Godfather of the Kremlin: the Life and Times of Boris Berezovsky

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Paul Klebnikov tells the incredible story of Boris Berezovsky, a one-time Russian car dealer who assembled a huge--and illicit--fortune after the collapse of Communism. "This individual had risen out of nowhere to become the richest businessman in Russia and one of the most powerful individuals in the country," writes Klebnikov, a respected reporter for Forbes. "This is a story of corruption so profound that many readers might have trouble believing it." Yet Godfather of the Kremlin is a careful work of journalism in which Klebnikov documents the business dealings of a man who once bragged to the Financial Times that he and six other men controlled half of the Russian economy and rigged Boris Yeltsin's reelection in 1996. Berezovsky survived both an assassination attempt and a murder investigation, and paved the way to power for Vladimir Putin. He and the other crony capitalists of post-Soviet Russia like to rationalize their deeds, writes Klebnikov: "Whenever I asked Russia's business magnates about the orgy of crime produced by the market reforms, they invariably excused it by pointing to the robber barons of American capitalism. Russia's bandit capitalism was no different from American capitalism in the late nineteenth century, they argued." Yet nothing could be further from the truth: Carnegie, Rockefeller, and their peers transformed the United States into an economic superpower. Berezovsky, on the other hand, has "produced no benefit to Russia's consumers, industries, or treasury." It's not that he didn't have an opportunity. To pick one example among many, he took over Aeroflot when it had a monopoly position in a booming market. But the company barely grew, and instead experienced myriad problems. Berezovsky controlled many businesses, but he was a lousy business manager; his only authentic success--as an auto dealer--depended on collusion. His real skill is shady dealmaking, especially with corrupt government officials. That's the way to success in modern Russia, as this well-told but troubling book reveals. --John J. Miller

Book Description

Boris Berezovsky's business career has been meteoric. In just six years he managed to seize control of Russia's largest auto manufacturer, largest TV network, national airline, and one of the world's biggest oil companies. When Moscow's gangster families battled one another in the Great Mob War of 1993-1994, Berezovsky was in the thick of it. He was badly burned by a car bomb; his driver was decapitated. A year later, Berezovsky emerged as the prime suspect in the assassination of the director of the TV network he acquired. Although plagued by scandal, he enjoyed President Yeltsin's support, serving as the personal "financial advisor" to Yeltsin and his family. In 1996, Berezovsky organized the financing of Yeltsin's re-election campaign-a campaign marred by fraud, embezzlement, and attempted murder. Berezovsky became the president's most influential political advisor, playing a key role in forming governments and dismissing prime ministers. Having labored to privatize the economy, Berezovsky privatized the state. Based on hundreds of taped interviews with top businessmen and government officials, as well as on secret police reports, contractual documents, and surveillance tapes, Godfather of the Kremlin is both a gripping story and a unique historical document.

Customer Reviews:

The Deadly Truth........2007-05-23

I personally witnessed the outcomes of the corrupted rule of the culprits portrayed by late Paul Klebnikov.
Many Russians believe that the truths revealed in this book were the cause of author's murder.

Great insight for Americans.......2007-03-01

This book tells a powerful story that most Americans are, sadly, unfamiliar with. Mr. Klebnikov outlines in impressive detail the history of Russia during the very turbulent times of the 1990s. The development of gangster capitalism under the Yeltsin regime in an environment of political corruption was a tragic episode in Russian history and an example of an opportunity squandered. This book outlines the rise of the mafia in Russia in the post-glasnost time period and the links they had to the Chechens and to the political leaders of the time.

While I sometimes became a bit lost in all the details and Russian names with which I was unfamiliar, the story came through well as Mr. Klebnikov built, step-by-step, a solid and well-documented case. This story is an important one for Americans who wish to better understand what happened during this time period and how it affected, and still affects, Russia. From political assassinations to presidential elections - the book tells a compelling and sadly disturbing story.

Since I have several Russian friends, I felt I owed it to myself to become more familiar with recent Russian history. And this book did not let me down. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding Russia better and I suspect it will in time become a classic for the detailed description it provides of this time period in Russian history.

Highly recommended!

Berezovsky & the Litvininenko Killing (Polonium).......2007-02-22

Everybody should read this book - it helps to put the entire Litvinenko killing in perspective ; the dead Russian spy worked for Berezovsky - given Berezovsky long criminal history it would not be surprising at all that he was directly involved in murdering his own employee as part of his long ongoing campaign to overthrow the democratically elected president Putin and thereby illegally regain control of all of Russia's natural resources including in particular Russia's oil and gas wealth.

His insight Got him Killed.......2007-01-04

Paul Klebnikov is a modern Russian hero. He was assasinated because he tried to show the world how corrupt Russia had become at the hands of the oligarchs. "The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism" is well written and organized. It follows not only the "rise" of Berezovsky but also illustrates how the majority of the Duma (Russian Congress) was in fact acting on behalf of the gangsters or were in fact gangsters themselves holding seats in the house.
It is a reavealing look into the saddest chapter of Russian history. A must read for anyone interested in politics or modern history. It is a shame and loss to us all that Paul was killed. Who knows what other truths he could have recovered had he lived. It is also a shame that in our modern age of information, only a few speak the truth - and if they speak to loudly they are silenced, as was Paul. May he rest in peace.
If you enjoyed this book, Paul also did an interview called "Theft of the century: Privatization and the looting of Russia." If you google it, you will find it on the net.

