{"product_id":"behind-putins-curtain-friendships-and-misadventures-inside-russia-9781771643672","title":"Behind Putin's Curtain: Friendships and Misadventures Inside Russia","description":"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn unconventional travelogue of a country that inspires both fear and fascination.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"In the late summer of 2016,\" writes award-winning travel writer Stephan Orth, \"a journey to Russia feels like visiting enemy territory.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this humorous and thought-provoking book, Orth ventures through that vast and mysterious territory to uncover the real, unfiltered Russia not seen in today's headlines: authentic, bizarre, dangerous, and beautiful. Sidestepping the well-trod tourist path, he travels the country from Moscow to Vladivostok--across seven time zones and almost 9,500 kilometers--making stops in Chechnya, Saint Petersburg, Siberia, and beyond. Staying with an eclectic array of hosts, he bumps into gun nuts, Internet conspiracy theorists, faux shamans, and Putin fans; learns to drive in death-defying Russian style; and discovers how to cure hangovers by sniffing rye bread. But he also sees a darker side of the country, witnessing firsthand the effects of Putin's influence in the run-up to the 2016 American election and the power of propaganda in this \"post-fact\" era.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeaving everything together with thoughtfulness and warmth, Orth follows the acclaimed \u003cem\u003eCouchsurfing in Iran\u003c\/em\u003e with yet another complex, funny, and personal travelogue--a colorful portrait of a fascinating and misunderstood country.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStephan Orth\u003c\/strong\u003e is an acclaimed journalist and bestselling author. A recipient of the ITB Book Award and a two-time winner of the Columbus Award for travel writing, he has written four previous books, including \u003cem\u003eCouchsurfing in Iran\u003c\/em\u003e, which has been translated into several languages. Orth lives in Hamburg, Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Greystone Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50362915946770,"sku":"9781771643672","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7d53a635-e105-44b1-ba94-4d298754ad7a.jpg?v=1728398769","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/behind-putins-curtain-friendships-and-misadventures-inside-russia-9781771643672","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}