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სტალინ� - ფოლადი� კაცი თუ მასობრივ� მკვლელ�?
XX საუკუნის ერ�-ერთი ყველაზ� უმოწყალო, შიში� მომგვრელ� და აღიარებული პოლიტიკური ლიდერი� ადამიანური ისტორი�. წიგნში აღწერილი�: •დიქტატორი� ბავშვობა საქართველოში და ახალგაზრდობი� წლებ�; •სტალინი�, როგორც რევოლუციონერის� და აქტივისტის, აღმასვლა ბოლშევიკურ� პარტიი� რიგებშ�; •საბჭოთა კავშირის მართვი� ოცდაათწლიანი პერიოდ�; •სტალინი, როგორც მთავარსარდალ� მეორ� მსოფლი� ომის დროს; •”ცივ� ომის � წლებში აღმოსავლეთ ევროპაში რუსეთი� დომინირება. ცნობილ� ბრიტანელ� ავტორისა და მიმომხილველი� მაიკ� კერიგანი� მიერ წიგნში მოყვანილ� ინფორმაცია ეყრდნობა 25-მდ� სხვადასხვა მნიშვნელოვან კვლევასა და ნაშრომ�. გაფორმებულია 180 ფოტოთი და ილუსტრაციი�
- GenresNonfictionHistory
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 10, 2020
Whilst I don’t think this biography of Stalin brought anything new to the table, I did think it was an entertaining and very readable volume which in particular would be an excellent introduction to the man and his times to those not already steeped in Stalin knowledge. It’s extensively illustrated, perhaps more of an overview of the man and his life rather than in an-depth study, but none the worse for that. It’s fully researched, presented in an accessible and lively manner, and if there are no new facts or analysis, I don’t feel that matters, as there are plenty of other studies that can delve deeper into this most puzzling and frightening of leaders. A good read, enjoyable and informative.
October 24, 2019
Why not both?
June 13, 2020
I didn't think this was an awful book, but it doesn't contain a terrible lot of new information or ideas that have not already been expressed about Stalin. I never felt like the finish line was crossed on a determination of whether or not Stalin was, in fact, a mass murderer or the supposed Man of Steel.
There are a lot of photos and historical facts in this book, but there is also a lot of hearsay and rumour. I'm not sure if I expect a book like this to be perhaps, more scholarly or if it was just the author's choice to include other things besides strictly historical material, but in the end, I found it was just okay. If you are looking to learn the basic facts and you know enough not to believe certain things, this book will do.
It wasn't bad, I simply didn't think it was great. It is still worthy of a read and a recommendation because it wasn't boring and does have some substance. More than one can say about a lot of books recently released.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
There are a lot of photos and historical facts in this book, but there is also a lot of hearsay and rumour. I'm not sure if I expect a book like this to be perhaps, more scholarly or if it was just the author's choice to include other things besides strictly historical material, but in the end, I found it was just okay. If you are looking to learn the basic facts and you know enough not to believe certain things, this book will do.
It wasn't bad, I simply didn't think it was great. It is still worthy of a read and a recommendation because it wasn't boring and does have some substance. More than one can say about a lot of books recently released.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2019
It is probably very difficult to write a biography of Stalin after Montefiore and Khlevniuk, but Kerrigan tried. Forgetting the strength of Russian political history, refusing to remember the dramatic international relationships, ignoring the impact of German invasion, he doesn't bring new facts or new analysis to the debate about Stalin's role in Soviet Union and world History. Unable to hide his hostility to the his hero, he mix his actual talent of historian with unchecked ideological stories.
January 9, 2019
Another great book by Kerrigan. Great insight into a troubled mind and a troubling period. I particularly like how Kerrigan provides both sides of an argument and leaves you to decide. More historians should write this way.
March 16, 2020
Along with a standard biography, this book seems to want to answer the question about whether Stalin was as bad as or worse than Hitler. Perhaps not, making him the second worst person. That's not great.
January 31, 2021
I feel like in history, we mostly talked about Mussolini and Hitler and barely touched on Stalin. The thing is there's so much on the lad that it's hard to just brush aside. I really liked the writing style of this book and how it was told chronologically from his birth to his death. I do also appreciate the illustrations that give a visual representation of what is being talked about. I did find some of the illustrations to be a tad big and therefore made the book feel short overall. I definitely think this is a good read if you ever wanted to learn about the Man of Steel.
January 13, 2020
NetGalley were great enough to send me a copy of this book. I love reading Russian history, their Royal family make ours look normal and their drastic political changes are fascinating. However, this book is lacking something. I didn't feel like there was any new information in this book. By no means badly written, and gives an insight into Stalin, but there are better biographies out there.
February 14, 2021
Nice high-level biography. It was only 200 pages with lots of pictures, but it was just what I was looking for � a quick overview of Stalin’s life.
August 4, 2021
Well written very informative look at Stalin's life from childhood to death, with as much context surrounding his life as can be given in 200 pages.
April 21, 2020
The historic illustrations and photos are possibly the best part of the book. Other reviewers have mentioned that nothing really new in this biography is uncovered. On a more technical level, Michael Kerrigan consistently uses annoying contractions--"isn't" rather than "is not" etc- an unscholarly technique which draws attention to itself and takes away from the text. At times it feels as though the author almost harbors a soft spot for the man of steel, comparing him favorably to Adolf Hitler, neglecting documented mutual admiration between the two dictators. On the positive side, it retraces a chronology of events, where the Georgian native played a pivotal role. Still, one would have wanted greater depth and analysis. Ioseb Besarionis dzе Djugashvili remains something of an enigma.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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