{"product_id":"accidental-czar-the-life-and-lies-of-vladimir-putin-9781250760753","title":"Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis riveting graphic novel biography chronicles Vladimir Putin's rise from a mid-level KGB officer to the autocratic leader of Russia and reveals the truth behind the strongman persona he has spent his career cultivating.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the West's collective imagination, Vladimir Putin is a devious cartoon villain, constantly plotting and scheming to destroy his enemies around the globe and in Ukraine. But how did an undistinguished mid-level KGB officer become one of the most powerful leaders in Russian history? And how much of Putin's tough-guy persona is a calculated performance? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eAccidental Czar\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003eAndrew S. Weiss\u003c\/b\u003e, a former White House Russia expert, and \u003cb\u003eBrian \"Box\" Brown\u003c\/b\u003e show how Putin has successfully cast himself as a cunning, larger-than-life political mastermind--and how the rest of the world has played into the Kremlin's hands by treating him as one. They shatter all of these myths and expose the man behind the façade.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew S. Weiss\u003c\/b\u003e is the James Family Chair and Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where he oversees research on Russia and Eurasia. He served in various policy roles at the National Security Council, the State Department and Pentagon during both Democratic and Republican administrations. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrian \"Box\" Brown\u003c\/b\u003e is an Eisner Award-winning author whose comics have appeared in the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePlayboy\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eNew York\u003c\/i\u003e magazine. His books include the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e-bestselling \u003ci\u003eAndre the Giant: Life and Legend\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTetris: The Games People Play\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Is This Guy for Real?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e: \u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Unbelievable Andy Kaufman\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eChild Star\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eAccidental Czar \u003c\/i\u003e(with writer Andrew S. Weiss). boxbrown.com\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"First Second","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50615009640722,"sku":"9781250760753","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_65dc18a7-f12f-4d6f-ab8b-5cb9cc533f22.jpg?v=1732471953","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/accidental-czar-the-life-and-lies-of-vladimir-putin-9781250760753","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}