CHRYSTIA FREELAND

This is the first account of Russias second revolution - the countrys dramatic, wrenching transition from communist central planning to a market economy. Written by one of the finest writers on contemporary Russia, it is told by interweaving high politics with glimpses of the revolutions impact on the lives of ordinary people. Beginning with a sharp portrayal of the dismal living conditions in the Soviet Union, she moves on to the romantic early days of the capitalist transformation. This was the height of market euphoria when, despite the chaos of everyday life, a prosperous future seemed within easy reach. Woven through the book are remarkable stories - of Yeltsins use of popular psychics, of the might of the robber barons who form alliances with criminal mafia gangs, of Machiavellian politicians who have dealt with the devil and believe they have made a good bargain. In the final stage of the book, Freeland chronicles the end of the first wave of Russias capitalist revolution, detailing the economic crisis currently rumbling through the country.

Forget the 1 it s time to get to grips with the 0 1 There has always been some gap between rich and poor but it has never been wider and now the rich are getting wealthier at such breakneck speed that the middle classes are being squeezed out While the wealthiest 10 of Americans for example receive half the nation s income the real money flows even higher up in the top 0 1 As a transglobal class of highly successful professionals these self made oligarchs often have more in common with one another than with their own countrymen But how is this happening and who are the people making it happen Chrystia Freeland acclaimed business journalist and Global Editor at Large of Reuters has unprecedented access to the richest and most successful people on the planet from Davos to Dubai and dissects their lives with intelligence empathy and objectivity Pacily written and powerfully researched Plutocrats could not provide a more timely insight into the current state of Capitalism and its most wealthy players A superb piece of reportage a tremendous illumination New Statesman on Freeland s previous title Sale of the Century