This 226-page volume of indexed and footnoted memoirs by former Czechoslovakian intelligence operative Ladislav Bittman contains the details of Soviet disinfomation methods, and describes the "purposeful and cunning games played in Washington to manipulate politicians, governmental bureaucrats, and the press". Chapter 1 is titled, "Recollections of a Former Perpetrator", but this book goes far beyond being merely a diary, in that the author outlines in detail the means and methods used by both sides during the height of the Cold War, and still being used today.

From the dustcover:

- The author, former Deputy Director of the Czechoslovakian Disinformation Department, reveals how the Soviet disinformation game is played.

- He discloses how, why, and when specific US, European, and other national leaders have been maligned unintentionally by distinguished free-world media representatives who have been cleverly misled.

- This exciting and authoritative book reveals that the spectrum of KGB active measures is much broader, and their operations more skillful, harder to detect, and far more dangerous than the Western world knows.

Nikita S. Khrushchev was perhaps the most interesting leader the Soviet Union ever had, and was certainly one of the most intriging characters of the 20th century. A strange mix of the wise and the foolish, he tried, but could not significantly change, the U.S.S.R. for the better. In some ways, Gorbachev was the "Khrushchev" of this time, and not the other way around.

I read this book in grad school and could not put it down. As the son of, as the Americans called him, 'Mr. K,' Sergei Khrushchev had a special perspective on this man and his time, and this is a must-read for anyone interested in the subject. The younger Krushchev certainly loved his father, and it shows in the book sometimes to access, but by and large the account is objective.

There are several touching and personal passages in the book, too numerous to mention here. I was particularly taken with the episode in which the younger Krushchev found out about the coup that was about to overtake his father and warned him that (rough transcription): "X is setting up a coup against you." He then got the shock of his life when his father came home from the Politburo the next day ranting (rough transcription again): "You silly boy! I just spoke to X today. He says there's no coup going on!" Classic Nikita S. Khrushchev.

Sergei N. Khrushchev has succeeded in producing a sensitive, illuminating account of a special time in our world. The book is an easy and concise read, yet the reader will come out with a very deep understanding of so many of the people and forces that shaped that time. This is what good reading is supposed to be. Bravo!

This book, dictated by Nikita Khrushchev while under virtual house arrest from the time he lost power until his death, offers a rare look into the Soviet mind at the height of the Cold War. It was translated to English from the Russian by Strobe Talbott, who has been Deputy Secretary of State since 1994. Shortly after publication, Khrushchev officially said that he did not write it. However, he only said this out of loyalty to the Communist Party, and there is little doubt as to its authenticity (especially with the information found in formerly secret Soviet archives). This book traces his life from his childhood, his roles during Stalin's reign, his years in power, and how and why he lost power. Getting the Soviet side on events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the schism with China from a man who understands them better than anyone else provides a good balance to what we read in standard Western history books.

I have long been an admire of James G. Richter, and this work is a must-read for all those who wish to understand the international pressures and domestic coalition politics of Khrushchev. I highly recommend this sophisticated, yet accessable text to all students, scholars, and enthusiasts of political science. Excellent work, James, and I wait impatiently for your next work to be published.

I love to see Americans write European history. Not so much for the reason that we can't do it well as much for the reason that too often we refuse to do it well. In an age of American history scholarship dominated by revisionism, politically correct relativism, and otherwise trendy arcane trash, this brilliant analysis is like fine wine after years of Budweiser. Hamm chooses a national/ethnic context in which to tell the story of how these various peoples transformed Kiev from a forgotten backwater to the cosmopolitan capital of Ukraine. All of this took place in the matter of about 100 years--a blip on the radar screen of Kievan history. But what a century! Poles, Jews, Russians, Ukrainians, Greeks, the Decembrists, art, education, music, literature, commerce, war, pogroms, conflagration, disease, and revolution. It's all here, told in the perfect combination of lucidity and attention to detail as to both fascinate and instruct. Isn't every great work of history supposed to do that? I know I've come across something special when I feel like I've actually lived through a particular history after reading it. We all become residents of Kiev here. One thing that prospective readers should note: Hamm likes numbers. The book is full of statistics, but it never completely relies on them. The author always uses numbers to illustrate his point, but he never tells the story itself with numbers. Though the topic may seem to be a bit esoteric, Hamm's thesis suggests that we should consider understanding urban history as a history of people rather than of institutions and infrastructure. Wonderful stuff, even if you have no interest in Ukraine.

Chekhov's achievement as a short story writer has rarely, if ever, been equalled, and certainly never surpassed. This collection, together with its comapanion volumes "The Party and Other Stories", "The Fiancee and other Stories", "The Duel and Other Stories" (all translated by Ronald Wilks), and "Lady with Lapdog and Other Stories" (translated by David Magarshack), all in the Penguin edition, should keep the discerning reader happy for an entire lifetime!

Chekhov is often regarded as a dreamy writer, dealing with the themes of regret and loss in subtle shades of pastel. Certainly, he could often be very delicate indeed. But Chekhov had a far wider range than is generally acknowledged: he could paint with primary colours as well. This particular collection, for instance, contains two of his finest stories - "Peasants" and "In the Gully" - which are both deeply shocking. The latter story has a horrific climax that would not be out of place in a novel by Zola.

I cannot think of any other writer who could write stories such as these, and also something as poetic and sad as "The Bishop": here, the protagonist, of peasant stock, is dying, and he feels alienated even from his own mother, who holds him in awe. It is a profoundly melancholy story, and one of the most moving things I have read.

In each of these stories, there seems to be enough material for entire novels. It is not possible to describe adequately in a few lines the sheer variety and depth of human experience depicted in these stories. Few writers have depicted humanity with such understanding and compassion.

This book is one which describes how life in the Soviet Union really was. The citizens spend all of their spare time and energy trying to work around their opressive government through deals in the black market and through building personal relationships and relying on "pull". The vast difference between the lifestyles of Communist Party members and common citizens is clearly depicted.

it is a pretty good book, it describes ruso evil.... read it if you like that kind of stuff, :)

Zaloga has done a masterful job of describing the internal politics that kept the Soviet program from achieving maximum efficiency in their arms race with the USA. Still, one has to admire the dogged determination the Soviets showed in this pursuit. He also updates the reader on the decrepit state of the post-Soviet arsenal today. That is even scarier than the past flirtation with Armageddon.

I used this book to as a background for a two week unit on Latin American Culture in the United States to a fourth grade class. My students were intrigued and began to think about new issues of justice. The book is artfully written so that even an adult can gain valuable insight. Ceasar Chavez' story is inspiring and challenges all to question the status quo. One chapter may be a little graphic for some young children, I skipped it in class. But overall, tremendous, and one of my Hispanic-American students said it is one of the best books ever read to them.