Masha Gessenis a Russian American journalist and the author, most recently, of the national bestseller "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin "and "Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot." Her award-winning work has appeared in "The New York Times," "Slate," "Vanity Fair," and elsewhere. A longtime resident of Moscow, Gessen now lives in New York.
A "Slate" and "San Francisco Chronicle" Best Book of 2012
"[An] absorbing portrait... Gessen is most illuminating when she
details the historical accidents that allowed an unexceptional
bureaucrat to rule Russia." -"The New Yorker "
"Part psychological profile, part conspiracy study... As a Moscow
native who has written perceptively for both Russian and Western
publications, Gessen knows the cultures and pathologies of
Russia... [and has] a delicious command of the English language...
A fiercely independent journalist... Gessen's armchair
psychoanalysis of Putin is speculative. But it is a clever and
sometimes convincing speculation, based on a close reading of
Putin's own inadvertently revealing accounts of his life, and on
interviews with people who knew Putin before he mattered." -"The
New York Times Book Review "
"In a country where journalists critical of the government have a
way of meeting untimely deaths, Ms. Gessen has shown remarkable
courage in researching and writing this unflinching indictment of
the most powerful man in Russia... Although written before the
recent protests erupted, the book helps to explain the anger and
outrage driving that movement." -"The Wall Street Journal"
"Thanks to her fearless reporting and acute psychological insights,
Masha Gessen has done the impossible in writing a highly readable,
compelling life of Russia's mysterious president-for-life." -Tina
Brown, "The ""Daily Beast "
"Powerful and gracefully written... Gessen's book flows on multiple
tracks, tracing Putin's life back to boyhood, the story of his
hometown of St. Petersburg, and finally the last quarter-century of
Russian history... For all of the ghoulish detail, Gessen's account
of Russia is not overwrought... [she] displays impressive control
of her prose and her story, painting a portrait of a vile Putin
without sounding polemical." -"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Engrossing and insightful." -"Bloomberg"
"Gessen shines a piercing light into every dark corner of Putin's
story... Fascinating, hard-hitting reading." -"Foreign Affairs"
"[An] incisive bildingsroman of Putin and his regime... Alongside
an acute apprehension of the post-Soviet dynamics that facilitated
Putin's rise, Gessen balances narratives of Putin-as-bureaucrat and
Putin-as-kleptocrat with a wider indictment of the "Mafia clan"
that retains him solely as its Godfather." -"The Daily"
"Illuminating... Gessen sprinkles telltale signs of the Putin who
would eventually emerge and rule Russia with an iron fist...It is
with these explosive revelations that Gessen truly excels... [She]
presents her case calmly, picking holes in Putin's character, his
policies, and his rule without stooping to hysterical
condemnation... an electrifying read from what can only be
described as an incredibly brave writer." -"Columbia Journalism
Review"
"A chilling and brave work of nonfiction... Gessen has succeeded in
convincingly portraying the forces that made Putin who he is
today." -"Bookpage"
"Although Gessen is enough of an outsider to write beautifully
clear and eloquent English, she is enough of an insider to convey,
accurately, the wild swings of emotions, the atmosphere of mad
speculation, the paranoia, and, yes, the hysteria that pervade all
political discussion and debate in Moscow today." -"The New York
Review of Books"
"What Gessen sees in Putin is a troubled childhood brawler who
became a paper-pushing KGB man and, by improbable twists and turns,
rose to the top in Russia... [She] does not attempt to weigh up
Putin's record but rather examines his biography, mind-set and
methods... as a thug loyal to the KGB and the empire it served who
never had a clue about the Earth-shattering events that blew the
Soviet Union apart." -"The Washington Post"
"An eye opening story with all the drama and intrigue of a novel."
-"Popmatters"
"Written in English but with Russian heart, Gessen focuses on the
places and institutions that bred the nation's most resolute leader
since Stalin... Some might say that Gessen's interpretation is
political. Of course it is... but more importantly, it is thorough.
