Reviews

"This book is the crowning achievement of Archie Brown's career. I have to admire this gigantic achievement, based on innumerable Russian and other sources ... he systematises and conceptualises the subject brilliantly ... For decades this volume will remain a definitive study of communism." -- Literary Review (UK)
"A riveting and magisterial work." -- Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution and author of THE GREAT EXPERIMENT
"A sweeping, engrossing history...Brown does a fine job of describing the social and political conditions that led people to embrace communism. And how, when the charms of the system wore off, these people found themselves ensnared by a totalitarianism that gave them no way to opt out." -- Dallas Morning News
"Consistently superb" -- Dwight Garner, New York Times
A riveting and magisterial work. --Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution and author of THE GREAT EXPERIMENT
Ranging wisely and lucidly across the decades and around the world, this is a splendid book. --William Taubman, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Khrushchev: The Man and His Era
For decades this volume will remain a definitive study of communism. --Literary Review (UK)
This book requires and deserves space on all important book shelves for decades to come. --Gary Hart, United States Senator (Ret.)
Consistently superb --Dwight Garner, New York Times
A sweeping, engrossing history. . . . Brown does a fine job of describing the social and political conditions that led people to embrace communism. And how, when the charms of the system wore off, these people found themselves ensnared by a totalitarianism that gave them no way to opt out. --Dallas Morning News
Historical writing and political analysis of the highest order. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
[Brown s] account is studded with delightfully pertinent and pithy personal observations and anecdotes...It is easy to be polemical about communism. Mr. Brown strives to be fair-minded...As a single-volume account of mankind s biggest mistake, Mr. Brown s book is hard to beat. --The Economist
Readable and judicious...both controversial and commonsensical The Rise and Fall of Communism is a work of considerable delicacy and nuance. --Salon.com
Archie Brown s The Rise and Fall of Communsm is a rare thing, meticulously researched history that is immensely readable and, even better, a disinterested overview of the most deeply divisive topic of the past 100 years that has been highly praised by critics on the Right and Left .--Australian Nonfiction Books of the Year
Condensed with information that is both well-researched and well-placed within textbook history, [Brown s] book is a rewarding read. It is an important book for the time a sober reflection on the physical, objective results of ideological thought. --Sacramento Book Review
"Archie Brown's The Rise and Fall of Communsm is a rare thing, meticulously researched history that is immensely readable and, even better, a disinterested overview of the most deeply divisive topic of the past 100 years that has been highly praised by critics on the Right and Left."--Australian Nonfiction Books of the Year
"[Brown's] account is studded with delightfully pertinent and pithy personal observations and anecdotes...It is easy to be polemical about communism. Mr. Brown strives to be fair-minded...As a single-volume account of mankind's biggest mistake, Mr. Brown's book is hard to beat."--The Economist
"Ranging wisely and lucidly across the decades and around the world, this is a splendid book."--William Taubman, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Khrushchev: The Man and His Era
"Historical writing and political analysis of the highest order."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A riveting and magisterial work."--Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution and author of THE GREAT EXPERIMENT
"For decades this volume will remain a definitive study of communism."--Literary Review (UK)
"Consistently superb"--Dwight Garner, New York Times
"A sweeping, engrossing history. . . . Brown does a fine job of describing the social and political conditions that led people to embrace communism. And how, when the charms of the system wore off, these people found themselves ensnared by a totalitarianism that gave them no way to opt out."--Dallas Morning News
"Condensed with information that is both well-researched and well-placed within textbook history, [Brown's] book is a rewarding read. It is an important book for the time--a sober reflection on the physical, objective results of ideological thought."--Sacramento Book Review
"Readable and judicious...both controversial and commonsensical...'The Rise and Fall of Communism' is a work of considerable delicacy and nuance."--Salon.com
"This book requires and deserves space on all important book shelves for decades to come."--Gary Hart, United States Senator (Ret.)