Exit Stalin: The Soviet Union as a Civilization, 1953-1991 (Mark B. Smith)

Mark B. Smith's Exit Stalin: The Soviet Union as a Civilization, 1953-1991 opens a window behind the Iron Curtain, giving readers a glimpse into life in the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. Smith argues that Soviet society became more complex, with citizens experiencing both greater personal security and continuing political repression until the last few years of Mikhail Gorbachev’s rule when the economy cratered but repression mostly eased. 

Smith explores education, housing, literature, science, and popular culture, showing how ordinary people navigated the contradictions of Soviet society. This approach gives readers a richer understanding of the country, enhancing the stories of each of the Soviet leaders that succeeded Stalin. His discussion of reform under Nikita Khrushchev, stability and stagnation of Leonid Brezhnev's era, and eventual collapse of the Soviet system under Mikhail Gorbachev is balanced and carefully supported by historical evidence. A major focus of the book is on the dissidents in Soviet life (such as Andrei Sakharov and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) and how the KGB and Soviet leadership varied in their handling of individuals who dissented with the goals of Soviet leadership. 

One of the key questions Smith addresses centers on the primary causes of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a question that many who study Soviet history have debated over the last 35 years. Overall, Exit Stalin is a solid contribution to the study of Soviet and Russian history

MY RATING: 4

The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Randall Sullivan)

The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads by Randall Sullivan recounts not just a pivotal moment in baseball history but much of the context that helped set the stage for July 1933’s “Game of the Century” in Chicago. While the book highlights many of the players and the details of the game, Sullivan spends about half of the narrative detailing baseball and American life in the 1920’s and early 1930’s.

To his credit, Sullivan avoids overwhelming the reader with statistics, instead focusing on character, motivation, and atmosphere. His descriptions of players, fans, and journalists create vivid scenes that invite readers into the era. You learn about some of the lesser-known (to today’s baseball fans) stars of the early 1930’s: guys like Lloyd and Paul Waner, Rick Farrell, and Pepper Martin. 

Some sections include extensive background information. About 200 pages dive into the backstory of baseball and America between 1919 and 1933, from the “Black Sox” scandal and appointment of Judge Kennsaw Landis as baseball’s first commissioner to the World’s Fair and America’s political environment. 

If you’re looking for a story on the All-Star game itself, this book may not be for you due to that extra context. However, as a history book that shows the connection between baseball, American life, and big city politics, The First All-Star Game is a detailed account of how the game came to take place and how a “one-time” event turned into a midsummer spectacle that has lasted nearly a century.

MY RATING: 3.5

1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World (Liaquat Ahamed)

In 1873: The Rothschilds, the First Great Depression, and the Making of the Modern World, author Liaquat Ahamed offers an engaging account of the financial panic that reshaped the global economy in the late nineteenth century. Focusing on the crash of 1873 and its long aftermath, he argues that this crisis was the first truly global economic downturn, linking events in Europe, the United States, and North Africa through expanding networks of finance and trade.

The Panics of 1873 (the use of “panics” is intentional since there were several stock market selloffs globally that year) were caused in part by feverish speculation in railroads, shipping, and stock markets in a number of places. The first panic was in Vienna, with subsequent market routes breaking out in Germany, France, and in New York, all brought about by excess market or industry speculation.

The book places the Rothschild family at the center of the narrative, using their banking empire as a lens through which readers can understand the rise of international capital markets and the forces that led to collapse. The author also explores the political and social consequences of the depression, including rising populism, growing antisemitism, two decades of deflation in prices, and the weakening of Reconstruction in the United States. Ahamed argues that while growth in the years following the panic was solid, coming in at around 2.5% annually, the perception in many minds was that the depression was lingering since prices were falling. This price drop was caused in part by increasing production, which increased supply of items, causing prices to drop.

Overall, 1873 is an excellent work of economic history that illuminates how financial crises can transform societies. It is both informative and highly readable, offering valuable insights into the origins of the modern global economy.

MY RATING: 4.5

The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America (Eric Moskowitz)

In The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Race That Changed America, author Eric Moskowitz recounts the remarkable 1909 “Ocean to Ocean” automobile race that stretched from New York to Seattle. At a time when paved roads were scarce and long distance travel by car seemed like a future fever dream, five teams set out to prove that automobiles could conquer the American landscape. The race covered over 4,000 miles and forced drivers to navigate rough terrain, severe weather, mechanical failures, and countless unexpected challenges.

Moskowitz presents the event as more than a sporting competition. The race became a public demonstration of the potential of the automobile and a powerful marketing opportunity for car manufacturers eager to win the trust of consumers. Among the most prominent competitors was the Ford Motor Company, which hoped to showcase the reliability and durability of the Model T. As the race progressed, Ford and a hard-luck competitor known as Shawmut battled each other for supremacy of their cars.

