This is an excellent, short treatment of the Peasant War, with an emphasis on Ukraine.

This book uses newly released information - it is one of the first of many books that will be written on this fascinating, important and inexplicably ignored part of history.

Approximately 7 million Ukrainians died in the 1932 famine, while millions more died in the years before. This book is one of the few in English that deals with this terrible holocaust, which has been ignored or denied by so many historians.

The author touches on the ethnic component of the war (which is very brave considering the climate of academe today), yet fails to spell things out clearly. This is extremely unfortunate, considering that ethnicity clearly coloured the events during the Peasant War and the later conflict known as World War II. If nothing else, the author should have compared the Peasant War's nature to previous conflicts before the Revolution, as many reading this book are ignorant of t! he nature of those peasant revolts.

Running the risk of repeating myself, I will once again restate the title of my review and describe "Grooves of Change" as a uniquely fine book written by a fine man and an excellent teacher. I had the pleasure of taking two courses with J. F. Brown at the American University in Bulgaria last fall, both of which were more or less based on the material covered in the book. It presents a substantial and thorough analysis of the dynamics currently in process in Eastern Europe; written in a lucid and easy to comprehend wording, this masterpiece of post-Soviet East-European studies is also the most readable work on this region that I have so far encountered.

The bulk of the book is focused on the 20th century developments in Eastern Europe after the breakup of the Habsburg and the Ottoman Empires. Carefully assessing all factors playing part in the political and socio-economic processes in the region, and following them closely but without lapsing into too much boring detail, Brown has managed to determine the exact balance between factology and analysis to make "Grooves of Change" both a pleasant and an educational reading.

An interesting concept is developed in the section of the book devoted to the relations of Eastern Europe with the Soviet Union in the aftermath of WW II. Analyzing Communist rule in the region and reflecting on the reasons for the ultimate failure of Kremlin to establish effective and lasting domestic regimes, Brown develops the concept of "cohesion and viability" as teh two Soviet objectives in the region. For him, the reason underlying the ousting of Communist governments in Eastern Europe was grounded in the failure of the Soviet leaders to find the exact balance between these two while trying to come up with a consistent East European policy.

The book also gives the readers a close look into the development of democracy in the region, discussing the obstacles and impediments hindering its progress, its interrelation with the globalizing forces on the one hand, and the omnipresent ethnic factor on the other as a major challenge to its survival. An instructive discussion of the Yugoslav wars as an indicator that something was obviously going wrong with the transition in the region adds to the value of the book. The minority issue is given due significance and a coverage that it rightfully deserves. In view of the latest bloody conflicts that have taken place subsequent to the fall of Communism, it is indeed high time that people start heeding these issues. Thus, I find it admirable that authors like J.F.Brown have devoted their professional careers to untangling these complicated matters.

To make the long story short: I personally enjoyed every page of this masterfully written peice. Read it yourself; it will in all probability profoundly impact your understanding of the regional processes and dinamics. Such an understanding will be vital for the future not only of the region per se, but also for its intercation with the rest of the world.

Enjoyed reading about Cathy's experiences in 1970s Soviet Russia, her family life, and the events leading up to her emigration.

This book is a wealth of fascinating information, past and preasent facts mixed in an informative and useful manner. It makes great reading for anyone planning a trip to Latvia as well as anyone with any curiosity about a small unique country.

The first real survey publication in almost 100 years. Edited by V K Tuzov and contributed to by the creme of Russian .entomologists, collectors-yes,Nabokov is here,and naturalists. Splendid 4 color illustrations and English text throughout. Recommended to amateur and professionals alike. Vol 11 will cover Danadae,Nymphalidae and others. Also maps and high quality line drawings.

GURPS Russia is a very beautiful sourcebook, describing a setting which is almost completely unknown to the "average" RPG player and Game Master. Inside this book you will find the details of a rich history, together with the description of very foreign, mysterious customs and beliefs, such as a forced coexistence of ancient pagan cults with Orthodox Christianity. Perhaps most important, you will feel the strange mood of Russian folklore, whose values and patterns are quite different from the ones the average Western person is accustomed to. In one word, the material inside GURPS Russia will provide the GM information enough to run a successful campaign with a distinct and peculiar flavor. It is not important whether you want a historical setting or the wildest high fantasy: the information on Medieval Russia found in this book will cover both with ease. One footnote: in Russia, the Middle Ages effectively ended in 1725 (Death of Peter the Great)! This opens interesting possibilities for crossover campaigns... If you are interested in historical campaigns in a low-tech setting, this book is a must!

This book is the best of Jan Hart's collection. It should be made into a movie. The great illustrations are by Charles Shaw. The original story is a description of Mrs. Hart's grandmother's immigration from Russia to the USA. It is created for young readers. It is 18 chapters and 110 pages of text, with a glossary of Yiddish terms at the end.

Theophane's writings of full of piercing insights into the human condition and the path to union with God. Theophane is a guide along the Bhakti path, pointing out it's pitfalls and the essentials needed for success. I have read this book over and over again and each new reading I glean many new insigts.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand why and how the socialist bloc disintegrated in 1989. Azad explains in detail the errors made by the leaders of the communist party (particularly Gorbachev) and how they betrayed the revolution by moving towards a market economy. Azad argues that although imperialism has temporarily succeeded in crushing any opposition it has created immense social disparities between the rich and poor. In short, capitalism is facing social, political, and economic contradictons that it attempts resolve by further expanding its global reach.

By resisting the Stalin regime and creating the organizations and the atmosphere that survived those dark days, the Rebbe inspired and enabled the rebirth Yiddishkeit in all the lands of the former Soviet Union.

It is possible that without the underground movement inspired by the Rebbe instead of refusniks and the massive exodus of the 80s and 90s, Russian Jewry might have dissolved in a haze of assimilation.

In The Heroic Struggle we have Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak's own account of his ordeal. As riveting as a contemporary thriller He writes: "... sensitive and talented authors would find much material for lengthy works on the nature of human feeling and conduct by merely depicting ... the ... two hours from my arrival in the prison ... " Actually the Rebbe hasn't left much for other authors. His narrative is vividly detailed, insightful and sensitive. From the remarkably detailed description of his cell to the penetrating analyses of his captors, interrogators and fellow prisoners, the Rebbe involves the reader in his experience.