{"product_id":"behind-putins-curtain-friendships-and-misadventures-inside-russia-9781771643672","title":"Behind Putin's Curtain: Friendships and Misadventures Inside Russia","description":"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn unconventional travelogue of a country that inspires both fear and fascination.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"In the late summer of 2016,\" writes award-winning travel writer Stephan Orth, \"a journey to Russia feels like visiting enemy territory.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this humorous and thought-provoking book, Orth ventures through that vast and mysterious territory to uncover the real, unfiltered Russia not seen in today's headlines: authentic, bizarre, dangerous, and beautiful. Sidestepping the well-trod tourist path, he travels the country from Moscow to Vladivostok--across seven time zones and almost 9,500 kilometers--making stops in Chechnya, Saint Petersburg, Siberia, and beyond. Staying with an eclectic array of hosts, he bumps into gun nuts, Internet conspiracy theorists, faux shamans, and Putin fans; learns to drive in death-defying Russian style; and discovers how to cure hangovers by sniffing rye bread. But he also sees a darker side of the country, witnessing firsthand the effects of Putin's influence in the run-up to the 2016 American election and the power of propaganda in this \"post-fact\" era.\u003cbr\u003eWeaving everything together with thoughtfulness and warmth, Orth follows the acclaimed Couchsurfing in Iran with yet another complex, funny, and personal travelogue--a colorful portrait of a fascinating and misunderstood country.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeaving everything together with thoughtfulness and warmth, Orth follows the acclaimed \u003cem\u003eCouchsurfing in Iran\u003c\/em\u003e with yet another complex, funny, and personal travelogue--a colorful portrait of a fascinating and misunderstood country.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Greystone Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/07\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781771643672\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2019 pg. 115\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Stephan Orth","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36668336603292,"sku":"9781771643672","price":14.41,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_f2890679-73e8-4c99-a735-27157473d7ce.jpg?v=1603917277","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/behind-putins-curtain-friendships-and-misadventures-inside-russia-9781771643672","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}