Russian Culture Guides
A Book List for Travelers Seeking Insight into the Russian Mentality
One of the best things to do before traveling to a country as complicated as Russia is to read up on its history and culture. Here are some books to get you started.
The Russian Federation, commonly referred to as Russia, is the world's largest country, with an ancient history that can be overwhelming for the traveler to comprehend, and a mentality quite different from the one to be found in Western or even Eastern Europe. To understand the way Russians think and why, you will need to do some research before you travel. These books will help you understand Russia on a level deeper than the common stereotypes.
The Icon and The Axe: An Interpretive History of Russian Culture by James Billington: For anyone hoping to understand where modern-day Russia came from and where it may be headed, this is an essential book. Though certainly not an easy read, Billington's interpretive history gives an overview of Russian intellectual thought, cultural trends, and conflicts, that cannot be found in any other single-volume history. This is the cornerstone work of Russian scholarship, and an essential starting point for anyone who wants a deeper insight into what made Russia that place it is today. Billington's work is sweeping, but not an easy read . . . Russia's history is an incredibly complex one, and without the common points that most Westerners are used to. For a modern continuation, Billington's Russia in Search of Itself is an excellent companion volume.
Now that you have grounded yourself in Russian history, it's time to move onto the 20th Century, and the three major events that have shaped Russian history: The Russian Revolution, World War Two, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. For the Russian Revolution the most comprehensive guide is A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution: 1891-1924 by Professor Orlando Figes, which concentrates not only on the famous Bolshevik revolution of 1917, but on all the confused events leading up to it, and the devastating Civil War that followed the Bolshevik Coup.
There are any number of volumes covering World War Two, but for a good look at the impact the war had on the Russian People, The 900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad by Harrison E. Salisbury provides a gripping account of the siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and how the citizens of that great city managed to survive years of deprivation and encirclement by the German armies.
Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire by David Remnick is, without question, the best guide to the events that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting chaos of the nineties, from which an entirely different nation has emerged, newly confident and flush with oil money under Vladimir Putin. For a good view of the chaos under Yeltsin and attempts to rebuild the Russian state, Remnick's Resurrection is an excellent companion volume.
With these books under your belt, you will be ready to experience Russian culture like an insider, whether you are looking forward to a move to the Russian Federation, a tour of Moscow or a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
Happy traveling!
