| name | value |
| authors | Serhii Plokhy |
| isbn | 978-1324051190 |
| pages | 400 |
| rating | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| date started | 2024-05-16 |
| date finished | 2024-05-22 |
| locations | Sarajevo |
Good book on the history of the war started by russia.
Some things that I didn't like. It's written in the modern Western logical way: describing facts and chronology of the events.
It creates perception that there are rational actors taking logical and calculated steps.
I do not believe that is the case with russian state. I don't really want a book that says that US did this and russia did that and then Germany did that and putin did that. It makes sense during normal times. But it doesn't work with russia. Because russia already uses the same tool to show that its war is legitimate. It was the tool that russian media and establishment used for several decades - says that all they did was the reaction to the "bad actions of the West".
I honestly believe that factual and chronological way to talk about history is good, but shouldn't be used talking about russia. We should use other elements: ridicule, harassment, embarrassment and humiliation.
Film The Death of Stalin is a good model how to talk about russian state and the culture - making fun of them.