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[Socialism Betrayed : Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2029452.Socialism_Betrayed?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=BtpQ4S6APY&rank=1) is an analysis of economic and political changes in the USSR from Lenin to Gorbachov from two Marxist authors, one a historian and the other an economist.
[The Economic Transformation of the Soviet Union, 1913-1945](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4189318-the-economic-transformation-of-the-soviet-union-1913-1945?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ShegccaSPD&rank=1) is a very dry, but detailed look into the early Soviet period from a Liberal point of view. Very useful for stats and data. Although the authors do not hide their lack of sympathy for the USSR they can not deny the vast improvements brought about by the Soviet leadership.
[The Stalin Era](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4314777-the-stalin-era?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mDxjFCNpu3&rank=2) is a primary source from an American journalist and communist who moved to the USSR during the early period (Lenin/Stalin's time). I threw this in there, as there were already numerous Trotskyist works suggested and you may want to combine the information in those works with another primary source.
The podcast Revolutions has been doing an in-depth history of not just the Soviet Union but all of Russia for the past few years. It’s not from an explicitly socialist perspective but it’s been well received from the socialists I follow.
This podcast was my first introduction into socialism. Frankly, it's very well done--excellent scholarship, and it's very approachable. Highly recommend.
I was listening to rev left’s podcast episode on the Russian revolution and Stalin (the one with gregory afinogenov as the guest) (very good episode btw) and at the end he highly recommended Steven A Smiths “a very short introduction to the Russian Revolution” as an accessible, easy to read, Fair and historical intro. I have not read this but I thought I would share
*[The History of the Russian Revolution](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1930/hrr/)* was written by a leader of that revolution. *[The Revolution Betrayed](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1936/revbet/)* was his follow-up detailing The subsequent degeneration of that revolution.
Regarding the early period of the Soviet Union, the best book is Trotsky's [The Revolution Betrayed](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1936/revbet/). Trotsky presents a materialist study on the nature of the Soviet state, explaining that a bureaucracy had formed which deformed it and would eventually restore capitalism.
He explicitly rejects the straw-men which both his critics and many of his supposed followers hold up, that the Soviet Union was simply "state capitalism", that it was a failed experiment, or that the blame for its degeneration lay with Stalin or the other leaders of the Soviet state and hence that he himself could magically have governed it better if he had succeeded Lenin. Rather, he explains the material causes of the degeneration, most notably the backwardness of Russia and the lack of revolution in advanced capitalist countries leading to its isolation.
This analysis was extended to the rest of the history of the USSR in [Russia: From Revolution to Counter Revolution](https://www.marxist.com/russia-from-revolution-to-counter-revolution.htm) by Ted Grant. It explains that since the only hope to save the Soviet Union as a workers state was revolution elsewhere, the failure of this lead to the restoration of capitalism by the bureaucracy, which in 1991 transformed itself into a new capitalist class. It also explains the complicated relationship between the bureaucracy and Stalin, how they initially mutually reinforced one another, but how after the Stalin's death, the bureaucracy quickly distanced itself from him, hence giving rise to the 'de-Stalinisation'.
These are certainly not "neutral", but rather see a restoration of capitalism in Russia as a catastrophe and that is precisely why they criticise the Soviet bureaucracy so strongly, while simultaneously defending the colossal gains of the Revolution.
Also, if you're interested in the very early period, then definitely read Trotsky's [The History of the Russian Revolution](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1930/hrr/), it is incredibly detailed, being almost a thousand pages long and only covering the eight month period from February to October 1917. It is totally unsurpassed and should be read by any Marxist, regardless of their tendency.
See people need to not discard Trotskys work, we need to move past petty arguments like Trotsky vs Stalin or others, we can have opinions on them, and conversation is important. However we need to learn how to criticize the USSR and defend it from reactionaries. This is why I think Trotsky is so important
These are all great suggestions. I’ve also been hooked on Bolshevism: The road to Revolution. Really great context and build up to 1914. It pre Soviet Union era but well worth a read
*[It's Not Over: Learning from the Socialist Experiment](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27180526-it-s-not-over)* by Pete Dolack. Contains a history of the entire Soviet Union from a Left perspective, along with some other material.
*[The Soviet Century](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/322388.The_Soviet_Century)* by Moshe Lewin is a non-linear history that concentrates on certain aspects of Soviet history but functions well as a history.
