Khrushchev Remembers: The Last Testament

by Strobe (Translator/Editor) Talbott, Strobe Talbott (Editor), Edward Crankshaw (Introduction)

Khrushchev Remembers The Last Testament

Genres: History, Biography, Russian Literature, Memoir

602 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

An addition to the Khrushchev galaxy of memoirs that began with KHRUSHCHEV REMEMBERS, of which this is a reiteration. Mr. K. notes his opposition to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia launched by his successors in 1968, but not why, or how it differed from his own suppression of a rival communism in Hungary in 1956. Khrushchev is angling for his own place in history, less Stalinist than Stalin or Breznev and Kosygin, yet the evidence is not there.

[Martin Weigand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I was born in 1959 during his time in Soviet power, Khrushchev has always held a special fascination for me. He, and this book of his, does not disappoint. Honest to a fault, with his time on Earth slipping away as age takes it's toll on him, Khrushchev tells "all" (as much as he dared to) and history is better off for it. Without his honestly, and his recollections, much of the Soviet era would still be shrouded in mystery. I highly recommend this book!

[Jan-Jaap van Peperstraten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kruschev's memoirs, translated by Strobe Talbot form a fascinating historical document not only offering insight into the mind of Kruschev himself but also into those of Stalin's inner circle: Kamenev, Molotov, the odious Beria and the insufferable toady Kaganovich. Through these pages one thing is made utterly clear - Communism was an active force for evil, Stalin an utter maniac and Khruschev himself obviously deluded and quite as capable of violence as any of his fellow Stalinist henchmen was. He himself of course signed enough death-warrants as part of the Politbureau to wallpaper the Kremlin with (Kruschev was responsible for annexing eastern-Poland into the Soviet Union back in 1939). One wonders how the soi-disant "destalinization" campaign was meant to soothe the aching consciences of the Stalinists themselves. Kruschev blames Stalin for "excesses", but never wonders why it was in the supposedly progressive and humanist Communist Party that made the rise of such a singularly psychopathic dictator even remotely possible.

[Arif · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was, for me, my first exposure to a perspective on the other side of the Iron Curtain. My first impressions of Khrushchev come from a documentary on CBC about the Cuban missile crisis. I was about 11 then and had yet to learn who was Stalin. Even so, he struck me as a man of humility to have backed down and lost face for the sake of avoiding a nuclear confrontation.

His memoirs carry that undertone of proletarian brotherhood and a concern for the average joe.

You can hardly begin to understand the Cold War without reading material from the other side of the Curtain. This is a perfect place to start.

[David]

This is an amazing book. It's not really history, but more of Khrushchev's personal thoughts behind some of the history in which he was involved. It is very self-serving and anti-Stalin, so I would not recommend it as history. For those who are already family with the history of the Soviet Union, this is a "behind-the-scenes" peek which helps give insight into the personalities who rose and fell during that time.

It is also a very easy and good read! I actually took some unread mysteries back to the public library after starting this one, because I knew I would not get to them until I finished with Nikita.

[Daniel Caballero López · Rating 5 out of 5]

En este libro khrushchev antiguo primer ministro de la Unión Soviética nos cuena la historia de su carrera, desde la revolución de Lenin, la Segunda guerra mundial, Stalin y la guerra fría, todo desde primera persona con multiples anécdotas y detalles vividos.

Es un libro muy bien escrito como describe todos los momentos clace del siglo XX, eso sí pone al comunismo como el paraiso y el capitalismo el infierno, cosa que discrepo, claro se exageran muchos acontecimientos en contra de los Estados Unidos, pero esta bien leer libros con otra opinión y puntos de vista diferentes, acostumbrados a leer libros de occidente.

Lo recomiendo para conocer la historia del siglo XX desde otro prisma.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. Khrushchev comes across as a garrulous old man. Not a first-rate raconteur but enough to keep you interested. And some of his reminisces made me chuckle eg: Soviet leadership seeing a new rocket design.
The majority of autobios and memoirs by politicos are self-serving. This one is no exception. Despite wanting to abide by the maxim of always telling the truth Khrushchev is quiet on his culpability in violations of socialist legality. (Though that caveat applies more properly to the first volume of memoirs and not this one.)

[+Chaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long but other wise excellent. Take with a grain of salt, however, still fascinating view of the Kremlin.

[Douglas Graney · Rating 3 out of 5]

His chapter on the Cuban Missile crisis is particularly interesting.

[Mickey Mantle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book...Amazing how Stalin butchered so many...This "Party", "Government" and "Communist Cause" are an absolute insult to any thinking person.
All these people were guilty of mass murder.