Reddit mentions of The Soviet Experiment: Russia, The USSR, and the Successor States

The Soviet Experiment by Ron Suny

It's a great survey of the Soviet Union for pretty much the entirety of it's existence. I was also fortunate enough to have the author as a professor and I can vouch for his knowledge on the subject.

I posted this a few weeks ago, I hope it helps!!! Its very USSR specific though :\ Sorry!

I had a craving to learn Soviet history a few years ago. These are some of the ones I found. Though its hard finding a good unbiased account in English. Since there are alot of ideological bitterness and disagreements that still hold on to this day.
I found the soviet histories written by Dmitri Volkogonov, a soviet historian and officer, to be quite good. He wrote a trilogy on Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin. Which covers alot of the early decades of the USSR.


Volkogonov also wrote Autopsy For An Empire: The Seven Leaders Who Built the Soviet Regime. Which, despite being long and dull at times, Volkogonov clearly was not a trained author. It still shines though as a good read.

I am currently reading though Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age. Which picks up soon after Stalin's death in the 50s and into the 60 and 70s. I found it to be a good inside view on the space race on both sides and the details you rarely hear about in average documentary or Western sided books on the subject.

Though I have not read it yet. Ive heard that The Soviet Experiment, by Ronald Suny, is a fantastic read and account of the Soviet Union. Hes also edited together books of essays, which I have heard is very good.

I hope this helps!!