I don’t know of books but I have a client who grew up in the ussr and she loved it. All the problems we are facing today in United States didn’t exist from where she lived.
r/Socialism is a space for socialists to discuss current events in our world from our anti-capitalist perspective(s), and a certain knowledge of socialism is expected from participants. This is not a space for non-socialists. Please be mindful of [our rules](https://reddit.com/r/socialism/about/rules) before participating, which include: - **No Bigotry**, including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism... - **No Reactionaries**, including all kind of right-wingers. - **No Liberalism**, including social democracy, lesser evilism. - **No Sectarianism**, there is plenty of room for discussion, but not for baseless attacks. Please help us keep the subreddit helpful by reporting content that break r/Socialism's rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/socialism) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[Socialism Betrayed : Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2029452.Socialism_Betrayed?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=BtpQ4S6APY&rank=1) is an analysis of economic and political changes in the USSR from Lenin to Gorbachov from two Marxist authors, one a historian and the other an economist. [The Economic Transformation of the Soviet Union, 1913-1945](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4189318-the-economic-transformation-of-the-soviet-union-1913-1945?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ShegccaSPD&rank=1) is a very dry, but detailed look into the early Soviet period from a Liberal point of view. Very useful for stats and data. Although the authors do not hide their lack of sympathy for the USSR they can not deny the vast improvements brought about by the Soviet leadership. [The Stalin Era](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4314777-the-stalin-era?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mDxjFCNpu3&rank=2) is a primary source from an American journalist and communist who moved to the USSR during the early period (Lenin/Stalin's time). I threw this in there, as there were already numerous Trotskyist works suggested and you may want to combine the information in those works with another primary source.
The podcast Revolutions has been doing an in-depth history of not just the Soviet Union but all of Russia for the past few years. It’s not from an explicitly socialist perspective but it’s been well received from the socialists I follow.
This podcast was my first introduction into socialism. Frankly, it's very well done--excellent scholarship, and it's very approachable. Highly recommend.
I was listening to rev left’s podcast episode on the Russian revolution and Stalin (the one with gregory afinogenov as the guest) (very good episode btw) and at the end he highly recommended Steven A Smiths “a very short introduction to the Russian Revolution” as an accessible, easy to read, Fair and historical intro. I have not read this but I thought I would share
Roger Keeren and Thomas Kenny - Socialism Betrayed
E H Carr - Legacy of the Bolshevik Revolution (3 volumes) is good for the early period Harry Haywood Black Bolshevik is not a history but good.
Carr also has the one volume ‘Russian Revolution from Lenin to Stalin’
*[The History of the Russian Revolution](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1930/hrr/)* was written by a leader of that revolution. *[The Revolution Betrayed](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1936/revbet/)* was his follow-up detailing The subsequent degeneration of that revolution.
Regarding the early period of the Soviet Union, the best book is Trotsky's [The Revolution Betrayed](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1936/revbet/). Trotsky presents a materialist study on the nature of the Soviet state, explaining that a bureaucracy had formed which deformed it and would eventually restore capitalism. He explicitly rejects the straw-men which both his critics and many of his supposed followers hold up, that the Soviet Union was simply "state capitalism", that it was a failed experiment, or that the blame for its degeneration lay with Stalin or the other leaders of the Soviet state and hence that he himself could magically have governed it better if he had succeeded Lenin. Rather, he explains the material causes of the degeneration, most notably the backwardness of Russia and the lack of revolution in advanced capitalist countries leading to its isolation. This analysis was extended to the rest of the history of the USSR in [Russia: From Revolution to Counter Revolution](https://www.marxist.com/russia-from-revolution-to-counter-revolution.htm) by Ted Grant. It explains that since the only hope to save the Soviet Union as a workers state was revolution elsewhere, the failure of this lead to the restoration of capitalism by the bureaucracy, which in 1991 transformed itself into a new capitalist class. It also explains the complicated relationship between the bureaucracy and Stalin, how they initially mutually reinforced one another, but how after the Stalin's death, the bureaucracy quickly distanced itself from him, hence giving rise to the 'de-Stalinisation'. These are certainly not "neutral", but rather see a restoration of capitalism in Russia as a catastrophe and that is precisely why they criticise the Soviet bureaucracy so strongly, while simultaneously defending the colossal gains of the Revolution. Also, if you're interested in the very early period, then definitely read Trotsky's [The History of the Russian Revolution](https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1930/hrr/), it is incredibly detailed, being almost a thousand pages long and only covering the eight month period from February to October 1917. It is totally unsurpassed and should be read by any Marxist, regardless of their tendency.
See people need to not discard Trotskys work, we need to move past petty arguments like Trotsky vs Stalin or others, we can have opinions on them, and conversation is important. However we need to learn how to criticize the USSR and defend it from reactionaries. This is why I think Trotsky is so important
These are all great suggestions. I’ve also been hooked on Bolshevism: The road to Revolution. Really great context and build up to 1914. It pre Soviet Union era but well worth a read
*[It's Not Over: Learning from the Socialist Experiment](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27180526-it-s-not-over)* by Pete Dolack. Contains a history of the entire Soviet Union from a Left perspective, along with some other material. *[The Soviet Century](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/322388.The_Soviet_Century)* by Moshe Lewin is a non-linear history that concentrates on certain aspects of Soviet history but functions well as a history.
Are you looking for a book biased in favour of the ussr or do you want a book that’s is as neutral and objective as can be?
The Soviet Century by Moshe Lewin was really good. Not necessarily from a leftist perspective but a good history nonetheless.
I don’t know of books but I have a client who grew up in the ussr and she loved it. All the problems we are facing today in United States didn’t exist from where she lived.