She has seen fellow journalists killed, has been harassed herself,
and yet continues to write from Russia... Her urgency is felt on
nearly every page." -"Bookforum"
A "Slate" Best Book of 2012
"[An] absorbing portrait... Gessen is most illuminating when she
details the historical accidents that allowed an unexceptional
bureaucrat to rule Russia." -"The New Yorker "
"Part psychological profile, part conspiracy study... As a Moscow
native who has written perceptively for both Russian and Western
publications, Gessen knows the cultures and pathologies of
Russia... [and has] a delicious command of the English language...
A fiercely independent journalist... Gessen's armchair
psychoanalysis of Putin is speculative. But it is a clever and
sometimes convincing speculation, based on a close reading of
Putin's own inadvertently revealing accounts of his life, and on
interviews with people who knew Putin before he mattered." -"The
New York Times Book Review "
"In a country where journalists critical of the government have a
way of meeting untimely deaths, Ms. Gessen has shown remarkable
courage in researching and writing this unflinching indictment of
the most powerful man in Russia... Although written before the
recent protests erupted, the book helps to explain the anger and
outrage driving that movement." -"The Wall Street Journal"
"Thanks to her fearless reporting and acute psychological insights,
Masha Gessen has done the impossible in writing a highly readable,
compelling life of Russia's mysterious president-for-life." -Tina
Brown, "The ""Daily Beast "
"Engrossing and insightful." -"Bloomberg"
"Gessen shines a piercing light into every dark corner of Putin's
story... Fascinating, hard-hitting reading." -"Foreign Affairs"
"[An] incisive bildingsroman of Putin and his regime... Alongside
an acute apprehension of the post-Soviet dynamics that facilitated
Putin's rise, Gessen balances narratives of Putin-as-bureaucrat and
Putin-as-kleptocrat with a wider indictment of the "Mafia clan"
that retains him solely as its Godfather." -"The Daily"
"Illuminating... Gessen sprink
"[An] absorbing portrait... Gessen is most illuminating when she
details the historical accidents that allowed an unexceptional
bureaucrat to rule Russia." -"The New Yorker "
"Part psychological profile, part conspiracy study... As a Moscow
native who has written perceptively for both Russian and Western
publications, Gessen knows the cultures and pathologies of
Russia... [and has] a delicious command of the English language...
A fiercely independent journalist... Gessen's armchair
psychoanalysis of Putin is speculative. But it is a clever and
sometimes convincing speculation, based on a close reading of
Putin's own inadvertently revealing accounts of his life, and on
interviews with people who knew Putin before he mattered." -"The
New York Times Book Review "
"In a country where journalists critical of the government have a
way of meeting untimely deaths, Ms. Gessen has shown remarkable
courage in researching and writing this unflinching indictment of
the most powerful man in Russia... Although written before the
recent protests erupted, the book helps to explain the anger and
outrage driving that movement." -"The Wall Street Journal"
"Masha Gessen steps into the fray with a perceptive account of the
new czar." -"Newsweek/Daily Beast "
"Engrossing and insightful." -"Bloomberg"
"Gessen shines a piercing light into every dark corner of Putin's
story... Fascinating, hard-hitting reading." -"Foreign Affairs"
"[An] incisive bildingsroman of Putin and his regime... Alongside
an acute apprehension of the post-Soviet dynamics that facilitated
Putin's rise, Gessen balances narratives of Putin-as-bureaucrat and
Putin-as-kleptocrat with a wider indictment of the "Mafia clan"
that retains him solely as its Godfather." -"The Daily
"
"Illuminating... Gessen sprinkles telltale signs of the Putin who
would eventually emerge and rule Russia with an iron fist...It is
with these explosive revelations that Gessen truly excels...
