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Rating: 
Summary: Waste of Money
Review: I got this book thinking I could get some objective insights into Russia's severe economic difficulties throughout the 90s. Instead, I got a long rant against everything Russian. Particularly dubious is McCauley's sympathy for the Wahhabi bin Laden-sponsored Islamofascists in Chechnya who have been responsible for all kinds of atrocities. I guess their suicide bombings are justified, because they kill evil Russians and not members of the English Royal Family? Oh well. Sergio Vieira de Mello was an apologist for Islamofascists too, but they still murdered him regardless.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of Money
Review: I think Martin Mc Cauley has produced a book that demonstrates real insight into the functioning of business in present day Russia. It's not a pretty picture he paints, perhaps even a description of bleak is generous, however it is a totally authentic portrayal and as such deserves to be read.
Rating:
Summary: stinks
Review: This book was lacklustre. Just more of the attitudes you find in the Economist.Unless you want a case study of wearisome prejudice and crazy theories, give it a pass.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding book based on secondary sources
Review: Those critics on this page that compare McCauley to the Economist magazine are right. If you enjoy the Economist, you'll enjoy this book, which is also fast paced, demands a understanding of economics, and is written largely in the present tense, which makes it readable. The author sprinkes jokes with the material. I did not get the sense that the author was no-government laisse faire (to the contrary), so don't think this is just a pro-capitalist "Ann Ryan" type rant.
Very good book based on secondary sources. I do not feel this book was anti-Russian, just realistic.
Rating:
Summary: Absurd
Review: Yet another British anti-Russian book. We've heard and seen it all before. The most tiresome thing is the petty Putin "KGB spy" scaremongering. It is time to move on, Martin.
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