Why people recommend it
The Man Without a Face by Masha Gessen is a critical biographical work that details Vladimir Putin's rise to power and the authoritarian transformation of modern Russia. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Alex Gladstein strongly recommended the book, noting that the author closely followed Putin during his initial presidential campaigns and providing listeners with essential context on Russian politics. Sam Morril discussed reading a book on Putin during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, reflecting on the pervasive violence and frequent assassinations that characterized his political ascent. Jen Salai also mentioned reading Masha Gessen's biography on The Book Review, describing it as an insightful examination of the Russian leader's career. Throughout these discussions, the book was praised for its fearless journalism and its ability to illuminate the darker mechanisms of contemporary autocracy. The speakers underscored the importance of such biographical texts in exposing the realities of political corruption and the suppression of human rights, making Gessen's work a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe and the consolidation of absolute power.
Who recommended it
- Alex Gladstein Recommended
- Sam Morril Discussed
- Jen Salai Discussed
Alex Gladstein — 2 mentions
“masha gessen followed him around in the man without a face it's a great great book about putin”
“if you actually study like the times when he was running for president in russia masha gessen followed him around in the man without a face it's a great great book about putin”
Sam Morril — 1 mention
“But like if you read—I was reading a Putin book, and literally every chapter just ends with a guy going out in his hallway and getting shot in the face! And I’m like, this seems like a pretty fucked-up rise to power!”
Jen Salai — 1 mention
“yes so I'm actually just at the tail end of finishing up Masha gessen's Man Without a Face which came out few years ago and it's a biography essentially of Putin”