Stalin

Stalin by Edvard Radzinsky. This is a classic book written during the golden era of Russia (i.e. 1990-1999 ha ha) when people were free to write such things and when the Soviet archives were opened up for all to see. I read it in 1999. I also read Radzinsky's other book the Last Czar. The author was a TV reporter from the new Russia and writes in a strange floral manner - at least it appears that way from the translation. The book takes us from Stalin's younger years as an idiot revolutionary to through his acquisition of power to his death. Most of the book concentrates on Stalin's power plays and how he murdered to get himself to the top. An amazing part is Stalin's total bout with fear after the invasion by Germany in 1941. It is amazing how dangerously close Stalin came to crumbling. The author believes that Stalin was assassinated and that Stalin, starting to feel the forces moving against him, was about to embark on a great purge which included nuclear war. The author describes that Stalin was found dead in a pool of his own urine.

Stalin was a total brute, who like Mao took power through total force. I would say that he wasn't a communist either, but then I would be lying about communism. He was a total communist, because despite the theory and philosophy and communism, there is no possible outcome from communism but Stalin (or Mao). As the author notes, Communism in the end requires a Boss to make decisions.

After reading this book, the conclusion is that Stalin was pretty much out for himself. He hated his own people except to the extent that they could be slaves to him. I thought Stalin was the worst of the big three totalitarians, until I read a book on Mao. Mao was far worse.

Its gross to think back that American media outlets were dazzled by Stalin and even carried his water. How fooled they were.