It was uneven in writing but good. I think I had issues with the sequencing and for some reason the history of beginning of Russia came at the end of the book and not the front. I didn't like how he structure the chapters and I found the more interesting information come towards the end of the book. This is a book for people who know Russian history because the author doesn't go into much detail, unless it serves his purpose, for which I can't tell what it is.

I know that his family background is part Russian and he visited and worked for for various news organizations but the writing you couldn't tell if he was mocking Russia or uplifting and then he turn his writing to America and you wouldn't know where he he stood. He uses first-hand accounts with people he has talked to to move the book long, but it left it a little bland and tended to be the parts I ended up skimming over.