I thoroughly enjoyed this book! If you ever wanted a detailed glimpse of the mess that the Soviet Union created within it's own borders, this is a book that will help. The overwhelming focus is on Russians due to the geography covered in the book, but there are some other ethnic groups mentioned as well. The fact that the author has a pretty good sense of humor made the read a lot easier. At times I was laughing hysterically. For example, the search for the source of the Volga is quite comical. Attempts to eat at various restaurants had me rolling as well.

At the end though, you end up feeling sorry for the people who have been economically ruined through poor government policies. Some people in the book believe the lies that communism put forth. Others know it's all a lie but accept life as it is in Russia. There are also some who are attempting to transition to a free market economy from an overly regulated inefficient government controlled market.

Some important questions are asked and some important ideas are discussed. In the end, not all of them have answers. I expected a book centered around geography. It ended up being much more than that. History, current events, humor, sadness, etc. Overall a thoroughly good read. I recommend this to anyone who has an interest in the Russian people and the disaster that communism was for them. ( )

Volga River Region (Russia) > Description and/Travel