the land area of Ukraine while taking a B.A. level course on the History of the Russian Empire (it was a dreary course, my friends). Much to my shame (as a Swede-Finn American whose personal family history was shaped by Russian aggression and occupation and should therefore care a whole LOT MORE) I simply skated by with the most meager facts of MANY European countries.
And then Russia invaded Ukraine and in what felt like a crash course I chose to learn about Ukraine, with sources that understood their sovereignty. I had already learned Russia's side from my college course and trust me when I say, they are using a very worn and well-known playbook. But what Ukraine's playbook is composed of has been previously ignored or not understood until now.
But this book is not that, this book is just...weird. It includes facts I already know and very little about Zelenskyy. There's a lot of articles from questionable news sources. The authors (Australian, I believe?) interject a lot of personal opinions on world leaders. Which means they are not able to be objective. They tend towards hero worship of Zelenskyy, and while I can say that he has earned my respect, he is still a very human leader. He has flaws. He makes mistakes. Perhaps his biggest mistake was not preparing his country more for an imminent invasion. History will judge him for his actions and inactions. He knows this and continues on.
I would like to see a biography co-written by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a Ukrainian biographer, then translated into English for our market here. Why? Because I apparently had access to more facts regarding the Ukrainian president by simply googling him than the authors of Zelensky did. About two months ago I stumbled across a reputable article (from before the war, no less) about his childhood and youth in Kryvyi Rih, the history of that town, what Kvartel-95 actually is and how it has shaped his life. I even learned his childhood nickname. I have followed the war in articles spanning many newspapers and magazines, including ones in Finnish and Swedish, in tweets, in announcements from the office of POTUS and UK's Prime Minister (Boris Johnson). And of course, in following Zelenskyy's own social media. And I chose to watch Servant of the People, because I wanted to see HOW Volodymyr Zelenskyy chose to portray President of Ukraine (flawed and with a lot of humanity and humor). Someday, if he survives this, perhaps we will get the autobiography he deserves to have. Written with his own hand and humor and spelling his name correctly (with two yy's in English). Until then, look elsewhere, 'cause this book ain't it.
May 3, 2022
This is NOT a biography as the title leads a reader to believe. This is nothing more than a compilation of the reporting on Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the printing of speeches given by Zelenskyy to other nations and a historical timeline of events that have already happened......
April 28, 2022
Not worth the read. Everything in book covered by
the news.
the news.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2022
I am always hesitant to buy a book revolving around something not finalized, or if the dust is still flying. There's frequently some annoying mistakes from a rushed production. Even the best writers can be weakened in a rush. Look at the numerous political event books that frequently pop up.
I learned early, dragged to several of Elvis Presley's movies as a child.
It took a while until the really bothersome errors showed up. These Australian newspaper guys, Urban and McLeod, had pretty decent copy until about the middle. There was more repetition than necessary, but an overlooked OOOPS-type on error p. 94-95 was an unavoidable distraction.
On p. 94 it says he was born on January 25, 1978, but on the following page, it says he formed a group of performers in 1977. I wish I could do things like that.
While a better title might have been something like Ukraine and Zelensky, and it isn't up there with the classics, it is a very strong reference book for Ukraine, its history, relationship with Russia, and other neighbors. I found it for under $20 at Walmart, and plan to hang onto my copy.
The content is different from most books on the shelf. Much is newspaper-style with small paragraphs, and it moves fast until that middle area. My guess is that they probably still have their day jobs, children, and other life issues. That can all take a toll, and they possibly lack that serious additional, honest proofreader.
Or, edits were made but weren't accepted in the electronic publishing processes. Annoying, but not worth losing sleep over.
Even if you watch all the televised videos about the Ukraine-Russia war you would still read facts here often skipped in electronic reporting.
I learned early, dragged to several of Elvis Presley's movies as a child.
It took a while until the really bothersome errors showed up. These Australian newspaper guys, Urban and McLeod, had pretty decent copy until about the middle. There was more repetition than necessary, but an overlooked OOOPS-type on error p. 94-95 was an unavoidable distraction.
