From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia Paperback – Illustrated, November 20, 2008

A bit outdated now, but really helps you understand the basic culture of Russia and the former Soviet satellites.

I am a first generation Russian immigrant - grew up in Russia and Ukraine and came to US at the age of 23 in 2003. I bought this book to find some articulations of what I have experienced, I need it for one of my classes in grad school. I started reading last night and almost got all the way through, what I can tell you at this point is - the author seems credible. I was offended by some of the things and some I feel were exaggerated... Overall, most of it sounds true for describing my grandparents, younger generations are a lot more westernized, living in a fast-paced world where everyone has to work for themselves and stay afloat in the global economy. If you are planning a trip to Russia, definitely read the book and you'll be more relaxed once you get there. Expect the worst, but hope for the best! :)I also bought The Russian Way because they offered me a deal if I buy both, which is a great disappointment. From Nyet to Da is a lot more informed and experience based than The Russian Way, has a better tone and is a lot more interesting to read

An excellent overview of Russia by a former diplomat from the Cold War era offering an understandable and concise history of Russia as well as insight into the Russian psyche and how it compares and contrasts with the American one. Practical advice in relating to Russians is balanced with loftier reflections on the history of Russia and what makes Russians (and Americans) tick. If you are an American looking to understand how Russians are so similar yet so different from us, this book is a wonderful start to unraveling that mystery. Highly recommended read when tensions between Russia and the USA are rising again. Really can't recommend this book more strongly because it packs so much information and insight into relatively few pages. All I can say is if you are remotely considering this book, please read it. I doubt you will be disappointed.

Of course a single book can't adequately prepare anyone for the experience that is Russia but this book is a good place to start. This book was required reading for a course prior to traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia and it effectively provides insights into the cultural mind and thought of Russians, and Russia in general, which most history books do not. My experiences in Russia echoed many of the themes in this bookMy only issue is that a bit too much of the material is drawn from Soviet times and Russia today - especially for those under 30 - is a very different place.

Amazing book and at least 99.9% true. A must-read for anyone going to Russia, studying Russia or communism. This book helped me so much during my stay in the Motherland and made adjusting to the unique lifestyle easier. From explaining the frowning Russian conundrum to describing how to understand the roots of communism, this book has everything you need to know but is written in such a way you feel as if you are sitting by a samovar with an old comrade.

The book seemed a little exagerated and too much about the opinion of the author and not facts. The seller was great and promt though!

Purchased for a trip to Russia so that I would have a better idea of the culture. Interesting and helpful.

This book worked well for my study abroad trip to Russia. This copy works well on the Kindle app for the Surface 3.

I bought this book coming from a Russian background (though not living in Russia) and wanting to see if a lot had changed in the way people behaved in general between the older generation and the new Russia. From the first chapter I had to raise an eyebrow ... of course you would expect some stereo-typing in a book aimed at explaining how people behave in a particular culture but I honestly did not realise it would be this bad! The peasants communities the writer constantly refers back to as the roots for peoples behaviour might still apply in some backwaters in the Urals or Siberia but I would not recommend any businesman(woman) that travels to any of the big cities to deal with people as if they are narrowminded peasants. I think their business deal will be in the water very quickly!Also this book is shockingly outdated. The title (and date of print) gives a feeling that it allows you understand how to make your way through the new Russia yet it has a whole chapter on how to deal with the KGB!?! Surely anyone who just sat next a newspaper (did not even have to read it) in the early 90's knows the KGB is an institution of the past and has been split up and replaced with various other institutions of authority (like the FSB).I read the rest of the book ... no longer to learn something new ... but to have a good laugh.