Winter Is Coming

Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped

By: Garry Kasparov

Narrated by: George Backman

The ascension of Vladimir Putin - a former lieutenant colonel of the KGB - to the presidency of Russia in 1999 should have been a signal that the country was headed away from democracy. Yet in the intervening years - as America and the world's other leading powers have continued to appease him - Putin has grown into not only a dictator but a global threat. With his vast resources and nuclear weapons, Putin is at the center of a worldwide assault on political liberty.

For Garry Kasparov, none of this is news. He has been a vocal critic of Putin for over a decade, even leading the pro-democracy opposition to him in the farcical 2008 presidential election. Yet years of seeing his Cassandra-like prophecies about Putin's intentions fulfilled have left Kasparov with the realization of a darker truth: Putin's Russia, like ISIS or al-Qaeda, defines itself in opposition to the free countries of the world. He is still fighting the Cold War, even as Americans have first moved beyond it and, over time, forgotten its lessons.

Lest we be drawn into another prolonged conflict, Kasparov now urges a forceful stand - diplomatic and economic - against him. For as long as the world's powerful democracies continue to recognize and negotiate with Putin, he can maintain credibility in his home country. He faces few strong enemies within his country, so meaningful opposition must come from abroad. Argued with the force of Kasparov's world-class intelligence, conviction, and hopes for his home country, Winter Is Coming is an unmistakable call to action against a threat we've ignored for too long.

©2015 Garry Kasparov (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Excellent

Informative, personal, and with a touch of light humor. Kasparov writes a great book and this is clearly a personal story for him.

Eye opening

Kasparov detailed Putin’s character and actions very well. It was intense listening to the book, my stomach was tied in a knot during some of the segments. It’s unbelievable that people like Putin get away with crimes against humanity.

A Warning Well Taken

Mr. Kasparov presents cogent analysis and insight into the Putin mafia. The free world should take notice. Putin's Russia is bad news for the rest of us Liberty loving humans.

An eye-opener pulling lessons from the 20th Century into the 21st

As someone who had mostly glossed over the last decades' news about Russia, thinking "if it was that important, it would get more coverage," Kasparov's unyielding logic has slapped me out of my slumber. I'll be recommending this book to many friends/family -- especially as the global situation has gotten even worse since the book's 2015 publication.

Essential reading

Given the current circumstances, this book is an essential read. Ignore at your own peril.