Telling The Truth Will Get You Murdered!.......2006-07-12

I am halfway through this incredible book and it deeply disturbs me that American Paul Klebnikov died because of this book and other articles he wrote while working in Russia for Forbes Magazine. Of late, all one reads is how someone incredibly powerful managed to get off the hook in one way or another. I am just weary of all the lies in the press and the deceitful 'spin' that the US media gives to people they find useful. No, we don't kill our reporters, but we ruin them in other ways. I hope I live long enough to see this change, but I fear it won't happen in my lifetime. I have learned from personal experiences in my life that 99 percent of what I have read and believed to be true was a lie. It starts with Santa Claus and moves on from there. This book has made me want to read more about Russia, the people, and the various governments. How sad I spent half of my life living in fear of the Russians, and they us. I tried to find 'Conversations With A Barbarian', also by Mr. Klebnikov, but it is no longer available. I feel so awful for his family and friends.

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Trotsky (Life&Times series)
David Renton
Manufacturer: Haus Publishers Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Russia | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein, Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) assumed his name in order to escape the work camps of Siberia in 1898. Born to a Russian-Jewish family in the Ukraine, he became the leading spokesman of the Russian Revolution, the founder of the victorious Red Army of 1918-21, and did more than anyone to create the early Soviet State. Yet despite being identified as Lenin’s obvious successor, Trotsky was out-maneuvered by Stalin. In the years that followed, he developed the first systematic critique of Stalin’s dictatorship.

In 1929, he and his wife were forced out of Russia, moving from Turkey to France, and finally to Mexico, where he was brutally assassinated by a Spanish communist in 1940. Through a series of books including The History of the Russian Revolution, My Life, and The Revolution Betrayed, Trotsky established the possibility of a democratic socialism and the theory of permanent revolution, identifying the struggle against bureaucracy and complacency. Reputed to have been friends at one point with the Mexican revolutionary artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, his influence resonates beyond the political development of the twentieth century.

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The Life and Times of Soviet Socialism
Alex F. Dowlah , and John E. Elliott
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Economic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This description of real-world models and interpretive perspectives on Soviet economic and political theory and practice from 1917 through 1991 encompasses War Communism, New Economic Policy, Stalinism, and the reforms and debates of Krushchev, Brezhnev, and Gorbachev. The work focuses on political economy as contrasted with pure economy, and it is organized on a more or less historical basis. The work demonstrates the forces that led to the disintegration of the Soviet state.

The Life and Times of Soviet Socialism.(Review) (book reviews): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues

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The Life and Times of Soviet Socialism.(Review) (book reviews): An article from: Journal of Economic Issues
John E. Peters
Manufacturer: Association for Evolutionary Economics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Russia | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00098KRWY
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Economic Issues, published by Association for Evolutionary Economics on December 1, 1998. The length of the article is 1413 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Life and Times of Soviet Socialism.(Review) (book reviews)
Author: John E. Peters
Publication: Journal of Economic Issues (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 1998
Publisher: Association for Evolutionary Economics
Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Page: 1203(4)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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The Life and Times of Soviet Socialism
Alex F.; Elliott, John E. Dowlah
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORB5XU

Book Description

This textbook offers a comprehensive review of the principles of direct, database, and interactive marketing. The book begins with an introduction to the discipline and goes on to explore each of the major subject areas that would be of relevance in the construction of a direct marketing plan: Testing and Research Analytical Techniques Customer Acquisition Understanding Buying Building a Customer Database Customer Loyalty Communications Strategy Communications Briefing Direct Marketing Agencies Budgeting Media Planning Electronic Channels Print, Production, and Fulfilment The Future of Direct Marketing The text offers a rich blend of theory and examples from professional practice. These examples are drawn from some of the most successful direct marketing undertaken on both sides of the Atlantic. The book includes a series of longer case studies, designed to form the basis of classwork and discussion at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Each case is written with a decision focus and designed to allow students to draw on course material to allow them to analyse the available data and generate a range of alternative solutions. The book also includes the most up-to-date review of web marketing currently available in textbook form and a consideration of new media such as interactive and digital television.

Direct and Interactive Marketing: New Techniques for Fundraising Success: New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising (J-B PF Single Issue Philanthropic Fundraising)

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Direct and Interactive Marketing: New Techniques for Fundraising Success: New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising (J-B PF Single Issue Philanthropic Fundraising)

Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Nonprofit Organizations & Charities | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0787958328

Book Description

Direct and interactive marketing generates around 150f the voluntary income for U.S.-based nonprofits. Yet despite its significance, this form of fundraising is often overshadowed by the emphasis on major donor gifts. This special issue discusses varied aspects of direct and interactive marketing, its role in generating and building donor relationships, the impact of data protection legislation in Europe and the US, fundraising trends since September 11, and "face-to-face" marketing, an emerging new fundraising medium that successfully attracts a new generation of charity donors. With a focus on strategies in Internet fundraising, and the lessons learned so far, this issue is also an excellent guide to nonprofits investing in technology or expanding their online presence.

