The Long Hangover: Putin's New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past

The Long Hangover examines how Vladimir Putin's Russia has used selective memory of World War II victory to build national identity and maintain political power. Through interviews and on-the-ground reporting across Russia and Ukraine from 2009-2017, journalist Shaun Walker traces the Kremlin's efforts to shape historical narratives. Walker travels from Moscow to Crimea, eastern Ukraine, and Siberia to document how citizens experience and interpret this official version of history. The book chronicles key events including the Sochi Olympics, the annexation of Crimea, and the war in Ukraine's Donbas region. The reporting combines personal stories of ordinary Russians and Ukrainians with analysis of political developments and state propaganda campaigns. Walker draws on his years as Moscow correspondent for The Independent and The Guardian to provide context for Russia's domestic and foreign policy decisions. This work raises questions about how nations process historical trauma and how governments can exploit collective memory to maintain control. The book challenges readers to consider the relationship between national mythology and political power in contemporary Russia.

Readers note this book provides on-the-ground reporting about how Putin's Russia has weaponized World War II victory narratives to shape national identity. Many appreciate Walker's firsthand accounts from Ukraine, Chechnya, and other regions, with one Amazon reviewer calling it "compelling journalism that reads like a novel." Readers highlight: - Clear explanations of how historical memory impacts current politics - Personal interviews with citizens across former Soviet states - Balanced reporting without obvious bias Common criticisms: - Too much focus on Ukraine compared to other regions - Some repetitive sections - Limited coverage of pre-2000s context Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (89 ratings) "This book helps explain why Russians support Putin's actions," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Multiple readers mention the book gained new relevance after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though some wanted more analysis of potential future scenarios.

Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev A first-hand account of Russia's transformation under Putin through the lens of state media manipulation and political theater.

All the Kremlin's Men by Mikhail Zygar An insider's chronicle of Putin's rise to power and the network of individuals who shaped modern Russia's power structure.

Between Two Fires by Joshua Yaffa A portrait of how ordinary Russians navigate state control and personal compromise in Putin's Russia through detailed case studies.

Putin's People by Catherine Belton An investigation into how Putin's former KGB allies captured the Russian state and transformed its economy.

First Person by Vladimir Putin, Nataliya Gevorkyan, Natalya Timakova, Andrei Kolesnikov Putin's own account of his early life and rise to power provides insight into the narrative he constructed for himself and Russia.

🔹 Author Shaun Walker spent over a decade as a journalist in Moscow, serving as The Guardian's Russia correspondent and witnessing firsthand the evolution of Putin's regime. 🔹 The book explores how Vladimir Putin strategically used the collective trauma and nostalgia of World War II (known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War) to build national identity and consolidate power. 🔹 Walker's research includes extensive travel throughout Crimea and eastern Ukraine during the 2014 annexation, providing firsthand accounts of how the conflict unfolded on the ground. 🔹 The term "Long Hangover" refers to Russia's ongoing struggle to process the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Putin has called "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." 🔹 The author conducted interviews with a wide range of subjects—from ordinary citizens to Kremlin officials—revealing how different generations of Russians view their Soviet past and national identity.