"[An absorbing portrait... Gessen is most illuminating when she
details the historical accidents that allowed an unexceptional
bureaucrat to rule Russia" --"The New Yorker "
"Part psychological profile, part conspiracy study... As a Moscow
native who has written perceptively for both Russian and Western
publications, Gessen knows the cultures and pathologies of
Russia... [and has] a delicious command of the English language...
A fiercely independent journalist... Gessen's armchair
psychoanalysis of Putin is speculative. But it is a clever and
sometimes convincing speculation, based on a close reading of
Putin's own inadvertently revealing accounts of his life, and on
interviews with people who knew Putin before he mattered." --"The
New York Times Book Review "
"In a country where journalists critical of the government have a
way of meeting untimely deaths, Ms. Gessen has shown remarkable
courage in researching and writing this unflinching indictment of
the most powerful man in Russia... Although written before the
recent protests erupted, the book helps to explain the anger and
outrage driving that movement." --"The Wall Street Journal"
"Masha Gessen steps into the fray with a perceptive account of the
new czar." --"Newsweek/Daily Beast "
"Engrossing and insightful." --"Bloomberg"
"Gessen shines a piercing light into every dark corner of Putin's
story... Fascinating, hard-hitting reading." --"Foreign
Affairs"
"[An] incisive bildingsroman of Putin and his regime... Alongside
an acute apprehension of the post-Soviet dynamics that facilitated
Putin's rise, Gessen balances narratives of Putin-as-bureaucrat and
Putin-as-kleptocrat with a wider indictment of the "Mafia clan"
that retains him solely as its Godfather." --"The Daily
"
"Illuminating... Gessen sprinkles telltale signs of the Putin who
would eventually emerge and rule Russia with an iron fist...It is
with these explosive revelations that Gessen truly exce
"[An absorbing portrait...Gessen is most illuminating when she
details the historical accidents that allowed an unexceptional
bureaucrat to rule Russia" --" The New Yorker "
"Part psychological profile, part conspiracy study...As a Moscow
native who has written perceptively for both Russian and Western
publications, Gessen knows the cultures and pathologies of
Russia...[and has] a delicious command of the English language...A
fiercely independent journalist...Gessen's armchair psychoanalysis
of Putin is speculative. But it is a clever and sometimes
convincing speculation, based on a close reading of Putin's own
inadvertently revealing accounts of his life, and on interviews
with people who knew Putin before he mattered." - "The New York
Times Book Review "
"In a country where journalists critical of the government have a
way of meeting untimely deaths, Ms. Gessen has shown remarkable
courage in researching and writing this unflinching indictment of
the most powerful man in Russia... Although written before the
recent protests erupted, the book helps to explain the anger and
outrage driving that movement."--"The Wall Street Journal"
"Masha Gessen steps into the fray with a perceptive account of the
new czar." - "Newsweek/Daily Beast "
"Engrossing and insightful." - "Bloomberg"
"Gessen shines a piercing light into every dark corner of Putin's
story...Fascinating, hard-hitting reading." -"Foreign Affairs"
"[An] incisive bildingsroman of Putin and his regime...Alongside an
acute apprehension of the post-Soviet dynamics that facilitated
Putin's rise, Gessen balances narratives of Putin-as-bureaucrat and
Putin-as-kleptocrat with a wider indictment of the "Mafia clan"
that retains him solely as its Godfather." - "The Daily
"
"Illuminating... Gessen sprinkles telltale signs of the Putin who
would eventually emerge and rule Russia with an iron fist...It is
with these explosive revelations that Gessen truly excels...[Sh
"Part psychological profile, part conspiracy study...As a Moscow
native who has written perceptively for both Russian and Western
publications, Gessen knows the cultures and pathologies of
Russia...[and has] a delicious command of the English language...A
fiercely independent journalist...Gessen's armchair psychoanalysis
of Putin is speculative. But it is a clever and sometimes
convincing speculation, based on a close reading of Putin's own
inadvertently revealing accounts of his life, and on interviews
with people who knew Putin before he mattered." - "The New York
Times Book Review "
"In a country where journalists critical of the government have a
way of meeting untimely deaths, Ms. Gessen has shown remarkable
courage in researching and writing this unflinching indictment of
the most powerful man in Russia... Although written before the
recent protests erupted, the book helps to explain the anger and
outrage driving that movement."--"The Wall Street Journal ""Masha
Gessen steps into the fray with a perceptive account of the new
czar." - "Newsweek/Daily Beast
""Engrossing and insightful." - "Bloomberg
""[An] incisive bildingsroman of Putin and his regime...Alongside
an acute apprehension of the post-Soviet dynamics that facilitated
Putin's rise, Gessen balances narratives of Putin-as-bureaucrat and
Putin-as-kleptocrat with a wider indictment of the "Mafia clan"
that retains him solely as its Godfather." - "The Daily
""Illuminating... Gessen sprinkles telltale signs of the Putin who
would eventually emerge and rule Russia with an iron fist...It is
with these explosive revelations that Gessen truly excels...[She]
presents her case calmly, picking holes in Putin's character, his
policies, and his rule without stooping to hysterical condemnation.
