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The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism by Mikhail Zygar

December 07, 2025 9:23 AM | Anonymous

Book Review:
The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism
by Mikhail Zygar

November 11, 2025
Publisher: Scribner

The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism
by Mikhail Zygar


From “one of Russia’s smartest and best-sourced” (The New York Times) reporters comes a gripping and urgent exploration of why the Soviet Union’s collapse was incomplete and the Cold War was never over—revealing the resurgence of imperialism in Russia and its current implications for the war in Ukraine.

Russian-born journalist Mikhail Zygar was ten years old when the Soviet Union collapsed. Now, after nearly ten years of research, he offers a timely and compelling new approach on Russian history—one that rewrites everything we thought we knew about the fall of the Soviet Union—and argues that its ending is yet to come. Starting with the historic launch of the first human into space in April 1961, Zygar unravels a dramatic story of resistance, resilience, and resurgence that led to the Soviet Union’s dissolution—and the echoes of its legacy today.

Zygar conducted several hundred exclusive interviews with key figures, including Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, first presidents of the independent post-Soviet republics, the last first secretaries of these republics, and leaders of independence movements within them, as well as Western politicians and diplomats who were witnesses to and participants in those events. He dives into the struggles and triumphs of figures like Andrei Sakharov, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Vladimir Vysotsky, whose defiance of totalitarianism is both inspiring and deeply relevant. Zygar explains how the “victory” over the Soviet Empire may have been short-lived, as today’s Russian regime maintains its imperial ambitions.

A must-read for anyone looking to understand the origins of modern Russian fascism, The Dark Side of the Earth explores how imperial and nationalist ideas developed during the Soviet era and eventually gave rise to the current Putinist ideology. Zygar’s work is uniquely powerful—fueled by his personal ties to the Soviet era, access to historical archives, and interviews that crack open hidden truths, including several with individuals who had never before spoken on the record.

More than a history lesson, The Dark Side of the Earth is a call to action and a testament to the enduring fight for truth and freedom. Zygar urges us to confront the narratives we’ve accepted and rethink how we face oppression today. Bold, brilliant, and deeply human, this is a story that demands to be heard.


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Reviews:

"Seasoned journalist Zygar draws from a decade of interviews with a wide array of Soviet leaders, including Mikhail Gorbachev, writers, musicians, poets, and academics, to reveal a lively underground of Russian hopes and yearning for freedom. . . . Zygar's richly specific and dynamic history sets the stage for today's Russian fascism." —Booklist

"Exiled Russian journalist Zygar delivers a sobering portrait of Russia’s brief moment in democratic sunlight. . . . an extraordinarily revealing account of how the Russia we know from today’s headlines came into being." —Kirkus (starred review)

"Mikhail Zygar's The Dark Side of the Earth is an idiosyncratic, insightful account of both the end of the Soviet Union and the rise of Putinism—a useful and timely reminder of how closely these two forms of dictatorship are connected." —Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag and Autocracy, Inc

"I love books that tell the story of an entire country through the intimate, everyday lives of its people—both famous and unknown. Mikhail Zygar is one of the most thoughtful Russian writers of our time, and behind every page lies meticulous, painstaking work. You may think you know how it all ends, but still, you simply can't put it down." —Yulia Navalnaya

"In Zygar’s book, it's people who take center stage—not messiahs; individual characters, not abstract nations. We see that it wasn't dictators who saved the world from apocalypse, but humanists. And the contrast with today's rulers makes the book all the more bitter and revealing. And yes, it's brilliantly written—with a lively, sparkling wit." —Dmitry Muratov, journalist and winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

"Mikhail Zygar is one of the most brilliant observers of contemporary Russia. He is both a protagonist in his country's recent history and a skilled analyst of its politics. The Dark Side of the Earth showcases his unique perspectives, and considerable talent for vivid storytelling as he looks back at the collapse of the Soviet Union. This is also a deeply personal story, which makes for a particularly powerful narrative and a profoundly moving book." —Fiona Hill, former National Security Council official and New York Times bestselling author of There Is Nothing For You Here 
See also:

The Dark Side of the Earth as reviewed by Jean-Thomas Nicole for The Cypher Brief  -  November 11, 2025 
The Reviewer —Jean-Thomas Nicole is a Policy Advisor with Public Safety Canada. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policies or positions of Public Safety Canada or the Canadian government

The Dark Side of the Earth as reviewed by Kirkus Reviews  -  September 15, 2025 

About the book: 
The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism
by Mikhail Zygar
Scribner - 560 pages $33.99 (Kindle)
Publication Date: November 11, 2025


About the Author: Mikhail Zygar


Mikhail Zygar is a journalist, historian, and best-selling author, known for his work on Russian politics, propaganda, and authoritarianism. He was the founding editor-in-chief of TV Rain (Dozhd), Russia’s only independent news television channel, which became a critical voice against state censorship until he was forced into exile.  

Zygar is the author of several internationally acclaimed books, including "All the Kremlin’s Men," a best-seller that provides an insider’s account of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle; "The Empire Must Die," a deeply researched narrative on the fall of the Russian Empire and the revolutionary forces of the early 20th century; and "War and Punishment," which was named one of The New Yorker’s best nonfiction books of 2023. His books have been translated into multiple languages and are widely used in academic and journalistic discussions on Russia.  

Zygar is a leading commentator on Russian affairs, regularly contributing op-eds to The New York Times, Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Foreign Affairs, and The Washington Post. He is also a frequent guest on CNN, providing expert analysis on Russia and global politics. In 2018, he was a TED Fellow and delivered a TED Talk on history, propaganda, and disinformation.   He has lectured at leading universities, including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, and Stanford. In 2024, he taught at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and in 2025, at Columbia University.

Biography Credit:  Yale University - School of Global Affairs

À propos du livre :
Le côté obscur de la Terre : la victoire éphémère de la Russie sur le totalitarisme
par Mikhail Zygar
Scribner - 560 pages 33,99 $ (Kindle)
Date de publication : 11 novembre 2025

Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.

Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 

Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

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