The business of learning & learning the business (Fifty-Minute series)

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Great!

The business of learning & learning the business (Fifty-Minute series)
Robert L Steinbach
Manufacturer: Crisp Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Great!.......2005-04-21

This book examines some of the basic components necessary to attain success in the Interactive Distribution Business. Through proactive participation in the system which is available, you can continue to learn and expand your knowledge in this business which will impact your learning potential more than any other element.

Definitive Guide to Direct & Interactive Marketing: How to Select, Reach & Retain the Right Customers

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Definitive Guide to Direct & Interactive Marketing: How to Select, Reach & Retain the Right Customers
Merlin Stone
Manufacturer: Financial Times Management
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

We've all been on the receiving end of bad direct marketing. It's a waste of time and money and alienates more customers than it wins. Good direct marketing, on the other hand, is a totally different story. Some companies are so good at it that they manage to repeatedly target the right customers. Their direct marketing is so sharp that it closes the sale and so consistently useful that customers just keep coming back for more. More importantly, it is no longer a specialist function in a separate department. Few marketing managers can afford to be without a decent understanding of direct and interactive marketing. The Definitive Guide to Direct and Interactive Marketing is the essential handbook for anyone who needs to make sure their direct marketing works. Bad direct marketing isn't called junk mail for nothing. It's a waste of money and alienates more customers than it wins. This is a guide to effective direct marketing - the best and most cost-effective way of targeting, winning and retaining new customers.

Interactive ad revenues soar 33 percent.(FOCUS: MIDYEAR REVIEW)(Internet Advertising Revenue Report): An article from: Fairfield County Business Journal

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Interactive ad revenues soar 33 percent.(FOCUS: MIDYEAR REVIEW)(Internet Advertising Revenue Report): An article from: Fairfield County Business Journal

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Web Marketing | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Fairfield County Business Journal, published by Thomson Gale on June 27, 2005. The length of the article is 605 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Interactive ad revenues soar 33 percent.(FOCUS: MIDYEAR REVIEW)(Internet Advertising Revenue Report)
Publication: Fairfield County Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 27, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 44 Issue: 26 Page: 18(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

SIVOX addresses interactive e-learning. (New Products).: An article from: Customer Interaction Solutions

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SIVOX addresses interactive e-learning. (New Products).: An article from: Customer Interaction Solutions

Manufacturer: Technology Marketing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Customer Interaction Solutions, published by Technology Marketing Corporation on March 1, 2003. The length of the article is 332 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: SIVOX addresses interactive e-learning. (New Products).
Publication: Customer Interaction Solutions (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2003
Publisher: Technology Marketing Corporation
Volume: 21 Issue: 9 Page: 22(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

International Direct Marketing: Principles, Best Practices, Marketing Facts

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International Direct Marketing: Principles, Best Practices, Marketing Facts

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Market Response Models: Econometric and Time Series Analysis (International Series in Quantitative Marketing)
Retailing in the 21st Century: Current and Future Trends
B2B Brand Management

ASIN: 3540396314

Book Description

Direct marketing is a fast-growing and dominant domestic marketing instrument in many countries. Direct marketing follows the path of the rapid advances of globalization: international direct marketing (IDM) is already a multi-billion dollar business and an attractive instrument for foreign market entry and international customer communication.

This book is the first to focus exclusively on IDM, combining state-of-the-art knowledge, best practice and unique data: The first part is a comprehensive, well-structured review, covering relevant sources ranging from academic journals to practitioner magazines. The second part consists of best practice examples of various aspects of IDM. The third part contains a summary of a proprietary consumer study on direct marketing attitudes and affinities across 24 countries in North America, Europe and Asia. The book provides the reader with a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to international direct marketing.

Winning Direct Response Advertising: From Print Through Interactive Media

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Must-Read
MUST-READING FOR ALL DIRECT MARKETERS

Winning Direct Response Advertising: From Print Through Interactive Media
Joan Throckmorton
Manufacturer: NTC Business Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Advertising | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Must-Read.......2000-11-18

Joan's book is a must-read and a re-read for all direct marketing creatives. She breaks down the process so it's easy (and fun) to follow. Joan is a long-time solid creative strategist whose techniques work on traditional direct mediums and new electronic ones -- the rules never change...we just get more to deploy.

MUST-READING FOR ALL DIRECT MARKETERS.......1998-09-18

Joan Throckmorton's book is a true classic for all creators of direct response advertising. It's filled with examples of proven revenue-generators from print through electronic media. If you write, design, or manage ANY marketing effort today, you should read this book.

DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO DIRECT AND INTERACTIVE MARKETING

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DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO DIRECT AND INTERACTIVE MARKETING
MERLIN BOND, ALISON BLAKE, ELIZABETH STONE
Manufacturer: Financial Times Management
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQVUJK

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