Wind of Change

Armed with youthful optimism, a degree in Russian Area Studies, and a desire to contribute to post-Cold War Russian/American relations, Kenneth Maher thought he'd landed his dream job when he joined a US company in unraveling former Communist Russia. Despite his best intentions, he may have gotten just a bit more than he'd bargained for. Wind of Change is a keenly observed, insightful, and wry outsider's look at a nation and people in transition and the systems that wield the power, but not the appetite, for progress. Illuminating the communication and cultural breakdowns -from the comical and harrowing-alongside a memorable cast of characters, Maher takes his readers on an unforgettable journey through the Soviet Union and back again. With astute cultural and political insights and a healthy dose of humor, Wind of Change delivers a front-row seat to the post-Soviet breakdown that foreshadowed Russia's return to authoritarianism.