On p. 94 it says he was born on January 25, 1978, but on the following page, it says he formed a group of performers in 1977. I wish I could do things like that.
While a better title might have been something like Ukraine and Zelensky, and it isn't up there with the classics, it is a very strong reference book for Ukraine, its history, relationship with Russia, and other neighbors. I found it for under $20 at Walmart, and plan to hang onto my copy.
The content is different from most books on the shelf. Much is newspaper-style with small paragraphs, and it moves fast until that middle area. My guess is that they probably still have their day jobs, children, and other life issues. That can all take a toll, and they possibly lack that serious additional, honest proofreader.
Or, edits were made but weren't accepted in the electronic publishing processes. Annoying, but not worth losing sleep over.
Even if you watch all the televised videos about the Ukraine-Russia war you would still read facts here often skipped in electronic reporting.
August 8, 2022
I wish it went to a little more detail, interesting all around
March 14, 2025
This book is plagued by grammatical and informational errors, and overall seems as if the author wrote the book as a quick 'cash grab' on the war, and barely cared for Ukrainian politics. In addition, the information received from the book is simply horrible, you can learn more from googling than this biased, propaganda filled excuse for literature. It feels as if I was reading a collection of article and source citations, not a biography.
May 5, 2022
It was interesting but felt like it was written by a bot reading cnn articles. Also it’s not just about Zelensky. It’s really a history of Ukraine, so the title is very misleading.
Read
May 12, 2024Imagine a comedic actor stepping into the role of a lifetime, not on stage, but on the world political scene. That’s the surreal but true story of Volodymyr Zelensky, the focus of Andrew L. Urban and Chris McLeod’s biography. While the authors might not be household names, their attempt to chronicle the life of Ukraine’s president during a pivotal moment in history is both ambitious and timely.
"Zelensky" aims to provide a comprehensive look at the man who rose from television fame to become a symbol of resistance and leadership on the global stage. The book traces Zelensky's journey from his early days in showbiz to his unexpected ascendancy to the presidency, and his role in the ongoing conflict with Russia. It's a story of unexpected heroism, international politics, and a nation’s fight for sovereignty.
Urban and McLeod adopt a straightforward narrative style, prioritizing accessibility and flow over literary flourish. The prose is clear and functional, designed to communicate facts and events quickly and effectively. However, this approach sometimes lacks the emotional depth and detailed analysis that might bring Zelensky's story to life more vividly.
While intended as a biography of Zelensky, the book sometimes reads more like a general overview of recent Ukrainian history. Zelensky himself sometimes feels like a character in the background of larger geopolitical narratives. The authors do shine in moments where they delve into Zelensky's personal challenges and leadership style, offering glimpses of his resilience and strategic acumen.
The book is structured chronologically, which helps in building an understanding of the events leading up to and during the Ukraine-Russia conflict. However, the pacing is uneven, with some sections rushing through years of history while others linger on less critical details. This occasionally disrupts the narrative flow and may leave readers wishing for a more focused account of key moments.
The dominant themes are resilience, leadership under pressure, and the power of an underdog. These are reflected not only in Zelensky’s presidency but also in the broader struggle of Ukraine. The authors effectively highlight the international implications of Zelensky’s leadership, although the analysis sometimes feels surface-level.
The book strikes its strongest emotional chord when detailing the Ukrainian people's courage and Zelensky's role in galvanizing global support. However, moments that might have been deeply moving often feel glossed over due to the book's brisk narrative style.
The clear timeline and factual reporting are significant strengths, making complex geopolitical issues more accessible. When the authors focus directly on Zelensky’s actions and words during critical events, the narrative is compelling and engaging.
The book’s reliance on readily available news sources and a lack of in-depth personal insights into Zelensky diminish its impact. Errors and inconsistencies, such as those in names and dates, undermine its credibility and suggest a need for more rigorous editing.
As someone fascinated by leadership, I found the premise of Zelensky’s story compelling. However, I was hoping for more personal insights and a deeper exploration of his character. The book provides a good starting point for those unfamiliar with recent Ukrainian history but might not satisfy those seeking an in-depth character study.
