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Steven T. Usdin

Engineering Communism: How Two Americans Spied for Stalin and Founded the Soviet Silicon Valley Paperback – September 5, 2005

by Steven T. Usdin (Author)

4.6 16 ratings

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Engineering Communism is the fascinating story of Joel Barr and Alfred Sarant, dedicated Communists and members of the Rosenberg spy ring, who stole information from the United States during World War II that proved crucial to building the first advanced weapons systems in the USSR. On the brink of arrest, they escaped with KGB’s help and eluded American intelligence for decades.

Drawing on extensive interviews with Barr and new archival evidence, Steve Usdin explains why Barr and Sarant became spies, how they obtained military secrets, and how FBI blunders led to their escape. He chronicles their pioneering role in the Soviet computer industry, including their success in convincing Nikita Khrushchev to build a secret Silicon Valley.

The book is rich with details of Barr’s and Sarant’s intriguing andexciting personal lives, their families, as well as their integration into Russian society. Engineering Communism follows the two spies through Sarant’s death and Barr’s unbelievable return to the United States.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Yale University Press
Publication date

September 5, 2005
Dimensions

5.75 x 0.88 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

0300195524
ISBN-13

978-0300195521
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Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This book tells the almost unbelievable story of American engineers Joel Barr and Alfred Sarant, accomplices in the Rosenberg spy ring, who escaped with stolen military secrets and helped to develop the first advanced weapons systems in the USSR. Rich with astonishing detail, the book describes the spies’ success, integration into Russian society, and Barr’s ultimate return to the US and his family.

About the Author

STEVE USDIN is senior editor at Biocentury Publications.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press (September 5, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300195524
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300195521
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.88 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,206,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,385 in Historical Russia Biographies
- #1,786 in Espionage True Accounts
- #7,407 in Russian History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 16 ratings

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jpd

Great story, well told

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 17, 2022

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Anyone with an interest in the Rosenberg case or other Soviet spying will find this story compelling.

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Tucson Tom

This book is an absolute must read!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 16, 2013

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On page 298, Note 51 is extremely important to the debate regarding Soviet agents and moles in the United States.

"In April 1941, ... the KGB had 221 agents in the United States ... " from Mitrokhin, "The Sword and the Shield" [ 107, 128]

[does not include the GRU]

Note 50: 29 of the 2900 Venona decrypted messages record that Soviet agents were aware that FBI agents were monitoring their activities ...

Engineering Communism is not only interesting because of the description of the founding of the USSR's "Silicon Valley", but also because it describes in great detail of the chase as the FBI gradually becomes aware of the extent to which Russian spying is taking place in the United States.

"Engineering Communism" is essential because it ties in with Diana West's book "Betrayal ... " . There are reviewers who deny that there were ANY Soviet agents or moles, but the evidence is only overwhelming. The only issue is what the numbers were.

We only decrypted a very tiny piece of 1% of the Soviet cables. [Remember that this was before the internet, before computers, before long distance telephone. There were only postal mail and telegrams. And it was very difficult for the FBI and police to coordinate their surveillance of enemy activity.]

Also, this book is about how the Soviet MILITARY electronics industry was developed ... the proximity fuse, radar, etc.

This book also shows the weaknesses of the socialist system, in which ideological purity was more important that actual results.

This book is a must read! Interesting AND ties in with other studies of the time period and of the Soviet system.

8 people found this helpful

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J. Ubois

Food for thought, and a good read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 5, 2005

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Nobel Prize recipient Elias Canetti defined the "concentration" of a secret as the ratio between the number of people who know it, and the number of people it might affect. Canetti noted that modern technical secrets were the most concentrated type of secret because they have the potential to affect everyone, but are known only to a few.

Engineering Communism is about concentrated secrets, and the ties shared secrets create between people who hold them. More particularly, the book is about one of the most successful espionage rings to operate in the U.S., and the U.S.S.R, during the 20th century; how Communism provided meaning, purpose, identity, power, and hope for a small group of people (some still living); and how they managed to continue to Believe once that utopian dream faded for almost everyone else.

One secret I shouldn't keep is that I've known the author for many years, and read early drafts of the book. I was relieved to see it come out so well, as having a secret opinion about the work of a friend can be uncomfortable. There's a video of a talk by the author about the book at

[...]

24 people found this helpful

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NYMDBoy29

A Fascinating Story No One Else Has Ever Captured

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 15, 2014

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The book is an amazing history...told in two parts. The first provides great insight into the growth of socialism and communism in the US during the 1930's--answering a "why" that is baffling from a distance of 80 years. The first part also lays bare the comings and goings of the group of individuals who coordinated with Julius Rosenberg in sending defense secrets to the Soviets during WWII. The second part involves the lives of the two protagonists after they fled the US ahead of being accused of espionage. Live in the Soviet bloc and the in Moscow was a trial for them, but their natural talents and a nose for survival allowed them to prosper in an environment that is starkly described.

The author had the advantage of becoming a confidant of one of these men late in their lives and has a gift for retelling the story. A very enjoyable read.

4 people found this helpful

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Andre Marquet

A case against or for centrally planned tech clusters?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 2, 2009

Verified Purchase

I really recommend this book. It tells a great story of how two Americans that gave up the American dream and ended up founding what was later known as the Soviet Silicon Valley, a cluster that played a crucial importance, developing the first computers and other electronic equipment for the military industrial aerospace complex of the Soviet establishment. All in all, I think these man were true social entrepreneurs with a clear vision of the future. This is a great book, for anyone trying to understand why going private is a better option than depending on someone else' will (in this case the Soviet government) to push things up. I wonder what would have been their lives, had they stayed in the US, and established an IT corporation back in the 40's instead of having gone to work to the USSR...

2 people found this helpful

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Lynn M. Holley

Everything you need to know about the rise of communism...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

Excellent book. Great research.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

excellent

One person found this helpful

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Evgeny

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

Great, really interesting history of my hometown.

2 people found this helpful

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Engineering Communism: How Two Americans Spied for Stalin and Founded the Soviet Silicon Valley Paperback – September 5, 2005

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