A History of the Soviet Union from the Beginning to the End (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Leibnitz, the great German philosopher and scientist, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, once expressed his envy of Russia..." (more)
Key Phrases: socialist realist art, old intelligentsia, collective farm system, Soviet Union, United States, Eastern Europe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kenez (history, Univ. of California, Santa Cruz) has distilled the voluminous literature on the Soviet Union's 75-year history to a succinct and factual summary. Throughout, Kenez emphasizes economics, creating an image of a hollow superpower that could neither feed its population nor produce a reasonable supply of consumer goods owing to its concentration on the defense industry. A secondary emphasis is on the cultural life of the era, discussing the films and literature of different periods. There is little on the 1917 revolution and only a short analysis of why the Soviet Union ultimately failed to thrive. Sources in the bibliography are primarily in English. Still, this is a valuable reading assignment for undergraduate survey courses that academic libraries should consider.AMarcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

'Few historians are as well qualified to write such a volume as Professor Kenez. A solid and conscientious scholar, author of several books on the early l920s and on the Soviet cinema, Kenez's work has always inspired confidence and the new book is no exception. It is lucid, amply documented, well organized, and occasionally brightened by flashes of quiet humour ... Above all, the book is thumpingly sensible.' Times Literary Supplement 'Kenez has written an excellent book, and it is deserving of special attention by all who are interested in the rise and fall of the Soviet Union.' Mediterranean Quarterly --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521311985
• ISBN-13: 978-0521311984
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #337,238 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, short history, February 7, 2006

By	Steve Cartwright (Rock Island, IL) - See all my reviews

This compact and well-written book from Soviet historian Peter Kenez is an excellent short history of the Soviet Union.

Perhaps the most welcome aspect of Kenez's book is his willingess to acknowledge the centrality of ideological considerations in shaping both the views and policies of the USSR's Marxist leaders. While this is not surprising given the author's previous interest in the "propaganda state," it is a needed corrective to the excessive emphasis on "social factors" that tend to dominate other histories of the USSR.

Readers would have benefited from a more detailed bibliography or, better, a list of recommended readings from the author.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE FAILINGS OF THE SOVIET UNION, June 6, 2000

By	Gary Westhoff (College Point, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Peter Kenez outlines all of Soviet history succintly yet completely. He argues that the Soviet "golden age" during the NEP (New Economic Policy) was doomed to failure because the Bolshevik state, by definition, could only function as a one-party, authoritarian power.

Indeed, Kenez argues that the Soviet Union was always authoritarian, with the exception of Stalin's reign, when it was a totalitarian state. Stalin ruled with power that was so absolute that the Communist Party was deemed insignificant, no other figured gained lasting influence in government, and all were potentially subject to his terror.

The Soviet Union met its demise and fall because the the regime could not reform itself and still remain in existence. The flawed, top-down structure of the economy, particularly the constant failures of collectivized farms, assured that the Soviet Union could never see economic prosperity comparable to the West.

Kenez's ideally-sized history offers an intriguing, and critical, history of the Soviet Union. It is anti-Soviet, but still objective: for example, Kenez argues that the Cold War Soviet Union had neither the desire, nor the capacity, to promote worldwide revolution. The one glaring flaw of this book is its sparse treatment of Cold War diplomacy, as it argues that the Soviet crises were almost entirely from within.

The book is an effortless read. Its most gripping effect is that you likely walk away convinced that Josef Satlin was doubtlessly one of most evil men in recorded history.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent history of communism in the soviet union, October 24, 1999

By	Stephen M. Picca MD (Massapequa, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a brief but complete history of Communism in the Soviet Union from the days of the October Revolution to its recent collapse. It's main focus is on politics and economics but other topics (including even cinema) are discussed. A little dry at times but always readable. Does not require any real background in history to enjoy. Higly recommended for anyone seaking an overview of this fascinating subject.