...an electrifying read from what can only be described as an
incredibly brave writer." - "Columbia Journalism Review
""A chilling and brave work of nonfiction...Gessen has succeeded in
convincing
"[A] luminous study of Russia's forever leader... a dogged
researcher, [Gessen] has written a brave book, demolishing the
numerous myths and legends that have accumulated around her
subject...fascinating."--"The Guardian"
"Gessen has clearly put in the hours and the miles finding people
to tell her about Putin's days in the KGB, in the St Petersburg
City Administration, and in the Kremlin. She paints a portrait of a
man who dislikes democratic movements, who is committed to the
ideals of the KGB, who is happy siphoning money from the state for
his friends, and who would rather fight than negotiate." -- "Sunday
Telegraph
""Gessen is a talented and versatile journalist." -- "Financial
Times
""Gessen conveys the atmosphere - whether of the last months of the
Soviet Union, the chaotic years of Yeltsin, the strange transfer of
the presidency to Putin or the disappointments of his period - more
accurately than any recent chronicler of the period." - "The
Independent
""A compelling and exhaustive portrait...Gessen argues that as the
product of a highly secretive institution, the KGB, Putin has been
able to control the details of his life, and shape his own
mythology, more than almost any other modern politician - certainly
any Western one." - "The Telegraph
""The Putin who emerges from this brave and important book appears
to be a grudge-driven mass murderer and extortionist ... [Gessen's]
engaging prose combines a native's passion with a mordant wit and
caustic understatement that are characteristically Russian." --
"Daily Telegraph
"'[This] clear, brave book ... and the tenor of reports from Russia
over the past years suggest that if Putin's power is challenged it
will not be because his enemies die mysterious deaths but because
the scale of the plundering he has enabled becomes intolerable
...Gessen offers intriguing details of the scratching, biting,
hair-tearing, undersized, brawling boy Putin, refusing to be
bullied in the grubby back yards of
Praise for "Perfect Rigor "
"A fascinating biography."
--John Allen Paulos, T"he New York Review of Books "
"A brilliant reconstruction...[Gessen] has written something rare:
an accessible book about an unreachable man."
--"The New York Times Book Review "
Promoted as the man to lead Russia's new democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union, former KGB agent Vladimir Putin initially brought hope to his people and the world at large. According to Gessen (Perfect Rigor), a journalist living in Russia, this hope was misplaced in a man who is little more than a greedy KGB thug. This narrative nonfiction title presents a courageous indictment of Putin's rise to power and his dismantling of Russia's fledgling democratic institutions. Through her probing investigation, Gessen reveals Putin's involvement in several assassinations of dissidents as well as incidents of governmental abuse of power. Justine Eyre's narration captures the Russian accents and adds drama to the story. VERDICT This book will appeal to listeners with an interest in Russia and current world affairs. [The Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA) hc was a New York Times best seller.-Ed.]-Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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