Stalin: A Beginner's Guide

Beginner's Guide (Oneworld Publications)

by Abraham Ascher

Joseph Stalin began life as a frail child, with an abusive father and an inferiority complex. This triggered an early desire for greatness and respect that would eventually turn the young Bolshevik idealist into one of the most ruthless dictators in modern history.Like his contemporary, Adolf Hitler, Stalin was responsible for millions of deaths and inflicted barbaric cruelty on the Soviet people. But while Hitler is readily portrayed as a monster, Stalin has not been subjected to quite the same level of vitriol. In A Beginner’s Guide, renowned historian Abraham Ascher analyses new and old sources, separating truths from falsehoods to present an unvarnished portrait of the Soviet leader.

Genres: History, Biography

Paperback

First published August 9, 2016

About the author

Abraham Ascher is Distinguished emeritus Professor of History at the Graduate School of the city University of New York. A highly respected scholar, he is the recipient of numerous awards, and the author of seven books and over thirty articles.

Reviews

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a history book, gives enough info to count as a textbook! Definitely recommended, especially being brand new (published 2017)

[Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

it gives a good account of the difference of opinions between scholars regarding Stalin and what his rule entailed. so i would say its great as a general introduction. it however doesn't try to be more. so don't expect anything, but a general introduction of different scholars their views on different periods of Stalin his life.