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The Man Who Changed the World: The Lives of Mikhail S. Gorbachev
The Man Who Changed the World The Lives of Mikhail S Gorbachev Author:Gail Sheehy From Library Journal: "Of the many works on Gorbachev and his policies, Sheehy's perhaps best conveys her subject's ambition and self-assurance in a life of profound discontinuity. While Sheehy ( Passages; Character: America's Search for Leadership, LJ 8/88) lacks a clear sense of the institutions shaping Go... more »rbachev, she has assembled a wealth of material from perceptive interviews with lifelong acquaintances and colleagues. Indeed, their candor confirms Sheehy's conclusion that Gorbachev's "most important legacy" lies in the "lifting of fear and the creation of a new political generation." Her appraisal of Raisa's importance in her husband's life seems beyond doubt. Nevertheless, the work suffers from certain flaws. Plausible detail becomes certainty; facile phrases often take the place of analysis; and Gorbachev's life before the 1985 elevation to General Secretary is disproportionately emphasized. Many readers will find Sheehy has done little to make Gorbachev less enigmatic. Nevertheless, the interview material is fascinating and valuable."« less