Masha Gessen Books
Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist, author, and activist known for her work on Russian politics, LGBTQ rights, and authoritarianism. She has written extensively for publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and is recognized for her incisive analysis of political systems and social movements.
Known for: The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
Books by Masha Gessen
The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
This book is a detailed account of Vladimir Putin’s ascent to power in Russia, written by journalist Masha Gessen. Drawing on investigative reporting and personal insight, Gessen explores how Putin transformed from a little-known KGB officer into one of the world’s most powerful and enigmatic leaders. The narrative examines the dismantling of democratic institutions, the manipulation of media, and the consolidation of authoritarian control in post-Soviet Russia.
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Putin’s Early Life and KGB Career
Putin’s childhood was marked by hardship and survival. Born in Leningrad in 1952, he grew up in communal housing, in a city still haunted by the siege’s ghosts. That environment imprinted upon him a credo of vigilance and loyalty — values reinforced when he discovered the KGB. For Putin, the organiz...
From The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
Collapse of the Soviet Union
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 was, for millions, a liberation. But for Putin, it was a humiliation — an event that stripped Russia of its empire, its authority, and, in his view, its dignity. Masha Gessen traces how that trauma became an ideological core for Putin: the belief that Russia was ...
From The Man Without A Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
About Masha Gessen
Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist, author, and activist known for her work on Russian politics, LGBTQ rights, and authoritarianism. She has written extensively for publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and is recognized for her incisive analysis of political systems...
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Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist, author, and activist known for her work on Russian politics, LGBTQ rights, and authoritarianism. She has written extensively for publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and is recognized for her incisive analysis of political systems...
Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist, author, and activist known for her work on Russian politics, LGBTQ rights, and authoritarianism. She has written extensively for publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and is recognized for her incisive analysis of political systems and social movements.
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Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist, author, and activist known for her work on Russian politics, LGBTQ rights, and authoritarianism. She has written extensively for publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and is recognized for her incisive analysis of political systems and social movements.
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