As the title says, it’s a very brief study of Soviet history. That said, it’s written by an eminent Sovietologist and it does a good job in giving the reader a rounded understanding of the key players, trends and events. Well worth a read to get a basic understanding of what was a major global power in the 20th century and helps better understand what is driving some of the current Russian politics. ( )

A great introduction to the history of the Soviet Union. Very easy to read and understand. Peaked my interest to look into some areas further. With all that is currently going on in the world, it's vital that we understand the Russian people better. ( )