Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism

Rating:
Summary: True hero
Review: He is a real Russian hero and ironically an American. Honest and fearless, he was doing it all for Russia which he truely loved. My condolences go to his family, people who knew and understood Paul....

Rating:
Summary: Good Man, Good Book, Great Loss
Review: Sadly, I did not pick up Paul Klebnikov's book until July 9, 2004, the day of his gruesome murder. I have always had a passing interest in Russian culture and was a reader, and admirer, of Mr. Klebnikov's pieces in Forbes.

-Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism- reads like a novel. However, these events did happen, despite the blind eye Mr. Yeltsin turned. Mr. Klebnikov puts together strong arguments and raises some disturbing questions as to what was going on in Russia during the 1990's.

Further, his murder has done nothing but confirm, in my eyes, what he had written and discovered.

I hope others continue his work, and I hope Forbes continues to employ those with Paul Klebnikov's thirst for knowledge and truth.

I send my deepest regrests to his family.

Rating:
Summary: Soap bubble of a tycoon
Review: This book well describes almost all facts, tales, anecdotes and tabloid stories of Berezovsky. Only a year ago it was believed that he was a person behind Putin and actually he would be the one to rule Russia. Where's Mr.Berezovsky today? In Spain pretending to be a freedom fighter and trying hard to convince everyone that Putin is a ruthless dictator and he himself is an innocent victim of political opression. In just a couple of months it turned out that almost all of his super powers were nothing but a bluff. His only real asset was Aeroflot company. It turned out he doesn't even control AvtoVAZ that was widely believed to be his company. I think that his secret was his incredible ability to bluff and to make people believe that he personally influences all Russian politics. He was always in the spotlight on TV giving interviews like: "I believe Mr.X is no good..." - a week later Mr.X if fired. "I think Mr.Y should become a prime minister..." - three days later Mr.Y becomes a primer. So what? If you happen to get information before anyone alse doesn't prove you are a "gray cardinal". During Putin's election campaign Berezovsky tried really hard to convince everyone that he is leading and organizing it all. It turned out to be just a big bluff. Firing Berezovsky had no cosequences for "Berezovsky's marionette" Putin whatsoever. But most probably the biggest blow for Berezovsky was the revelation that he has not (and never had) any control over the Kremlin. As a result - no big money from lobbyists, no credits, no gifts and no free shares in ventures. Pathetic.