Cohen offers us a lesson, and a solution that is at once simple and of priceless value. -- David A. Andelman World Policy Blog [George] Kennan's understanding of the Russian state... has proved to have enormous currency over time. Cohen's views should be given similar credence. -- William W. Finan Jr. Current History Provocative and insightful. -- Amy Knight New York Review of Books Well written and vigorously argued. -- Archie Brown Russian Review Cohen... brings his study of Soviet and Russian political developments to the doorstep of the White House, to powerful effect. The Nation An extraordinarily rich book... an absolutely vital beginning point for anyone interested in a serious study of political and foreign policy developments involving Russia. Slavic Review Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives finds its stride in Cohen's ability to challenge conventional wisdom on the causes and consequences of major turning points in Soviet and post-Soviet history. -- Rehanna Jones-Boutaleb Foreign Policy in Focus this is one of the first books I would put into the hands of someone who wanted to get a good sense of what the Soviet Union was all about. -- Lars T. Lih Montreal Review Cohen's book is a superbly informed, astute and thought-provoking analysis of late Soviet politics and history. -- Denis Kozlov Slavonic and East European Review Among the many strengths of Soviet Fates is not just Stephen Cohen's longtimedepth of expertise but his unrivalled storytelling ability and, perhaps above all, hisrazor-sharp insider observations based on personal exchanges, interviews, and experienceswith key actors... -- Nanci Adler Journal of Modern History