The Long Hangover

Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past

By: Shaun Walker

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

In The Long Hangover, Shaun Walker provides new insight into contemporary Russia and its search for a new identity, telling the story through the country's troubled relationship with its Soviet past. Walker not only explains Vladimir Putin's goals and the government's official manipulations of history, but also focuses on ordinary Russians and their motivations. He charts how Putin raised victory in World War II to the status of a national founding myth in the search for a unifying force to heal a divided country, and shows how dangerous the ramifications of this have been.

The book explores why Russia, unlike Germany, has failed to come to terms with the darkest pages of its past: Stalin's purges, the Gulag, and the war deportations. The narrative roams from the corridors of the Kremlin to the wilds of the Gulags and the trenches of east Ukraine. It puts the annexation of Crimea and the newly assertive Russia in the context of the delayed fallout of the Soviet collapse.

Packed with analysis but told mainly through vibrant reportage, The Long Hangover is a thoughtful exploration of the legacy of the Soviet collapse and how it has affected life in Russia and Putin's policies.

©2018 Shaun Walker (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Fascinating and fair book on Putin's Russia

Would you listen to The Long Hangover again? Why?

No, I would not listen to it again. It was a good book but not one I would want or need to listen to again.

What aspect of Michael Page’s performance would you have changed?

Oh my. The narration almost forced me to stop listening. It's "queen's" English to the nth degree. He's over pronouncing everything and at the same time it sounds like he's literally chewing the words. I got used to it after awhile but found it so incredibly distracting at first. I really wanted to attain the info so I was pretty motivated to keep listening.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The character studies, the compassion Shawn obviously has for the regular folks of the former Soviet Union is palpable. The best part of the book for me.

Any additional comments?

Something I don't think we in the west understand. Putin and his regime literally think our media is like their's, manufactured from whole cloth. He doesn't get how democracies work and never will. He would love nothing more than his lifelong nemesis, the US, to die, the sooner the better. Congrats guys, you voted in just the guy to kill your country for Putin - DJT.

Very educational

The book is written fairly, but it's not going to make Putin happy. I admire Shaun Walker's courage in bringing us these stories.

One of the best books about modern Russian politics

This is one of the best books I’ve read about modern Russian politics and what motivates them. Walker gets Russia in way westerners rarely do and Page did a valiant job narrating. Well done all around!

A note for the narrator

If you can’t speak Russian, don’t try and over pronounce the names of people and places. It’s really distracting. Just same them normally - when have you *ever* heard someone say “ChichNYAH”????

Other than that, I recommend

Could be subtitled A liberal elite perspective.

Although the author is keen to demonstrate journalistic integrity he is often compromised by a liberal elite view point and globalist perspective that fails to take into account the history of Russia and the reality of it's geopolitical position. Well written informative and enjoyable.

Fantastic overview of contemporary Russia

A fair-minded analysis, rigorous yet very humane. Particularly helpful in debunking Putin’s myths about his attacks on Ukraine.

Superbly researched.

Informative and interesting. Pro West which is to be expected but good nevertheless. I recommend it.

Enlightening and we'll balanced.

If you are confused or interested in Ukraine and the behaviour or Russia towards it this will give you a good insight.

Excellent read

great insights into societal and political makeup of Russia psyche. this book will open up other areas of interest on the subject of Russia

Puts it in context

Living in Russia for 6 years until renently, I saw much of this first hand and saw Russians I respected inexplicably change their attitude. This book helps put that into context. A balanced, well researched and sympathetic view of a complex and serious subject presented in an easily digestible format without patronising the listener or making judgements on the participants (except one). If you want to understand modern Russia then it's a must.

Best book I've read on Russia for ages

Really well written and thoughtful. Avoided easy explanations and looked for important stories too often untold. Human and nuanced.