Once upon a Time in Russia

The Rise of the Oligarchs and the Greatest Wealth in History

By: Ben Mezrich

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

The best-selling author of Bringing Down the House (63 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list and the basis for the hit movie 21) and The Accidental Billionaires (the basis for the Academy Award-winning film The Social Network) delivers an epic drama of wealth, rivalry, and betrayal among megawealthy Russian oligarchs - and its international repercussions.

Once Upon a Time in Russia is the untold true story of the larger-than-life billionaire oligarchs who surfed the waves of privatization to reap riches after the fall of the Soviet regime: "Godfather of the Kremlin" Boris Berezovsky, a former mathematician whose first entrepreneurial venture was running an automobile reselling business, and Roman Abramovich, his dashing young protégé, who built a multibillion-dollar empire of oil and aluminum. Locked in a complex, uniquely Russian partnership, Berezovsky and Abramovich battled their way through the "Wild East" of Russia, with Berezovsky acting as the younger man's krysha - his roof, his protector.

Written with the heart-stopping pacing of a thriller - but even more compelling because it is true - this story of amassing obscene wealth and power depicts a rarefied world seldom seen up close. Under Berezovsky's krysha, Abramovich built one of Russia's largest oil companies from the ground up and in exchange made cash deliveries - including $491 million in just one year. But their relationship frayed when Berezovsky attacked President Vladimir Putin in the media - and had to flee to the UK. Abramovich continued to prosper. Dead bodies trailed Berezovsky's footsteps, and threats followed him to London, where an associate of his died painfully and famously of Polonium poisoning. Then Berezovsky himself was later found dead, declared a suicide.

©2015 Mezco, Inc. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Great novel. Amazing story

Amazing story, very well put together. Fascinating story about the lives of truly extraordinarily flawed men.

GREAT READ; GOING TO GI BACK AND CATCH MESERICH

ON BOOK TV. ANOTHER OMNIDIRECTIONAL BULLET TRAIN WHICH ONE NEEDS TO SIFT THROUGH FOR THE TRUTH

Window into Post-Soviet Russia

Well crafted and narrated account of the role of the Oligarchs in the tumultuous transition from the USSR to Putin's Russia.

Great Listen

Could not put it down. A great story from Start to finish. You do not have to be a follower of politics or any kind of Russophile to enjoy this listen.

Impossible to know coverage

What did you like best about Once upon a Time in Russia? What did you like least?

It reads fast, but author likes to invent character's thoughts-- things he could not possibly know. Example, a whole chapter is based on a vivid description of a submarine captain in his final moments as his ship explodes and sinks. He invents the scene out of whole cloth.

What could Ben Mezrich have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Tell the story as it was, not as he imagines it to be. It reads more like fiction than a history book.

Do you think Once upon a Time in Russia needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

The events in the book are important, but this author seems not interested in reporting on them dispassionately.

Don’t judge it by it’s cover — a well-researched and interesting book

The book is excellent. Top notch quality. The author talks about only the most interesting parts of Russia’s oligarchy from the early 90s until the death of Berezovsky a few years ago. The book is much more solid than the silly cover.

A good story

This was a well written brief overview of the rise of the oligarchs. It certainly puts Putin in a different light. I would have like a more in depth look at the Russian economy, history and the oligarchs role.
I like anything Ben Mezrich writes.

Lots of Russian names

Tough for me to follow at times with Russian names. But a bunch of really interesting insights.

A very interesting story

Ben Mezrich always has such compelling stories and this one was no exception. I highly recommend this book.

Good but not best

I like the author. I have read most of his books. This is a good one but not his best.