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Gessen, Masha : The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia

Riverhead Books, New York City, NY, 2017

ISBN 159463453X

First Edition / First Printing. As New in As New Dust Jacket. 515 pages. Book-length account on subject. One of the most valuable books of our time. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, particularly copies that are signed on a tipped-in page. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only that sold out shortly after publication. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Masha Gessen's "The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia". The single best book on Putin's Russia, by the American biographer of Vladimir Putin. "Reveals how, within a generation, Russia surrendered to a virulent and invincible autocracy. Gessen's understanding of the events and forces that have wracked Russia is unparalleled" (Publisher's blurb). The title is deliberately provocative: Russia is NOT yet a full-fledged totalitarian state like the former Soviet Union. But that is no consolation for the fact that it is headed back in that direction (hence the title). Right now, it is only a full-fledged mafia state, ruthlessly run by Putin, with all power and wealth concentrated in his hands and his cabal of oligarchs, who are all, every single one of them, mafioso types. They are not just corrupt, they have been able to plunder Russia by keeping her people lashed to a nationalist agenda that has now spread as an ideology throughout the world, including, of course, the United States, where a significant number of Americans openly admire Putin. Putin is, more accurately, an authoritarian-dictator figure, who has murdered his enemies, critics, journalists, and anyone else in his way with impunity - and, as Gessen describes in meticulous detail, with the tacit or explicit support of his people. A murderous thug like President Duterte (who deeply admires Putin) has done exactly the same thing in the Philippines, which is a failed state, not just a failed democracy, condemned, like Russia, to succumb to authoritarianism because of its history and culture. It is important to make a distinction between failures: All of the Philippines' neighbors are failed democracies (Indonesia and Thailand as well as Burma) precisely because they have always been military regimes all along whereas partly because of American interventions in the past, the Philippines has tasted real democracy, and therefore knows better. That it gives in anyway to Fascist longings and tendencies is a failure of statist will, and if it ever fell to the resurgent Left, it will become a totalitarian state. Trump (who also admires, and may be beholden to, Putin) is merely, but dangerously, a dictator-wannabe. An absolute "must-have" title for Masha Gessen collectors. This copy is very prominently, neatly, and beautifully signed, placed, and dated (on the day of the National Book Award) in black ink-pen on the title page by the author: "Masha Gessen NYC Nov. 14, 2017". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page, as many copies available online are. Laid-in is a pristine copy of the lovely NBA Awards Night Souvenir Program. This title is a great book. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, placed, and NBA Awards Night dated copy of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. Winner of the National Book Award in 2017 for "The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia". One of the most brilliant writers of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO SVETLANA ALEXIEVICH TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 159463453X.

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