Collapse

The Fall of the Soviet Union

By: Vladislav M. Zubok

Narrated by: David de Vries

Length: 23 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A major study of the collapse of the Soviet Union - showing how Gorbachev's misguided reforms led to its demise

In 1945, the Soviet Union controlled half of Europe and was a founding member of the United Nations. By 1991, it had an army four million strong, 5,000 nuclear-tipped missiles, and was the second biggest producer of oil in the world. But soon afterward, the union sank into an economic crisis and was torn apart by nationalist separatism. Its collapse was one of the seismic shifts of the 20th century.

Thirty years on, Vladislav Zubok offers a major reinterpretation of the final years of the USSR, refuting the notion that the breakup of the Soviet order was inevitable. Instead, Zubok reveals how Gorbachev's misguided reforms, intended to modernize and democratize the Soviet Union, deprived the government of resources and empowered separatism. Collapse sheds new light on Russian democratic populism, the Baltic struggle for independence, the crisis of Soviet finances - and the fragility of authoritarian state power.

©2021 Vladislav M. Zubok (P)2021 Tantor

One of the best books I’ve EVER read

I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. This book makes it to my top-ten best books I’ve ever read or listened to in my entire life. Truly amazing! I’ve learned so much! A masterfully written, gripping narrative on the demise of the Soviet Union that is highly relevant for understanding today’s landscape.
My only wish is that professor Zubok would write a sequel on the 1990s…

Exceptionally detailed account of the end of the Union

Very well written and acted book that documents a time in history most Americans have no knowledge on

Comprehensive and insightful

Though the focus of the coverage is on individual leadership, it thoroughly explains the rise of separatists in the republics and inactions of the Soviet state in crisis. Well worth of the time in listening. The book provides a comprehensive historical narrative on the collapse of the Soviet Union from 1989 to 1991, with a focus on leadership failures of Gorbachev but also Yeltsin who undermined the former Soviet leader in every way possible. Different readers could draw different reading experiences and lessons, a sign of a good comprehensive coverage. My strong impression from the reading is on the critical role of various Soviet republics' nationalism in the collapse--the national separatism starting from Lithuania ,Estonia, Latvia eventually to Ukraine and Georgia and other republics, and importantly Russia under Yeltsin. But perhaps more important is the failure of Gorbachev, intensionally or unintentionally, to use the state institutions (the party, KGB, and Army) to save the union. Gorbachev's half-baked efforts to save the union is in stark contrast with Yeltsin's blatant acts to put Russia away from it.

The Soviet Union had a strong state but failing economy. The state could have been used in improving the economy, through market-oriented reforms, like what China did in the same period. Nevertheless, though Gorbachev didn't intentionally go out to dismantle the state's institutions, his acts largely rendered it in inaction, leading to the leadership failure in boosting the economy, and later collapse of the state under Yeltsin and rise of the Oligarch which eventually led to the rise of Putin and restoration of the authoritarian rule. The strong dose of national separatism and inaction of the state, made possible by Gorbachev's leadership vision and personality, were the root cause of the collapse.

Interesting

I was a college student when this historic event unfolded. This book brought about a greater understanding.

The Book Was Better

A VERY thorough recount of history, so much so that it's better to grab the print version of this book. The author names everyone in politics and their reaction to anything that occurred in the late 80's and early 90's USSR; it will make your head spin. I would only recommend this book to someone who is very versed in Russian history and the major events surrounding the collapse of the Soviet Union. With that said, it is a very enjoyable read for anyone who has an interest in Soviet/Russian history.

The narrator, however, is monotonous and listening to him read this book was almost painful after the first 45 minutes. Coming back to this audiobook was insufferable- which is truly a shame because the content of the book is very good. The narrator pronounces the Slavic names differently almost every time he says them and it ends up being very confusing to the listener. I found myself having to pause and rewind many times, especially in the beginning of the book, because of the mispronunciations.

Incredibly detailed and gripping

This is truly an unparalleled account of the soviet collapse. The author provides accounts and insights never heard before. It sheds a clear light on the happenings of the time. I had to listen twice to ensure I could fully absorb it and it was a truly enjoyable audio book. the narratior did an excellent job as well. Highly recommended.

focuses on the politics leading up to the collapse

not five stars because I wish it could have gone into more detail about why Russia's economy was in the state it was and couldn't get turned around. I'm curious why we didn't send people in to help reform their economy like we previously did successfully for Japan

Cautionary tale for the 2020's

Must read observations in final chapter, with comparisons to what is going on in the present A fantastic twist, what seemed like epic history suddenly presented in the light of a cautionary tale.

Soft Boiled Communists vs Hard Boiled Communists

This book is like a Gore Vidal irreverent farce, is this really "non fiction"? I watched this live history as a kid as the Soviets melted down in the 1990s. I figured it was a titanic struggle of serious men. This book shows these guys were basically naive dupes. The leading stooge wanted to turn his terrorist and evil Empire into Sweden so they could have restaurants with mountains of Pineapple, stocked supermarkets, and live opulently like West Germans. (Never understanding the underlying brilliant export industries that made this happen for Germany.) He prioritized his "celebrity" image in the western press as more important than being a leader to his own people. He was not self-aware of the ridiculous figure he was in the west, an unimpressive "George Costanza" leading a nation that could not manage the logistics of toilet paper. Ultimately Gorbi self-destructs the Soviet Union by alienating "Russians" from the USSR with his globalism and Europeanism. No Russia, no USSR, game over.

How to ruin an isolated economic system, he "reformed" and "liberalized" a nation without the concept of "price discovery" or "capital allocation", Easily, clever kepto-oligarchs stole like crazy from the arbitrage his reforms created. He "liberalized" under "Leninist" principles. Evidently, Gorbi not aware that Vlad Lenin was not an Economist, rather a mental patient. A patient that prior to being a dictator, had never actually held a job, ran a business, or successfully managed an independent household. Gorbi's economist lived intermittently in mental asylums, was a dead-beat son, and starved/murdered 10M Russians before Stalin ever took over in 1924. Germany sent Lenin to Russia in 1917 as a plague during WW1.

This book is good, but very silly on political terminology and economics. Maybe the author is as confused as Grobi on what freedom is. They keep referring to degenerate Communist purists as "Conservative". Old, vodka chugging, atheist commissars are "conservative" and "right wing" for this book? This author is probably too Eastern Block understand that "Conservative" philosophy dates to the 18th Century and emanates from Edmond Burke and is rooted in individual liberty, limited government, and rule of law. Burke was the philosophical opposition to murderous, utopian totalitarians like the Pro-Bolsheviks of 1792 France. Basically, just because a decrepit, evil Marxist wants to cling to his yellowing picture of Stalin on his Livingroom wall, that is not a 'Conservative'.

This book is cool and should be read, but you come away with zero respect for the Soviet Union's demise. Gorbi destroyed his nation and essentially wrecked Eurasian civilization, basically. Spains Carlos IV, Britain's Lloyd George, and Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II are Gorbi's historical peers. Gore Vidal could make this 50x more fun.

A very difficult topic very well explained

Endlessly complicated curcumstances made simpler and easy to digest. The book doesn't waste time and is properly chronologically laid out. Was a great listen. Thank you.