This book tells the stories of how the oligarchs rose to power in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the privatization of industry. There are several main figures who we meet and follow - very rich men who used their wealth and status to ensure victory for Boris Yeltsin over the communist challenger in 1996, knowing that their existence as a class was at risk if the communist system returned. Little did they know, Yeltsin's successor Vladimir Putin would make that a goal once he was handed the reigns.

This is a really well-written book. However - I can't pinpoint why, but halfway through the book I lost interest and getting through the rest was a struggle. Because of that, I'm giving this one three stars, but I would certainly still recommend it, especially to anyone who liked the absurdity of The Big Short by Michael Lewis.

Classic Ben Mezrich. With the amount of money flowing through Russia's elite, it's easy to see how they could afford to buy an election.