"Zelensky" offers a useful if somewhat superficial overview of one of today’s most pivotal figures in international politics. It serves as a primer on Ukraine's recent history and Zelensky’s role within it, though it leaves room for a more detailed and nuanced portrait of the man at its heart. For those looking for an introduction to the topic, this book is a decent start, but it may not fully satisfy the more curious or discerning readers.
"Zelensky" aims to provide a comprehensive look at the man who rose from television fame to become a symbol of resistance and leadership on the global stage. The book traces Zelensky's journey from his early days in showbiz to his unexpected ascendancy to the presidency, and his role in the ongoing conflict with Russia. It's a story of unexpected heroism, international politics, and a nation’s fight for sovereignty.
Urban and McLeod adopt a straightforward narrative style, prioritizing accessibility and flow over literary flourish. The prose is clear and functional, designed to communicate facts and events quickly and effectively. However, this approach sometimes lacks the emotional depth and detailed analysis that might bring Zelensky's story to life more vividly.
While intended as a biography of Zelensky, the book sometimes reads more like a general overview of recent Ukrainian history. Zelensky himself sometimes feels like a character in the background of larger geopolitical narratives. The authors do shine in moments where they delve into Zelensky's personal challenges and leadership style, offering glimpses of his resilience and strategic acumen.
The book is structured chronologically, which helps in building an understanding of the events leading up to and during the Ukraine-Russia conflict. However, the pacing is uneven, with some sections rushing through years of history while others linger on less critical details. This occasionally disrupts the narrative flow and may leave readers wishing for a more focused account of key moments.
The dominant themes are resilience, leadership under pressure, and the power of an underdog. These are reflected not only in Zelensky’s presidency but also in the broader struggle of Ukraine. The authors effectively highlight the international implications of Zelensky’s leadership, although the analysis sometimes feels surface-level.
The book strikes its strongest emotional chord when detailing the Ukrainian people's courage and Zelensky's role in galvanizing global support. However, moments that might have been deeply moving often feel glossed over due to the book's brisk narrative style.
The clear timeline and factual reporting are significant strengths, making complex geopolitical issues more accessible. When the authors focus directly on Zelensky’s actions and words during critical events, the narrative is compelling and engaging.
The book’s reliance on readily available news sources and a lack of in-depth personal insights into Zelensky diminish its impact. Errors and inconsistencies, such as those in names and dates, undermine its credibility and suggest a need for more rigorous editing.
As someone fascinated by leadership, I found the premise of Zelensky’s story compelling. However, I was hoping for more personal insights and a deeper exploration of his character. The book provides a good starting point for those unfamiliar with recent Ukrainian history but might not satisfy those seeking an in-depth character study.
"Zelensky" offers a useful if somewhat superficial overview of one of today’s most pivotal figures in international politics. It serves as a primer on Ukraine's recent history and Zelensky’s role within it, though it leaves room for a more detailed and nuanced portrait of the man at its heart. For those looking for an introduction to the topic, this book is a decent start, but it may not fully satisfy the more curious or discerning readers.
