The Unmaking of Soviet Life: Everyday Economies after Socialism

by Caroline Humphrey

In order to understand today's Russia and former Soviet republics, it is vital to consider their socialist past. Caroline Humphrey, one of anthropology's most highly regarded thinkers on a number of topics including consumption, identity, and ritual, is the ideal guide to the intricacies of post-Soviet culture. The Unmaking of Soviet Life brings together ten of Humphrey's best essays, which cover, geographically, Central Russia, Siberia, and Mongolia; and thematically, the politics of locality, property, and persons. Bridging the strongest of Humphrey's work from 1991 to 2001, the essays do a great deal to demystify the sensational topics of mafia, barter, bribery, and the new shamanism by locating them in the lived experiences of a wide range of subjects. The Unmaking of Soviet Life includes a foreword and introductory paragraphs by Bruce Grant and Nancy Ries that precede each essay.

Genres: Russia, History, Sociology

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Helene Ryding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great book to read about many aspects of how post-Soviet life was changing in the 90s. But many things have changed especially in big cities and it should not be taken as a description of life now. Many things have got better and some things worse.

There are some bad geographical errors which surprised me in such an academic book: the big market at Gariunai is in Lihuania not Estonia, as the source quoted in the notes makes clear. The mention of Vyborg as being in the Baltic States is quite strange, as it is on the Finnish border.

[Kristaps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just leafed through this book a second time, was stunned by how good it is. The social anthropological approach stands the test of time because it's not so much about ideology as about real people and real things that happened. It's putting a human face on the history, at the same time always giving an educated insight on the general context.

It's actually amazing how underreported the post-soviet nineties really are. It's one of the weirdest, most stunning events of 20th century, but probably some time needs to pass until this is more generally appreciated.

[Belmanoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, which I read as research for the Due South fic I'm going to write in which RayV and Fraser Go To Siberia, is totally fascinating. It's about protection rackets and moneyless economies and all kinds of awesome things. I could not stop talking about this book the whole time I was reading it. One of my favorite quotes, from a mid-90s ad:

"Cactuses for the home: love them, pamper them: they will not deceive you."