The Man Without A Face audiobook cover - The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

The Man Without A Face

The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

Masha Gessen

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PoliticsBiography & Memoir

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The Man Without A Face
Early Life & KGB Roots+
Opportunistic Rise (1990s)+
Consolidating Power via Terror+
Crushing Democracy & Dissent+
Kleptocracy & Greed+
Psychological Profile+
Key Takeaways+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9
Which of the following best describes Vladimir Putin's career in the KGB before the fall of the Soviet Union?
  • A. He was a highly decorated field agent who ran extensive spy networks in West Berlin.
  • B. He was primarily a paper pusher in Dresden whose most notable achievement was buying a U.S. Army manual.
  • C. He was an elite assassin responsible for eliminating defectors in Eastern Europe.
  • D. He was the director of domestic surveillance who oversaw the suppression of democratic dissidents in Moscow.
Question 2 of 9
How did Putin handle the 1991 KGB-led coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev?
  • A. He actively led the KGB forces in arresting Gorbachev and seizing the parliament building.
  • B. He immediately defected to the West to avoid being implicated in the plot.
  • C. He publicly denounced the KGB and organized armed resistance among university students.
  • D. He played both sides by distancing himself from the KGB while staying close to political circles until a victor emerged.
Question 3 of 9
What was a significant source of Putin's early political and financial survival during the chaotic 1990s in Saint Petersburg?
  • A. He led a popular grassroots anti-corruption movement that won him massive public donations.
  • B. He orchestrated lucrative, legally void commodity export deals in exchange for kickbacks, protected by Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.
  • C. He received massive funding directly from the CIA to help dismantle the remnants of the KGB.
  • D. He built a legitimate real estate empire by developing commercial properties in post-Soviet Russia.
Question 4 of 9
Why did President Boris Yeltsin and his inner circle, 'The Family,' select Putin as his successor?
  • A. They believed Putin was a compliant and safe candidate who would protect them from political prosecution.
  • B. Putin had decades of high-level political experience and a massive, loyal voter base.
  • C. Putin was the only politician who openly promised to aggressively prosecute Yeltsin's corrupt rivals.
  • D. The Russian military demanded a former KGB officer be placed in power to prevent a civil war.
Question 5 of 9
According to the text, how did the 1999 Russian apartment bombings benefit Vladimir Putin's political career?
  • A. They allowed him to negotiate a historic peace treaty with Chechen rebels, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
  • B. They gave him the opportunity to expose corruption within the FSB, cementing his reputation as an incorruptible reformer.
  • C. They created a climate of fear that justified a ruthless war in Chechnya and increased the public's desire for a strongman leader.
  • D. They forced his political rivals to resign in disgrace after being falsely implicated in the attacks.
Question 6 of 9
What typically happened to Russian oligarchs and journalists, such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Anna Politkovskaya, who publicly opposed Putin or investigated his administration?
  • A. They were eventually co-opted into his government and given high-ranking cabinet positions.
  • B. They were largely ignored by the state media, rendering their protests ineffective but leaving them unharmed.
  • C. They were allowed to form legitimate opposition parties that frequently challenged Putin in parliament.
  • D. They faced severe retribution, including exile, imprisonment on fraudulent charges, or assassination.
Question 7 of 9
Which of the following anecdotes is used in the book to illustrate Putin's unabashed greed and kleptomaniacal tendencies?
  • A. He publicly seized the assets of a major international charity to fund his presidential campaign.
  • B. He pocketed a Super Bowl diamond ring belonging to the owner of the New England Patriots after asking to try it on.
  • C. He demanded that all foreign diplomats pay him a personal cash tribute before entering the Kremlin.
  • D. He explicitly rewrote the Russian constitution to legally transfer 10 percent of all tax revenue into his personal bank account.
Question 8 of 9
How did Putin manipulate the Russian political system to maintain the illusion of a multi-party democracy while retaining absolute control?
  • A. He mandated that all political candidates must be directly approved by the United Nations.
  • B. He created dummy political parties to represent left- and right-wing views to contrast with his own party.
  • C. He allowed free elections but legally restricted voting rights to citizens who worked for the state.
  • D. He held frequent national referendums but secretly altered the voting machines to guarantee a 99% approval rating.
Question 9 of 9
What did Putin's reaction to the 2000 Barent Sea nuclear submarine disaster reveal about his character?
  • A. It demonstrated his deep empathy, as he immediately flew to the site and personally oversaw the rescue operations.
  • B. It highlighted his diplomatic skills, as he quickly formed a successful coalition with NATO to save the crew.
  • C. It exposed his lack of empathy and poor communication, as he continued his vacation and appeared more concerned about lost equipment than human lives.
  • D. It showed his paranoia, as he immediately blamed the disaster on a U.S. torpedo attack and threatened nuclear war.

The Man Without A Face — Full Chapter Overview

The Man Without A Face Summary & Overview

A biography of Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Man Without A Face shines a clear light on one of contemporary history’s more shadowy political figures. The book charts Putin’s almost accidental rise to Russia’s highest office, starting from his benign beginnings in the state secret police. His vindictive personality, overwhelming greed and disdain for democratic norms continue to transform Russia today.

Who Should Listen to The Man Without A Face?

  • Anyone interested in Russia’s place in global politics
  • Anyone curious about the life of a notorious world leader
  • Anyone fighting for accountability and transparency in politics

About the Author: Masha Gessen

Masha Gessen is a Russian-American journalist and activist.

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