September 7, 2024
Would be five stars but there was a pathetic comment on Zelensky's appearance. Off topic, but Zelensky is easily one of the most attractive men I have ever seen. He doesn't have classic Aryan features, that's just disgusting to make comments like that based on that. Who he is and the truly dignified while humorous and boundaried strength of his character is attractive first and foremost, and highlights what already existed very clearly. Those people need serious help. That said, this is a fantastic piece of literature. However, what I don't agree with Zelensky on is people who need to flee should be allowed to flee if it comes to it, especially assault and r*pe victims on the border where tons of sexual violence happens. If people are doing a good job backing each other up, I don't think people would have to leave due to assault and r*pe. That only happens when people are broken apart easily in many cases. I appreciate that he stepped up and is prioritizing saying no to Putin and the horrific hate crimes he commits, the pathetic slanders he tries to come up with. I don't think it's all Putin's fault as a lot of Russia is itself incredibly ignorant, but while he enacts the ignorance we needed someone like Zelensky to stand up to that. Putin is definitely hateful and runs as the book said a homicide machine based on nothing but ignorance and hate; the irony is he is hateful even against his own interests, such as making Angela be around dogs when she doesn't like them when literally his own father hid from dogs trying to attack him and he cites this as a point of terror and empathizes with it. The irony illuminates how far he is willing to go, even in to self-harm, just to assert senseless, useless and pathetic hate. Zelensky had what it took to stand up to something that terrifying and did just that while speaking to the world with dignity. He is incredibly brave and the other side clearly sees that. He organizes for his country, fights for hard boundaries on Putin, and did it at the expense of a past that didn't know such violence. That's a hard and tragic thing to have to do, but he did it. And that he calls for peace in the end if and when it is possible is truly the sign of a leader who is not engaged in senseless violence but also does not want to capitulate to the truly unacceptable. I would say this guy is himself a glory to Ukraine. I really think men should view him more as a role model. If we had more Zelenskys the world wouldn't be in such miserable shambles. I appreciate this biography and I have nothing but the deepest respect and support for this amazing world leader.
March 28, 2024
Zelensky- The Unlikely Ukrainian Hero who Defied Putin and United the World is a Geopolitical analysis of the Russia-Ukraine War, written by Andrew L. Urban and Chris McLeod, with a foreword by Rebekah Koffler, a US intelligence expert and author. A well-researched content, the book provides citations of various sources to explain the global scenario of Eurasia (more appropriately, Caucasus) from the establishment of the Kievan-Rus kingdom till present. To better understand the foreign relations of Russia and Ukraine, the author deep dives into the Soviet Era of socialism. The book revolves around the honourable president of Ukraine Volodymyrr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy. This only shows the protagonism of the author towards capitalism and fascism. From the background and childhood of Zelenskyy, till the commencement of the war, it tells about the life and ideals of the brave Ukrainian president. Born in a Jewish family, he was displaced to Mongolia during his childhood, due to which he could not receive proper education. He studied law in the Kyiv National Economic University but then pursued his passion for acting. He participated in a comedy show and is renowned for playing piano with his genital for a whole five minutes. Later, he moved to Ukraine. Through his TV show “The Servants of the People”, he promoted the idea of anti-corruption in one of the most corrupt countries in Eastern Europe, and played the role of a history teacher turned president. So much an appraisal did he receive that he decided to stand in the presidential elections. And much to his surprise, he won! He very well knew the intentions of Russia to invade it’s territory of Crimea. And so did happen, when in 2022 February, Russia began its invasion of Crimea. Thousands of missiles fell on residential areas killing many innocents. In response, President Zelenskyy successfully gathered support of superpowers like the US and EU within just a day. How well did he manage ‘his’ country during war is appreciable. Read to know more on how a comedian protected an ant from an elephant.
December 22, 2022
“The first major profile…” is a stretch: Barely any of this book contains original writing, and what it does contain is mostly connective tissue tying together block-quoted speeches, news articles, interview transcripts, and data culled from online sources that curious readers might just as easily have Googled themselves.
I suppose there is some value in having someone else do the Googling (open the proverbial browser tabs) for you.
For me, and probably for most readers—for whom the majority of the book will read as recap of news stories we’ve all consumed over the past year—the most interesting portions were (a) the transcripts of speeches and tweets of Zelensky and other Western leaders, many of which are quite powerful, and (b) a transcript of a 2017 interview with ‘Cinema Escapist’—which I’m sure one can find online, but was new to me—in which pre-politics Zelensky describes the genesis of his show “Servant of the People,” which was essentially his springboard to the presidency.
His creative team had initially considered making it a reality game show of sorts, rather like American Idol but for would-be politicians. Instead, ostensibly because it would get better ratings, it was decided that Zelensky would play the role of president himself.
The rest is history.
I look forward to reading the “next (and better)” profile of Zelensky in the years to come, when hopefully he stands as the man to have successfully maintained an independent, democratic Ukraine.
I suppose there is some value in having someone else do the Googling (open the proverbial browser tabs) for you.
