Tag: Soviet Union

soviet union cover

Back in the USSR

Spanning the Globe 4 comments

Soviet Union
Jackson
1980

The Cold War was turned up to 11 when this book was published, and this text reflects that tension. It is more of a middle school textbook than a country book like those common in public library youth nonfiction collections. (See our Spanning the Globe category for some examples.) I’m going to guess that this was probably a rogue donation, because textbooks aren’t a usual item in a public library collection. You will be happy to know that this was still in circulation as of this writing.

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soviety union until 1984

Soviets in the 1980s

Spanning the Globe 11 comments

Will the Soviet Union Survive Until 1984?
Amalrik
1981; revised and expanded edition

Having a date as part of the title automatically limits its shelf life. Even if the title just said “Will the Soviet Union Survive?” probably could have bought more time on a shelf. Having said that, these books do have a place in a university or archival collection. Public libraries, on the other hand, would probably be better retiring this and replacing with historical retrospectives.

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What to do when the Russians come

Break out the borscht!

Spanning the Globe

What to do when the Russians come
A survivor’s guide
Conquest
1985

Completing our trifecta of red scare material,  here is a great book describing how you too can survive the occupation of the Soviets.  This particular book needs to be in an archive since it really does capture the hysteria of the cold war.  (Did you notice one of the author’s name?)  I wonder if these guys thought about a second edition after 1989?

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Can you trust the communists

It’s the communists, run for your life!

But it's Historical! 30 comments

You can trust the communists (to do exactly as they say!)
Schwarz
1960

Fellow library comrades: I know I will hear from everyone about how this is an important piece of culture and we should never weed this kind of material.  Heck, I am old enough to appreciate the communist threat.  (I even had to sign a loyalty oath in the early 80’s as part of my job! – Go America!)  This book has a place in an archive or a museum, not in a popular materials collection for a small public library.  I think I am safe in saying that by 1989 this book lacked some punch.  In case you really want to feel old, today’s college students were probably born after the Berlin Wall came down.

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