The book highlights the determination and creativity required to keep the vehicles moving across mountains, deserts, forests, and muddy roads. Drivers and mechanics frequently repaired their cars under difficult conditions while searching for routes through regions that lacked modern transportation infrastructure. These experiences revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of early automotive technology. The book also highlights the lengths, both legit and not, that the Ford Motor Company went to in order to prove the Model T was the superior vehicle.

As the finish approached, controversy emerged over claims of unfair advantages and disputed decisions. Moskowitz explores these conflicts while examining the broader cultural and economic significance of the race. Ultimately, the event helped convince Americans that automobiles could be practical tools for transportation, contributing to the rapid growth of car ownership, particularly of the Model T, and the transformation of travel in the United States. Moskowitz’s narrative is well-paced and enjoyable for those who like books about distance travel and history.

MY RATING: 5

From Life Itself: Turkey, Istanbul, and a Neighborhood in the Age of Erdogan (Suzy Hansen)

Suzy Hansen's From Life Itself: Turkey, Istanbul, and a Neighborhood in the Age of Erdogan is a thoughtful and ambitious exploration of politics in Turkiye since the start of the Turkish Republic in the 1920’s. The early years of Turkiye set the stage for a greater focus on Recep Erdogan’s rule as Prime Minister and President for the past two plus decades. Drawing on her experiences living in Istanbul, Hansen examines how personal perspectives are shaped by culture, history, and power. The book challenges readers to reconsider assumptions that often go unquestioned, particularly those related to national identity and the influence of the United States on global affairs.

Hansen effectively connects rising nationalism in Turkiye to the greater trend of nationalism in much of the West, the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), and beyond. In many instances, the rise in nationalism has been fueled by migration due to war and conflict in adjacent regions; in other cases, a desire to return to past historical glory. Hansen advocates in many of these cases that the rise in nationalism has coincided with a decline in democratic norms. The best parts of this book are the personalized accounts of various Istanbul residents, their views on life in Istanbul and Turkiye, and how changing real world conditions are impacting them.

If you filter through the author’s worldview and consistent references to one perceived crisis or another (whether climate change, human rights, economic, or whatever it may be), From Life Itself is a very effective book in explaining modern Turkiye and its position on the world stage.

MY RATING: 4

Credit to the Nation (Rebecca Kobrin)

Rebecca Kobrin’s Credit to the Nation is an account of the role that Eastern European Jewish immigrant bankers played in shaping American finance between 1873 and 1930. Drawing on an impressive range of archival sources, Kobrin uncovers a largely overlooked chapter of American economic history and demonstrates how immigrant communities created financial institutions that served needs ignored by mainstream banks and how mainstream finance shunned many of the immigrant banks’ practices due partly to antisemitism and nativism.

The book excels at connecting personal stories of migration and entrepreneurship with larger developments in banking and growth, particularly in New York City. Kobrin shows how immigrant bankers provided loans, financed travel, and supported business formation for newly arrived Jewish immigrants who often faced barriers to conventional credit. In doing so, these institutions helped foster economic mobility while also contributing to the transformation of New York City’s real estate market and financial landscape.

Kobrin effectively balances historical analysis with strong writing. Her discussion of the rise and eventual decline of immigrant banking, particularly the collapse of the Bank of United States in 1930, provides important insight into the broader evolution of American finance. The bank’s failure was not only symbolic of many bank failures during the Great Depression but served as a catalyst to spur reforms in the financial system during the Great Depression. Among these reforms was the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a backstop to insure deposits at member banks.

More than a history of banking, Credit to the Nation is a thoughtful exploration of migration, trust, community, and economic opportunity. Kobrin convincingly argues that immigrant financial networks were an important contributor to the history of American commerce and finance.

MY RATING: 4.5

A Kingdom and a Village: A One-Thousand-Year History of Moscow (Simon Morrison)

A Kingdom and a Village: A One-Thousand-Year History of Moscow by Simon Morrison is an artistic and cultural retelling of the story of Moscow. Rather than offering a conventional political history, Morrison presents Moscow as a living character whose development mirrors the triumphs, tragedies, and contradictions of Russian history. 

One of the book's greatest strengths is Morrison’s dive into cultural and artistic stories of Moscow. The best stories focus on Moscow’s subway system and the Bolshoi. Russia’s story is one of conflict and mistrust, unsure if it should pivot towards Europe or look inward, let alone look towards Asia as it has from time to time throughout its history. 

Because of this, Moscow has been impacted dramatically by this struggle. At times Russia’s capital, other times a secondary city that broods because of the presence of other cities of prominence. The author is particularly effective at showing how geography, religion, culture, and political ambition shaped the city's identity. His personal familiarity with Moscow adds warmth and insight, allowing readers to see beyond statistics and historical dates to the experiences of ordinary residents.

Overall, A Kingdom and a Village is a richly detailed and thought-provoking work that offers valuable insight into both Moscow's past and the forces that continue to shape modern Russia. It is highly recommended for readers interested in history, politics, and urban studies.

MY RATING: 4.5