---
product_id: 199688
title: "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin"
price: "R466"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/199688-the-man-without-a-face-the-unlikely-rise-of-vladimir
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

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## Description

The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin [Gessen, Masha] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

Review: Another winner from Gessen - If you are interested in a study of authoritarianism and, specifically the authoritarianism of Vladimir Putin, this is a must read. Masha Gessen has written a compelling, historically accurate, first-hand portrait of a megalomaniac. Gessen is a wonderful writer, clear and concise. Her historical accounts of post and current Putinism are intriguing and horrifying. It is critically important that Americans understand Putin; who he is and what he wants. Trump is a Putin pawn and we must recognize the imminent danger of a U.S. President who is beholden to a stone cold killer like Vladimir Putin. Putin's history is trump's playbook.
Review: What was expected - Ms. Gessen is a fabulous writer, if not always entirely clear the first time around; and handles best the distinctly Russian, penumbral rumors and accounts with no verifiable, factual truth. In these cases (of which they are many) Masha plots out dexterously each argument without favoring any, then suggests the most logical without insisting on it as fact. A nuanced thinker with a distinct and recognizable view of Russia that is — if not bleak — crystal clear. That said, the book is short on details of Putin's life. Its not a biography. It's about Putin's rise, which, not coincidentally, is about all the other people snagged in his dragnet of deceit, corruption, and "double-double crosses". It's made clear early on how each story will end. Putin is a profoundly cynical yet murderously sincere purveyor of the power of pure force. Easy read tho. Would recommend. Just not if you're looking for like, a definitive Putin bio, or something think-tank adjacent with layers of footnotes. This is one person's story, but a POV that is singularly compelling. EDIT: HOLY CRAP THE ADDENDUM IS THE CLIMAX BUT THEY ASK YOU TO REVIEW AFTER THE MAIN NARRATIVE. SPOILER ALERT: 😮😮😮😮😮

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #116,031 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #19 in Historical Russia Biographies #37 in Russian & Soviet Politics #85 in Russian History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,080) |
| Dimensions  | 5.98 x 1 x 8.98 inches |
| Edition  | Reprint |
| ISBN-10  | 1594486514 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1594486517 |
| Item Weight  | 12 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 368 pages |
| Publication date  | March 5, 2013 |
| Publisher  | Riverhead Books |

## Images

![The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ERusxBexL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another winner from Gessen
*by G***O on September 28, 2020*

If you are interested in a study of authoritarianism and, specifically the authoritarianism of Vladimir Putin, this is a must read. Masha Gessen has written a compelling, historically accurate, first-hand portrait of a megalomaniac. Gessen is a wonderful writer, clear and concise. Her historical accounts of post and current Putinism are intriguing and horrifying. It is critically important that Americans understand Putin; who he is and what he wants. Trump is a Putin pawn and we must recognize the imminent danger of a U.S. President who is beholden to a stone cold killer like Vladimir Putin. Putin's history is trump's playbook.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ What was expected
*by R***R on March 26, 2022*

Ms. Gessen is a fabulous writer, if not always entirely clear the first time around; and handles best the distinctly Russian, penumbral rumors and accounts with no verifiable, factual truth. In these cases (of which they are many) Masha plots out dexterously each argument without favoring any, then suggests the most logical without insisting on it as fact. A nuanced thinker with a distinct and recognizable view of Russia that is — if not bleak — crystal clear. That said, the book is short on details of Putin's life. Its not a biography. It's about Putin's rise, which, not coincidentally, is about all the other people snagged in his dragnet of deceit, corruption, and "double-double crosses". It's made clear early on how each story will end. Putin is a profoundly cynical yet murderously sincere purveyor of the power of pure force. Easy read tho. Would recommend. Just not if you're looking for like, a definitive Putin bio, or something think-tank adjacent with layers of footnotes. This is one person's story, but a POV that is singularly compelling. EDIT: HOLY CRAP THE ADDENDUM IS THE CLIMAX BUT THEY ASK YOU TO REVIEW AFTER THE MAIN NARRATIVE. SPOILER ALERT: 😮😮😮😮😮

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Modern USSR/Russian History with Emphasis on the Rise of Putin
*by P***A on January 20, 2019*

Reading this book, I have learned a great deal about the history of Russia beginning with the post-war period when Putin first began his career as a low-level government bureaucrat, leading to what seems, given the circumstances of the time, a very improbable rise to the highest position in Russia, where he has since been firmly entrenched. Putin's early career seems very undistinguished, and revisiting the Yeltsin years and learning of how Putin kept a low profile in St. Petersburg, it is fascinating to follow how someone who was apparently completely off the radar screen ended up where he is now - and that he is so strongly in control, at that. As a bureaucrat in St. Petersburg, it seems that Putin (like many in Russia at the time) took advantage of the changing circumstances to fatten his own bank account. He also seems to have been deft in deciding who to support as various leaders came and went, without allowing himself to be taken down with them as they eventually fell from power. It led to his eventually being in a sense the last man standing, as the Russian party sought a leader to succeed Yeltsin. What is also illuminating is the brutality and viscousness of Putin throughout, something that I find particularly relevant given how our world looks today and the role that Putin has, more influential than anyone might have expected. In addition to telling the story of Putin's rise, I found the book to be very informative in reviewing the modern history of post-Soviet Russia, reminding me of many of the events of the past few decades as well as filling in many details I was not previously aware of.

## Frequently Bought Together

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*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-04*