Collapse

The Fall of the Soviet Union

De: Vladislav M. Zubok

Narrado por: David de Vries

Duración: 23 h y 50 m

Resumen del Editor

A major study of the collapse of the Soviet Union - showing how Gorbachev's misguided reforms led to its demise

In 1945, the Soviet Union controlled half of Europe and was a founding member of the United Nations. By 1991, it had an army four million strong, 5,000 nuclear-tipped missiles, and was the second biggest producer of oil in the world. But soon afterward, the union sank into an economic crisis and was torn apart by nationalist separatism. Its collapse was one of the seismic shifts of the 20th century.

Thirty years on, Vladislav Zubok offers a major reinterpretation of the final years of the USSR, refuting the notion that the breakup of the Soviet order was inevitable. Instead, Zubok reveals how Gorbachev's misguided reforms, intended to modernize and democratize the Soviet Union, deprived the government of resources and empowered separatism. Collapse sheds new light on Russian democratic populism, the Baltic struggle for independence, the crisis of Soviet finances - and the fragility of authoritarian state power.

©2021 Vladislav M. Zubok (P)2021 Tantor

One of the best books I’ve EVER read

I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. This book makes it to my top-ten best books I’ve ever read or listened to in my entire life. Truly amazing! I’ve learned so much! A masterfully written, gripping narrative on the demise of the Soviet Union that is highly relevant for understanding today’s landscape.
My only wish is that professor Zubok would write a sequel on the 1990s…

Exceptionally detailed account of the end of the Union

Very well written and acted book that documents a time in history most Americans have no knowledge on

Comprehensive and insightful

Though the focus of the coverage is on individual leadership, it thoroughly explains the rise of separatists in the republics and inactions of the Soviet state in crisis. Well worth of the time in listening. The book provides a comprehensive historical narrative on the collapse of the Soviet Union from 1989 to 1991, with a focus on leadership failures of Gorbachev but also Yeltsin who undermined the former Soviet leader in every way possible. Different readers could draw different reading experiences and lessons, a sign of a good comprehensive coverage. My strong impression from the reading is on the critical role of various Soviet republics' nationalism in the collapse--the national separatism starting from Lithuania ,Estonia, Latvia eventually to Ukraine and Georgia and other republics, and importantly Russia under Yeltsin. But perhaps more important is the failure of Gorbachev, intensionally or unintentionally, to use the state institutions (the party, KGB, and Army) to save the union. Gorbachev's half-baked efforts to save the union is in stark contrast with Yeltsin's blatant acts to put Russia away from it.

The Soviet Union had a strong state but failing economy. The state could have been used in improving the economy, through market-oriented reforms, like what China did in the same period. Nevertheless, though Gorbachev didn't intentionally go out to dismantle the state's institutions, his acts largely rendered it in inaction, leading to the leadership failure in boosting the economy, and later collapse of the state under Yeltsin and rise of the Oligarch which eventually led to the rise of Putin and restoration of the authoritarian rule. The strong dose of national separatism and inaction of the state, made possible by Gorbachev's leadership vision and personality, were the root cause of the collapse.

Interesting

I was a college student when this historic event unfolded. This book brought about a greater understanding.

The Book Was Better

A VERY thorough recount of history, so much so that it's better to grab the print version of this book. The author names everyone in politics and their reaction to anything that occurred in the late 80's and early 90's USSR; it will make your head spin. I would only recommend this book to someone who is very versed in Russian history and the major events surrounding the collapse of the Soviet Union. With that said, it is a very enjoyable read for anyone who has an interest in Soviet/Russian history.

The narrator, however, is monotonous and listening to him read this book was almost painful after the first 45 minutes. Coming back to this audiobook was insufferable- which is truly a shame because the content of the book is very good. The narrator pronounces the Slavic names differently almost every time he says them and it ends up being very confusing to the listener. I found myself having to pause and rewind many times, especially in the beginning of the book, because of the mispronunciations.

Incredibly detailed and gripping

This is truly an unparalleled account of the soviet collapse. The author provides accounts and insights never heard before. It sheds a clear light on the happenings of the time. I had to listen twice to ensure I could fully absorb it and it was a truly enjoyable audio book. the narratior did an excellent job as well. Highly recommended.

focuses on the politics leading up to the collapse

not five stars because I wish it could have gone into more detail about why Russia's economy was in the state it was and couldn't get turned around. I'm curious why we didn't send people in to help reform their economy like we previously did successfully for Japan

Cautionary tale for the 2020's

Must read observations in final chapter, with comparisons to what is going on in the present A fantastic twist, what seemed like epic history suddenly presented in the light of a cautionary tale.

not casual listening

i love audible because it lets me listen to a good book while i'm doing something eles like working around the house. most books i am able to really enjoy and keep up with while doing that, but not this one. there is so much going on, so many details and so many names. all of wich are russian obviously. for me it was a bit difficult to keep track of all of those names. especially if listening casually . this is a book that you really need to devote your full attention to. i will have to sit and listen to it again at least one more time, and probably take notes. it's a great story about a very significant time in history. a lot of very interesting facts and behind the sceens info and events that made it all happen. david de vries gave a very good performance. his reading was evenly paced, well pronounced and easy to listen to. this is an interesting and educational book, but one you really have to devote your full attention to.

Excellent look at the fall of The Soviet Union

I was already an adult when the Soviet Union came apart and I believed that I knew the basic reasons for that. I paid attention to the news conferences of many of those involved, from both sides, and assumed that the economic issues which crippled the Soviet Union were largely responsible for its collapse. After reading this book I believe that I was wrong.

Dr Zubok has written a very complete overview of the events leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union from the time of Yuri Andropov through Mikhail Gorbachev and presented a very good case that the main issues were political and not economic. Those things that the West hailed as liberalization and the expansion of freedoms for the Soviet people also led to an unwinding of the political and social ties that allowed the Soviet leaders to hold the Soviet Union together in spite of the lack of political freedoms and economic progress comparable to that of the West. In short, Gorbachev's liberalization fractured and then destroyed the Soviet Union from inside. Undoubtably the economic strains caused by many of the Reagan administration's actions added to these problems, but were only contributory rather than causative.

The book examines many of the results of perestroika and glasnost and how they affected the ties between the republics of the Soviet Union and how that led to the rise of separatism and nationalism as well as how Gorbachev's unwillingness to make hard choices led to others making the decisions that ended up breaking the Soviet Union apart, and he compares this to those politicians who were able to make hard decisions, mainly the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan as well as those of the Baltic Republics. In the end the book is not kind to Gorbachev and the logic of the book and the details make it hard to disagree.

The narration is excellent and my only complaint about the book is that it does not include a pdf file listing who the main political leaders were and what jobs they held. While Dr Zubok tries to keep this clear by often repeatedly mentioning what position each holds, even after having done that same thing on the previous page, a written list as in the Kindle version of the book would have been immensely helpful.

Still, this is an excellent look at what was probably the most momentous event of the second half of the 20th century, and it does so in a very interesting way. I never lost interest through the entire 24 hours and recommend it without reservation to anyone who would like more information about what caused the collapse and breakup of the Soviet Union.