"Russia Today" course suggestions

[Michael Denner]

George,
Two books to recommend, both appropriate for a first-year course that's
interdisciplinary and (especially) aimed at the social-science end of
the spectrum: Kotkin's short and sweet book _Armageddon Averted_ is a
cogent and convincing account of how the Soviet Union collapsed upon
itself. It does not presuppose a lot of knowledge on the students' part.
I used it with great success in a Russia Today course last year. (I'd be
happy to share the syllabus.) 

I just finished Billington's recent book, _Russia in Search of Itself_.
I found it highly readable, with most of the esoterica (a delectation
for me, less so for the beginning student) in the endnotes. 

Billington's book is more focused on the cultural and social, while
Kotkin's is very oriented towards economics and politics. They would
work well together. Both provide an excellent overview of the changes
during the past twenty years, and both are appropriate for students with
little or no knowledge of Russia. 

Best,
mad
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
   Dr. Michael A. Denner
   Editor, Tolstoy Studies Journal
   Director, University Honors Program
   
   Contact Information:
      Russian Studies Program
      Stetson University
      Campus Box 8361
      DeLand, FL 32720-3756
      386.822.7381 (department)
      386.822.7265 (direct line)
      386.822.7380 (fax)
      www.stetson.edu/~mdenner

-----Original Message-----
From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
[mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU] On Behalf Of George Mitrevski
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 1:46 PM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] "Russia Today" course suggestions

Hi folks.

I'm looking for suggestions for a course titled "Russia Today". The
course is in English. Any suggestions for an anthology of late-Soviet
and post-Soviet short stories, films, online resources, and a textbook
that covers the gamut of life in Russia today?

Cordially,

George. 

Foreign Languages                 tel. 334-844-6376
6030 Haley Center                  fax. 334-844-6378
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
home: www.auburn.edu/~mitrege

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