

#1365
Mentioned in 17 episodes
Stalin
The Court of the Red Tsar
Book • 2014
This biography transforms our understanding of Stalin as Soviet dictator, Marxist leader, and Russian tsar.
Based on groundbreaking research, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals the daily life, family relationships, and the brutal cruelty of Stalin's secret world.
The book is praised for its elegant prose, rich detail, and the author's ability to humanize Stalin while highlighting his brutal and chilling nature.
It is a masterful and terrifying account that has become a classic of modern history writing.
Based on groundbreaking research, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals the daily life, family relationships, and the brutal cruelty of Stalin's secret world.
The book is praised for its elegant prose, rich detail, and the author's ability to humanize Stalin while highlighting his brutal and chilling nature.
It is a masterful and terrifying account that has become a classic of modern history writing.
Mentioned by




















Mentioned in 17 episodes
Mentioned by 

when discussing books that were too dark to finish reading.


Elon Musk

963 snips
#252 – Elon Musk: SpaceX, Mars, Tesla Autopilot, Self-Driving, Robotics, and AI
Mentioned by 

as a source of information on Stalin.


Lex Fridman

748 snips
#444 – Vejas Liulevicius: Communism, Marxism, Nazism, Stalin, Mao, and Hitler
Mentioned by 

as the second volume of the Stalin biographies.


Dwarkesh Patel

720 snips
Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin Became the Most Powerful Dictator in History
Mentioned by 

in the context of biographies offering a broad historical perspective.


Dwarkesh Patel

362 snips
Daniel Yergin – Oil Explains the Entire 20th Century
Mentioned by 

as a great book about Stalin.


Tucker Carlson

220 snips
Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger Break Down the California Fires
Mentioned by 

as a book that challenged his understanding of Stalin.


Tucker Carlson

194 snips
Darryl Cooper: The True History of the Jonestown Cult, WWII, and How Winston Churchill Ruined Europe
Mentioned by 

as offering an amazing lens through which to look at the present.


Sam Harris

187 snips
#393 — Is History Repeating Itself?
Mentioned by 

as one of the most important historians alive today, whose books are essential to understanding power and human nature.


Bari Weiss

164 snips
Simon Sebag Montefiore: History Is Not Over
Mentioned in the episode description as one of the books written by 

.


Stephen Kotkin

122 snips
#289 – Stephen Kotkin: Putin, Zelenskyy, and War in Ukraine
Mentioned in the episode description as one of the books written by 

.


Stephen Kotkin

122 snips
#289 – Stephen Kotkin: Putin, Zelenskyy, and War in Ukraine
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a source for the podcast episode.

Afua Hirsch

54 snips
Stalin | The Terror | 2
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a source for the podcast episode on Joseph Stalin.

Afua Hirsch

46 snips
Stalin | Fighting Hitler | 3
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a source for the podcast series.

Afua Hirsch

36 snips
Stalin | The Georgian Bandit | 1
Mentioned by 

as offering an amazing lens through which to look at the present.


Sam Harris

35 snips
#393 - Is History Repeating Itself?
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when describing Stalin's physical appearance in his later years.

Afua Hirsch

33 snips
Stalin | The Stain of Stalin | 4
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as one of the sources used for the podcast episode.

Afua Hirsch

33 snips
Stalin | The Stain of Stalin | 4
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

while discussing Stalin's China policy.

Jon Sine

29 snips
The Soviets' Bid for Global Power
Mentioned by 

in relation to Stalin's archives.


Simon Sebag Montefiore

18 snips
74. Peter the Great: The First Emperor
Mentioned by General McMaster as an expert on authoritarian regimes.

11 snips
Special Episode: Coffee & Conflict Interview with General H.R. McMaster
Recommended by 

as insightful books for understanding Mao's thinking and reference points.


Jordan Schneider

Little Red Book, Big Red Ideas: Part 2 of A Global History of Maoism