It has been almost two decades since the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Robert Service, one of the leading historians on modern Russia, examines the course of communism worldwide. Based on a multitude of sources, he offers a human perspective on history as well as a comprehensive analysis.

The book covers the period from Marx and Lenin to Mao and Castro, vividly presenting the portraits of the protagonists and the events that played a decisive role in the history of communism. Service analyzes the policies of communist regimes as well as the social conditions that led millions of people to embrace communism. He argues that these regimes can only survive if they follow the Leninist model. He studies the governments in Yugoslavia and Cuba, focuses on revolutions such as the one in Hungary in 1919, and examines communist organization, ideology, and allure.

He concludes that although communism in its original form no longer exists, the poverty and injustice that made its development possible are undeniable conditions that could favor the emergence of future potential saviors of the people. With great writing and structured argumentation, this book is a compelling history lesson, essential in every library.