For me, and probably for most readers—for whom the majority of the book will read as recap of news stories we’ve all consumed over the past year—the most interesting portions were (a) the transcripts of speeches and tweets of Zelensky and other Western leaders, many of which are quite powerful, and (b) a transcript of a 2017 interview with ‘Cinema Escapist’—which I’m sure one can find online, but was new to me—in which pre-politics Zelensky describes the genesis of his show “Servant of the People,” which was essentially his springboard to the presidency.
His creative team had initially considered making it a reality game show of sorts, rather like American Idol but for would-be politicians. Instead, ostensibly because it would get better ratings, it was decided that Zelensky would play the role of president himself.
The rest is history.
I look forward to reading the “next (and better)” profile of Zelensky in the years to come, when hopefully he stands as the man to have successfully maintained an independent, democratic Ukraine.
July 27, 2022
I was very excited to pick this book up and even more excited to put it down. Words were spelled wrong, quotation marks are used incorrectly, etc.. there was no content that isn't already online. His speeches (amazing) are already out there and did we need an entire chapter explaining what NATO and the EU are? No. I truly could have lived with out the little jabs at our world leaders as well... "Who believes that would be the response from a sniveling Macron, pampered Trudeau or braindead Biden in the same circumstances?" "...from Sleepy Joe Biden to Mr Blackface Authoritarian Justin Trudeau..." or, my personal favorite 🙄, "Like Donald Trump before him, he has the authenticity so lacking in our modern-day politicians, who seem to have become paranoid, scripted robots." I can forgive weirdly compounded words, missing punctuation, and bad grammar for great content. This does not deserve my forgiveness.
September 26, 2022
The first book to profile courageous Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (publishers' stated claim) does not go much beyond what is already known. There is scant information providing insights into the life and history of Zelensky. Rather, this serves as a compact chronicle of the early days of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. For anyone who has been following the news and already knows this information, the book can serve as a valuable reference or review.
I do not regret reading this, and it did reinforce my admiration of Zelensky. But I was expecting more, and this just did not deliver. On the upside, the book does provide an capsule summary of Russian and Ukrainian history that was informative. There is also text of an interview down with Zelensky regrind the Servant Of The People television series that gives a little insight into the political views/philsophy of Zelensky.
I do not regret reading this, and it did reinforce my admiration of Zelensky. But I was expecting more, and this just did not deliver. On the upside, the book does provide an capsule summary of Russian and Ukrainian history that was informative. There is also text of an interview down with Zelensky regrind the Servant Of The People television series that gives a little insight into the political views/philsophy of Zelensky.
June 1, 2023
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has certainly drawn interest in the area of the world that most of us in the United States paid little attention. Seeing the destruction not only affecting the Ukrainian people but it also affects the world.
The main focus of this book is on the background, family and goals of President Zelensky. It explains his personal growth and his growth to power and popularity with the Ukrainian people. This book tells more than just information about the Ukrainian President Zelensky, it gives a historical background of Russia and the surrounding countries and their formation.
I found the history progression very interesting and helpful in understanding how that area of the world divided and formed through many political conflicts and decisions.
A relatively short book packed with information which could be read in one sitting or digested along the way as this conflict has continued. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people.
The main focus of this book is on the background, family and goals of President Zelensky. It explains his personal growth and his growth to power and popularity with the Ukrainian people. This book tells more than just information about the Ukrainian President Zelensky, it gives a historical background of Russia and the surrounding countries and their formation.
I found the history progression very interesting and helpful in understanding how that area of the world divided and formed through many political conflicts and decisions.
A relatively short book packed with information which could be read in one sitting or digested along the way as this conflict has continued. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people.
July 15, 2022
While Zelensky by Andrew Urban and Chris McLeod is clearly written, there wasn’t much new information for this reviewer. Zelensky, the man, and the invasion of Ukraine have been well reported in the media.
Urban and McLeod did add the translated text of speeches by Zelensky and others. These speeches, as important as they were, were more important for their tone than specific information.
Zelensky, the man, is heroic. Zelensky, the book, while clearly written, is only marginally informative. A well-written book, even if not particularly informative for some readers, still deserves four stars.
