Bithive reviewed Red Plenty by Francis Spufford
Red Plenty: The Rise and Fall of a Noble Dream in the Soviet Union
5 stars
Red Plenty delves deep into the ideals of the Soviet Union, specifically its vision of equitable wealth distribution. It reveals the tantalizingly close attainment of this dream, only to witness its tragic abandonment. Throughout the book, one cannot help but become sympathetic to this noble idea and comprehend the reasons behind its untimely collapse. The narrative sheds light on the intricate lives of individuals maneuvering within this system, brilliantly demonstrating how they adapted and organized themselves. The reader is left in awe of the compromises that were necessary for the system's initial survival, yet ultimately became its undoing. Inevitably, the once unshakable dream crumbled and disintegrated, leaving behind a profound sense of loss and failure.