Putin: Prisoner of Power

An Audible Original

By: Misha Glenny

Narrated by: Misha Glenny

Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

On New Year’s Eve 1999, a young Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian TV screens - awkward, self-conscious...and the new President. Two decades later, Putin is still in power, standing self-assured and at ease on the world stage. How did a once little known KGB bureaucrat become one of the most dominant figures of 21st-century politics?

In this gripping narrative history, Misha Glenny, journalist and best-selling author of McMafia, tells the story of an unexpected and swift rise to power - one full of political intrigue, backroom deals, courtroom battles and war.

Insider Kremlin accounts and well-known journalists reveal how Putin was first chosen by Yeltsin and the Oligarchy and how he then went head to head with Russia’s richest man. After Putin had consolidated power he needed to stay in power. The second half of the series tells the story of how he took over the media and Crimea and increased the powers of the KGB. Finally, Misha considers what Putin might do next.

Produced by Dasha Lisitsina, Executive Producer Russell Finch.
A Somethin’ Else production for Audible Originals.

©2019 Audible, Ltd (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

The story was pertinent, but was too short.

I was jus getting into the story, when it ended. I look forward to more.

enjoyed it tremendously

this presentation was loaded with information that I never knew. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in Russia and the current political power. especially how it affects United States.

Some insight...

Some insight, but I basically knew most of the information. This should have gone much deeper. Basically its a surface podcast.

Solid read by Glenny.

Fascinating

I knew very little about Putin, prior to listening. Now I feel more informed as to Putin’s rise to power.

The making of a world leader

This is an Audible Only recording, so can't get it in . The choice was a minor KGB functionary named Vladimir Putin. Putin took over 20 years ago, but he soon showed that he was not going to be controlled and through manipulation and intrigue gradually took absolute control. This is the story of how that happened, including some interesting tidbits such as the poll that the richest man in Russia at that time took that put out a slate of fictional characters and asked people who they would choose as President. The winner was a strong KGB leader, and Putin seemed to fit. Putin ended up going head to head with the kingmakers that had installed him and got rid of them one by one. Putin gradually consolidated power by taking over the media and destroying or killing any of the oligarchs that threatened his hold on power, while giving near free rain to do business to those who supported him. Now, Putin controls all and has learned to manipulate not only powerful Russians but other world leaders to get what he wants. He took Crimea, entered eastern Ukraine and fomented rebellion, and tried to influence elections in the US, the UK, and elsewhere. This audiobook is well researched and interesting and it helps us better understand what is happening today. My only complaint was the many musical interludes that made it seem like a cheap radio documentary. But, I learned a lot from it.

Trite

No insights to be had, no detail uncovered. I got through 40 minutes and gave up. He may be a journalist but he has no expose here.

And to think I was waiting for this book ...

While I was looking forward to this book, I had what I think could be fairly be described as reasonable expectations - I was anticipating a book that described what the title promises, an analysis of what makes Putin tick, how he got to where he is, and what environment he operates within. What a letdown. The book rambles on interminably with repetitive descriptions of the lawless situation in Russia at the time of his initial rise to power - how many times do you need to say "bodies in the streets" before the reader gets it. Putin makes a brief cameo appearance as a nondescript man, then vanishes again. Presumably, he eventually reappears and we will hear something about him, but my patience failed me.