Urban and McLeod did add the translated text of speeches by Zelensky and others. These speeches, as important as they were, were more important for their tone than specific information.
Zelensky, the man, is heroic. Zelensky, the book, while clearly written, is only marginally informative. A well-written book, even if not particularly informative for some readers, still deserves four stars.
March 17, 2023
Overall, a very disappointing book. Most of it is dedicated to transcriptions of various speeches or simply news and articles copied from various sources, and many of them are repeated throughout the book. The biography part is aldo way too short, and the structure seems to be all over the place. At least the timeline section at the end of the book provide insight into the history of Ukraine and Russia, and how the situation eventually developed into a full-scale invasion. 1,5 stars which I round out to 2.
October 3, 2023
This book seems to have no main theme, no editor, and no coherence. We have random speeches to world readers, suddenly very random TV show reviews, timelines that are hard to follow and insufficient, and so much repetition... I have followed this war closely, and even I had trouble understanding what the writers were talking about. I even spotted many mistakes. The man of the title, Zelensky, gets very little biographical info, and I learnt nothing new about him.
Ukrainians and Zelensky deserve all our admiration, this book does not.
Ukrainians and Zelensky deserve all our admiration, this book does not.
July 10, 2024
If you're waiting to see a biography of Zelewski, forget it. It has only a few lines about is life, and we already know it. This book contains a few speeches of the Ukrainian president but also a lot of facts about the war. Yes, we all heard it on television and radio. But in a few years nobody will remember those facts, those happenings. Which makes this book very interesting and necessary. Now, we know what happened 2 and a half years ago. But in 10 years nobody will know. I found this book very interesting and easy to read. I recommend it.
July 18, 2024
Probably not that useful in 2024 (more in-depth biographies have been written by now), but in 2022, when most of the world had only heard of this man a few months prior, this was THE go-to biography of the man who thumbed his nose at Muscovite President Vladimir Voldemortovich Putana. I'd like to have read more about his early life and less about his political career (about half the book was from 2021 onward), but at the time this was written it was basically the only book anywhere that said ANYTHING about his pre-presidential life.
May 24, 2022
This book is nothing more than information that was ripped from news and Wikipedia articles. Plus it compares Zelensky to Trump on multiple occasions (positively). Book has no real substance and adds no new information if you have been following the news. Most of the book is simply quotes from Zelensky and the over explaining of concepts. Not a ounce of any authorship went into this book. I see it as nothing but a money grab. Disappointing to say the least.
June 12, 2022
Read like a first draft. I thought the book was going to be a biography, rather the book was simply a synopsis of the current war in Ukraine. All the background information at the end appeared to be copied from scantly cited tertiary sources.
Not good scholarship. I think the authors simply wanted to be the first to publish a book on the subject rather than produce a quality piece.
Verdict: Wait 5 more years for a truly quality work to be published.
Not good scholarship. I think the authors simply wanted to be the first to publish a book on the subject rather than produce a quality piece.
Verdict: Wait 5 more years for a truly quality work to be published.
August 9, 2022
Total rehash of old material. If you followed news and listened to Zelensky's speeches you won't learn anything new. Total disappointment and mass exploitation for profit. Don't waste your money. The narration of the audiobook is really bad: every time the authors quote Zelensky or his wife, in their speeches and interviews the narrator tries to imitate Eastern European accent. It was embarrassing and sounded like a mockery.
June 25, 2024
This book was poorly written. Instead of a history of Zelensky's life, as the title and cover show, it was a low-level analysis of the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war, compiled with speeches and press releases from Zelensky. The book lacked any analysis, and the speeches used were mainstream, so it failed to provide further information about the conflict. Overall the book was very disappointing. I would not recommend it.
July 4, 2022
This book has made a big impact on me. It goes into detail the first two months of the war in Ukraine and how it has affected the Ukrainian people. It explores how President Zelensky came from humble beginnings as a comedian and actor to have life imitate art by him being elected president and being thrust into this war to get on the battlefield and fight for his people.
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