An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West

By: Konstantin Kisin, Peter Lloyd

Narrated by: Konstantin Kisin

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

For all of the West's failings—terrible food, cold weather and questionable politicians with funny hair to name a few—it has its upsides. Konstantin would know. Growing up in the Soviet Union, he experienced first-hand the horrors of a socialist paradise gone wrong, having lived in extreme poverty with little access to even the most basic of necessities. It wasn't until he moved to the UK that Kisin found himself thriving in an open and tolerant society, receiving countless opportunities he would never have had otherwise.

Funny, provocative and unswervingly perceptive, An Immigrant's Love letter to the West interrogates the developing sense of self-loathing the Western sphere has adopted and offers an alternative perspective. Exploring race politics, free speech, immigration and more, Kisin argues that wrongdoing and guilt need not pervade how we feel about the West—and Britain—today, and that despite all its ups and downs, it remains one of the best places to live in the world.

After all, if an immigrant can't publicly profess their appreciation for this country, who can?

©2022 Konstantin Kisin (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK

So personal and touching

I just loved this book. You so rarely hear expressions of unqualified gratitude for anything these days. It’s not political in that it’s neither right nor left, but it is a powerful critique of communism and a hopeful appeal to enlist it’s enemies to “testify” before it’s too late. Everyone should give it a listen whatever your political affiliation. This Russian immigrant’s story was beautifully told, deeply personal, and read by the author himself.

My favorite excerpt:
“Before the millennium arrived people in Russia had even stopped having children because there was so much instability. By 1999 the total population fell by about 3/4 of a million, which is a lot. Rates of suicide and murder were also increasing. Access to medicine was poor. I watched all this unfold on the news from my new adopted home. I also kept in touch with old school friends who’d tell me of the disturbing world they were living in. And, crucially, how lucky I was to have been air-lifted out and delivered into a place of peace and prosperity, a country where I could thrive and be equal. And, although I missed my family, I knew they were right. I can still remember the day I arrived in the UK with a wonderful sense of promise and expectation. Twenty-five years on that feeling of freedom has never gone away. Nor has my adopted country ever disappointed me. Despite all the ups and downs, it has always been wonderful to me. That’s why I’ve written this love letter to Western civilization. In short, Britain and the West in general saved me from a terrible fate. Now, as people seek to destroy it, I want to save it in return.”

"Susan Sarandon" is the missing name, in chapter 1

I love Konstantin Kisin, and the book is better than I expected!

22:20 or so, 3/4 through chapter one, a sentence is left out. After he talks about Michael Moore, he meant to say:
"Actress Susan Sarandon is another example."

I bought a Kindle copy to find out, so Dear Audible, if you can fix that, please do, and send me an updated copy. :-)
If you CAN fix it, feel free to edit my comment, though those who downloaded it in the first couple of days will still have the mystery. Susan Sarandon is the "she" following Mchael Moore.

But other than that one confusing omission, the information is quick and solid. There is a great deal about the Soviet Union that we in the west weren't able to hear or know, and I"m glad to learn these things.

Thanks for sharing your family’s story

There are a lot of things to think of after this book. Thanks. And, apart from that, there are no thermostats in the US residential buildings as well.

Great material

It is of great value to get the impressions of immigrants compared to citizens because immigrants appreciate what a country can offer so much more

Great book

We need to hear from more perspectives like Konstantin’s, people who have first hand experience with societies where there is no freedom of speech, and where the overriding emotion for most people is fear.

Well worth the time to listen

Book is well written & though provoking, thought provoking sobering. A look at ourselves from the view of someone who came from another culture.

5 stars

Great summary of the issues that threaten us today. Most are not newly invented problems but rather an example of history repeating itself.

Refreshing, entertaining & informative

Thank you for your wonderful book Konstantin. How enlightening to hear your family's stories & your eyes-wide-open view of the crazy, manipulated & indoctrinated world are are currently living in.

I live in New Zealand, a beautiful country, &, by comparison with many others - untroubled, safe & free. But you & others know that this is now underpinned by the same BS you call out in your book - Cindy (now Dame Ardern), did a right number on our country & our people. She got a knighthood & a tearful wave off as a multi-millionaire for her overtly socialist BS (oh, sorry I meant caring & empathetic governance).

All power to you & Triggernometry. I'm trying to do my bit too :-) Keep up the good work.

Great Listen

What a great listen! Perfectly balanced between intelligence, good information and some wonderful wit. Thanks!

Awesome!

Perfect balance between intelligence, common sense and wit. Kisin’s delivery on the idiocracy that stable people now face is right in point.

In 5 years this will be the biggest I TOLD YOU SO

KK doesn’t hold back, his insights on communism as an immigrant from Russia resonate exactly to today’s culture war. He draws parallels which are impossible to debunk, and by his estimations, we don’t have much time left to reverse the otherwise inevitable.

Give this book to a normie friend.

Well written (not so common) sense

KK is once again the voice of reason and good sense in a world that gets crazier by the day. This book is a must listen/read. I’m going to get my 14 year old to listen to it, it’ll help her rebut some of the rubbish she is taught at school! 10/10

Frighteningly Accurate

I like the fact Konstantin is telling a story largely from his own experiences and that of his families. His observations are frighteningly accurate and if I’m honest, don’t give me too much optimism for the future of the western world, unless things change and soon.

Requited love

I bought this title as a fan of the show Triggernometry, which kept me sane and entertained during the pandemic.

The book provides a timely warning to the West that we stand up for ourselves amid the cultural zeitgeist. Far from hyperbolic, Konstantin draws parallels between emerging trends in the West and those of his former country.

The statistics provided through issue a sobering look about increasing problems facing contemporary society.

The often grave narrative is offset by moments of levity with satire, anecdotes and genuine laugh out loud moments.

I felt the end to the book was a little sharp and that it could have been brought to a close in a more upbeat manner. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it and think you might too!

Westerners, you NEED to hear this.

Coming from Communist China, KK's story sounds eerily familiar to me. Pretty much every family in my mother and grandmother's generations has a similarly sorrowful story, so yeah, PLEASE don't repeat our mistakes. PS: I love how KK would do his accent, chuckle, choke, and take a swipe at FF the hangry even in his audio book.

Must read

Highly recommended read from Konstantin Kisin. This book is utterly entertaining and thoroughly thought provoking.

must listen

loved it. very interesting and informative.
his life and family's history add alot of perspective on modern day perspective of immigration.

Excellent and thought provoking

A serious and informative view of our world. A must read for everyone on all sides of today’s debates

Loved it!

Refreshing to see he talks so much sense in this very crazy world! As an immigrant myself, I can relate a lot!

a must read, what ever your political view

loved it, couldn't put it down. I think it needs to be all students, one book to read before you grow up.