Once Upon a Time in Russia Audiobook By Ben Mezrich cover art

Once Upon a Time in Russia

The Rise of the Oligarchs and the Greatest Wealth in History

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The New York Times bestselling author of Bringing Down the House and The Accidental Billionaires tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian oligarchs that Booklist called “one more example of just how talented a storyteller [Mezrich] is.”

Meet two larger-than-life Russians: former mathematician Boris Berezovsky, who moved into more lucrative ventures as well as politics, becoming known as the Godfather of the Kremlin; and Roman Abramovich, a dashing young entrepreneur who built one of Russia’s largest oil companies from the ground up.

After a chance meeting on a yacht in the Caribbean, the men became locked in a complex partnership, surfing the waves of privatization after the fall of the Soviet regime and amassing mega fortunes while also taking the reins of power in Russia. With Berezovsky serving as the younger entrepreneur’s krysha—literally, his roof, his protector—they battled their way through the “Wild East” of Russia until their relationship soured when Berezovsky attacked President Vladimir Putin in the media. Dead bodies trailed Berezovsky as he escaped to London, where an associate died painfully of Polonium poisoning, creating an international furor. As Abramovich prospered, Berezovsky was found dead in a luxurious London townhouse, declared a suicide.

With unprecedented, exclusive first-person sourcing, Mezrich takes us inside a world of unimaginable wealth, power, and corruption to uncover this exciting story, a true-life thriller epic for our time—“Wolf Hall on the Moskva” (BookPage). Politics & Government Biographies & Memoirs Russian & Soviet Professionals & Academics Business Politics & Activism Russia World Entertainment & Celebrities Politicians
Fascinating Historical Account • Compelling Narrative Style • Well-researched Content • Engaging Political Intrigue

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Amazing story, very well put together. Fascinating story about the lives of truly extraordinarily flawed men.

Great novel. Amazing story

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ON BOOK TV. ANOTHER OMNIDIRECTIONAL BULLET TRAIN WHICH ONE NEEDS TO SIFT THROUGH FOR THE TRUTH

GREAT READ; GOING TO GI BACK AND CATCH MESERICH

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Well crafted and narrated account of the role of the Oligarchs in the tumultuous transition from the USSR to Putin's Russia.

Window into Post-Soviet Russia

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Could not put it down. A great story from Start to finish. You do not have to be a follower of politics or any kind of Russophile to enjoy this listen.

Great Listen

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What did you like best about Once upon a Time in Russia? What did you like least?

It reads fast, but author likes to invent character's thoughts-- things he could not possibly know. Example, a whole chapter is based on a vivid description of a submarine captain in his final moments as his ship explodes and sinks. He invents the scene out of whole cloth.

What could Ben Mezrich have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Tell the story as it was, not as he imagines it to be. It reads more like fiction than a history book.

Do you think Once upon a Time in Russia needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

The events in the book are important, but this author seems not interested in reporting on them dispassionately.

Impossible to know coverage

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