Soviet Leaders from Lenin to Gorbachev

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10-- This survey of Soviet history from 1917-1991 focuses on the actions and philosophies of the men who led the USSR during that time. Life stories and detailed recountings of their political involvements and rise through the Communist party give a clear picture of the ``old boy'' nature of Soviet politics. They also serve to highlight how the lives of each of these men (with the exception of Lenin) were influenced by the leaders who preceded them. This technique makes the text extremely redundant, for Stalin's rise is detailed in the chapter on Lenin, then reiterated in the chapter on Stalin, gone over again in the chapter on Khrushchev, and so on. It is doubtful that many students will read the text cover to cover; however, as a report source, it will fill the bill. Roberson's Transforming Russia (Macmillan, 1992), though covering roughly 300 years more history, is a little more lively. The two books support one another nicely, with Streissguth's narrowing the focus to the 20th century. --Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA