Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This is a short and quite entertaining book on Putin, what his world looks and mind works like. It's not a Putin-apologist piece - it does tackle various biases we (as in "the west") may have regarding Putin, but instead of simply explaining them away, it offers new, maybe equally disturbing perspectives. It's a case of "it may not be the kind of bad you think it is, it might be another kind of bad - or worse".

To achieve this, author and Russia expert Mark Galeotti presents various few chapters each focussing on a "special" Putin (mis)conception, for example: Yes, he was KGB, "but not as you know it". Or: Putin doesn't want to revive neither the USSR nor tzarism, he just wants to... well, you know, something like make Russia great again. And so on. One main thing I take home from this is that Putin doesn't have the grand masterplan to destroy all things free and liberal - he rather uses whatever method is best to achieve his general goals (people listening to him, Russia and himself being respected and such).

The book is too short and superficial to give any real deep insights, but it's a good first introdution and anything but a dry essay.

Hands up, who remember that time I reviewed a book about the Romanoffs and complained that I didn't know very much about Russia? Well, around the same time as I read that book I picked this one from Netgalley firstly because I wanted to know a bit more about modern day Russia and partly because I always want to broaden my horizons when it comes to non-fiction. 
Who is the real Vladimir Putin? What does he want? And what will he do next?

Despite the millions of words written on Putin's Russia, the West still fails to truly understand one of the world's most powerful politicians, whose influence spans the globe and whose networks of power reach into the very heart of our daily lives.

In this essential primer, Professor Mark Galeotti uncovers the man behind the myth, addressing the key misperceptions of Putin and explaining how we can decipher his motivations and next moves. From Putin’s early life in the KGB and his real relationship with the USA to his vision for the future of Russia - and the world – Galeotti draws on new Russian sources and explosive unpublished accounts to give unparalleled insight into the man at the heart of global politics.

Ok, so, I think a more appropriate title for this would be: A Brief Insight into Modern Russian Politics because although informative, it isn't particularly deep analysis and as a pretty short book, it doesn't have the volume for detail (it is only 160 pages long). It does however explain a bit about how the Kremlin operates and how Russia has changed over the years.

I'll be honest, all I know about Putin is what the British and American press have to say, so it was nice to have a more well rounded view and this gave an alternative picture to what I had previously read. It is by no means a complete guide and is of course, only the views of one writer, but I think its compact nature and informal style make it very accessible and gives a great base for further reading.

Whatever your views on Putin (and if any of those Russian spies I get told so much about are reading this - I'm not saying anything either way about your country), this gave me plenty to think about and I think anyone with a vague interest in politics or who just wants to know a bit more about the wider world will find this a quick and easy read.

I would like to read a bit more about Russia, I think its history is fascinating so if you have any recommendations for other books to read, please let me know!

Great read. Interesting topic. Concise and to the point . Well informed author. Would recommend author again.

Short, accessible and informative account of Putin and his influence in Russia, which obviously draws on extensive research and expertise. Worth reading as an introduction to Russian politics and the limits of Putin's influence, alongside Tony Wood's Russia Without Putin and Peter Pomerantsev's fantastic Nothing is True and Everything is Possible. I could have done without the dumbed-down chapter titles though...