Being there . . . . to meet and judge for yourself if Vladimir Putin is the world’s most dangerousman and, in a second splendid read, if you believe his reasons for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.With all the world eyes on him, and his No.1 benefactor, Xi Jinping, two dramatic, tensebiographical sketches suddenly surfaced simultaneously a few months ago in Britain thatdemand attention. Each author, Paul Moorcraft and James Greensmith, not only breathes lifeinto his characterization, but also places you nose to nose to him, allowing a quick leap into hismind, values, and possible future military strategies. The tense, frighful journey will leave youappalled and shaken. Is World War III that close?“VLADIMIR PUTIN – – The World’s Most Dangerous Man?”, by James Greensmith. Pen & SwordHISTORY, Pen & Sword Ltd: 2023, 183 pages, 6 ¼” x 9 ½”, hardcover, $34.95. Visit,www.penandswordbooks.com, E-mail, Uspen-and-sword@casematepublish.com“PUTIN’S WARS -NATO’S FLAWS – – Why Russia Invaded Ukraine”, Paul Moorcraft. Pen & SwordMILITARY, Pen & Sword Ltd: 2023, 187 pages, 6 ½” x 9 ½”, hardcover, $36.95. Visit,www.penandswordbooks.com, E-mail, Uspen-and-sword@casematepublish.comReviewed and highly recommended by Don DeNeviAuthor James Greensmith, in his absorbing one-page “Author’s Note”, sets the tone of hisbook by revealing that Putin has a serious personality disorder. “But what?”, he asks. “He mostcertainly has elements of both the narcissist and the psychopath. Was he born that way, anarcissist and a psychopath, or did he become one and, if so, was this brought on by hisexperiences of life, or was there more to it than that? As a top medical man, he then calmly,orderly and in deadly seriousness offers his unique, and new insight while lifting Putin’s maskand having you delve with what appears to be on the surface to be compatible congeniality. Heasks, “How can it be that after the horrors of the 20 th century attributable to the likes of Stalin,Hitler, and pol pot, that another monster has arisen to threaten the peace of the world, namelyVladimir Putin of Russia?“PUTIN’S WARS – NATO’S FLAWS – – Why Russia Invaded Ukraine” begins by arguing that thenew Stalin’s actions must be understood, if not forgiven. With the Ukraine war seen as a proxywar of NATO versus Russia, how likely is the fighting to spread?Paul, the author, a highly respected journalist and political commentator, explains whyRussia invaded a sovereign neighbor. To what extent did NATO’s expansion to Russia’s bordersin the aftermath of the Cold War provoke Putin? Etc., etc.” The war in Ukraine has hadworldwide impact with cost of living, food, and energy crises and raised the risk of nuclearArmageddon by accident or intent. Thus, this book has innate appeal, and not just to militarybuffs. James examines the complex military and political issues in layman’s language while thestory is told as a compelling historical narrative. Professor Moorcraft, who has worked inUkraine and has witnessed Russian troops in action in Afghanistan and other theatres, is
superbly qualified to write this work.
