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The Long Hangover

Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past

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In The Long Hangover, Shaun Walker provides new insight into contemporary Russia and its search for a new identity, telling the story through the country's troubled relationship with its Soviet past. Walker not only explains Vladimir Putin's goals and the government's official manipulations of history, but also focuses on ordinary Russians and their motivations. He charts how Putin raised victory in World War II to the status of a national founding myth in the search for a unifying force to heal a divided country, and shows how dangerous the ramifications of this have been.

The book explores why Russia, unlike Germany, has failed to come to terms with the darkest pages of its past: Stalin's purges, the Gulag, and the war deportations. The narrative roams from the corridors of the Kremlin to the wilds of the Gulags and the trenches of east Ukraine. It puts the annexation of Crimea and the newly assertive Russia in the context of the delayed fallout of the Soviet collapse.

Packed with analysis but told mainly through vibrant reportage, The Long Hangover is a thoughtful exploration of the legacy of the Soviet collapse and how it has affected life in Russia and Putin's policies.

©2018 Shaun Walker (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Political Science Politics & Government Russia Russian & Soviet World Soviet Union War Imperialism Stalin Socialism
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Although the author is keen to demonstrate journalistic integrity he is often compromised by a liberal elite view point and globalist perspective that fails to take into account the history of Russia and the reality of it's geopolitical position. Well written informative and enjoyable.

Could be subtitled A liberal elite perspective.

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great insights into societal and political makeup of Russia psyche. this book will open up other areas of interest on the subject of Russia

Excellent read

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A fair-minded analysis, rigorous yet very humane. Particularly helpful in debunking Putin’s myths about his attacks on Ukraine.

Fantastic overview of contemporary Russia

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If you can’t speak Russian, don’t try and over pronounce the names of people and places. It’s really distracting. Just same them normally - when have you *ever* heard someone say “ChichNYAH”????

Other than that, I recommend

A note for the narrator

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Really well written and thoughtful. Avoided easy explanations and looked for important stories too often untold. Human and nuanced.

Best book I've read on Russia for ages

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