The Vory

Great

For a non-fiction book, this book keeps you engaged even with the amount of information being delivered. Also, the author jumps around in historical timelines but doesn’t loose you. The narrator is very easy to listen to, and has a clear voice that is not annoying. He is a great pick who seems to be able translate and understand the Russian language, but doesn’t overwhelm you with too many new foreign words.

The book is not politically bias so ignore the communist’s review. He/she is looking for fiction because lets remember the communist never believes communism has ever been tried.

The book however, gives historical, cultural, and contextual information which allows you to see the view from the mafia’s thought process. That’s it! Also this book does not glorify the mafia. The author is simply giving a historical account, and there is much to tell.

6 sur 6 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Insightful, Informative, & Brilliantly Written

Mark Galeotti vividly illustrates his expertise on Russian Organized Crime and Post-Soviet Politics. Galeotti’s ability to communicate and organize this subject matter into a highly enjoyable narrative is truly impressive and pleasure to read!

5 sur 5 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Excellent

An excellent book by the most thoughtful Russia-watcher of our time. Galeotti avoids the distorting Russophobia and hyperbole that's in vogue in the Trump era.

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Social Studies You Aren't Supposed To Know

This is valid social studies and part of human history. The human plight and capability. Very well documented and reader-friendly. Fascinating. Wherever you are parked in the world, this culture is likely within hours of you whether you recognize it or not. You don't have to be from N.Y.C. to grow up connected to some form of it. While we sit around America worrying if we might have "post-traumatic stress disorder", "ADD", "Chemical imbalances", this nation rose up from the gulags in Siberia against impossible odds of surviving. Men, women, and children. They have become a formidable and unkillable extroverted force. Seemingly inoculated against all social barriers and suppression. Shapeshifters that have one step into a magicality born from an enforced exile into the supernatural as the only room left with oxygen. This book is a journalistic masterpiece. Thank You Mark Galeotti. Standing Ovation! A labor of love.

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

A pure masterpiece

A brilliant and extensively detailed book that captures the many way crime in Russia has infected both society, business and politics. This book is about much more than merely one single crime syndicate, as Russian organized crime does not really resemble that of the Sicilian or Japanese mafia. Furthermore, I’d like to hightlight the narrator of this book, who not only has a captivating voice, but who actually pronounces Russian names and words correctly - he calls USSR’s last premier «Garbatsjof» instead of «Gorbachev», and says «Bariis» instead of «Boris» Yeltsin.

Overt Bias

The author pauses the book several times to talk about how much he hates Communism and it gets very annoying. Normally I wouldn't mind reading a book about Communism, but if the author wanted to write a book about his political opinions then he should have written that book instead.

The most irritating part was when he started talking about the growth of the Vory. This should have been the best part of the book, but it became clear to me here, that the author was unwilling or unable to write this chapter without more than half of it being dedicated to their hatred of the USSR.

If you're into commie-bashing or if you don't mind reading an author with obvious political bias, then go ahead and get this book. The subject matter is very interesting and the writing and performance are about average.

9 sur 29 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Very good, not great

Narration was good. Info was good. Not as entertaining or bloody as I expected, though.

0 sur 2 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.