The Man Without A Face Summary

Who is Vladimir Putin? A bureaucrat, an ultranationalist, or a power-hungry figure reshaping the world in his lasting image? This book uncovers the man behind the mask.

1. Putin's Aggressive Nature Stemmed From Early Hardships

Putin’s childhood in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg, was marked by struggle and aggression. Born into a war-torn city in 1952, his family lived in overcrowded, communal housing, which greatly shaped his worldview and personality.

Despite the hardships, young Putin was quick to anger and often got into fights. His temper was said to be intense, and he sought control and discipline by turning to the martial art Sambo. However, even with this outlet, his behavior got him excluded from organizations like the Communist youth group Young Pioneers. This early aggression was indicative of how he would later navigate politics.

Interestingly, his family’s comfort—such as having a telephone and television—reveals another layer of his upbringing. His father’s connection to the NKVD (a predecessor of the KGB) and the perks it afforded likely shaped young Putin’s admiration for spy work, which would later guide his career ambitions.

Examples

• Putin grew up in post-war rubble, living in a communal room with a makeshift toilet.
• He approached the KGB at just 16, dreaming of becoming a spy.
• His aggressive tendencies earned him recognition in martial arts but trouble with authority.

2. Putin Witnessed the Fall of Communism Firsthand

Before becoming Russia's leader, Putin spent years as a low-level KGB bureaucrat in East Germany, where he was largely disillusioned with his work. His role involved gathering mundane newspaper clippings and writing reports, far from the spy adventures he had imagined.

During his Dresden tenure, he observed as communism lost its grip on Eastern Europe. When protests began to dismantle state systems like the Stasi, Putin’s office burned sensitive materials to protect Soviet secrets. Moscow, however, provided no further assistance, leaving him bitter and frustrated.

This experience of losing control and being abandoned by his superiors profoundly affected his thinking, possibly fueling his future commitment to restoring Russia as an assertive force globally.

Examples

• Putin spent time in Dresden instead of major cities like Berlin or Moscow, revealing his lesser importance within the KGB.
• He personally supervised the destruction of sensitive files as protests engulfed his workplace.
• After the Berlin Wall fell, he quietly returned to live with his parents in Leningrad, seeming defeated.

3. The 1990s: A Playground of Opportunity for Putin's Rise

The collapse of the Soviet Union in the '90s signaled chaos, and Putin, ever the opportunist, capitalized on it. He became an advisor to Anatoly Sobchak, a politician whose outward support for democracy masked personal greed and corruption.

During this period, deals such as trading state resources for food imports lined Putin’s pockets while Russia’s infrastructure and its people suffered. Preying on the instability, Putin coolly navigated alliances and betrayals, positioning himself strategically with powerful figures such as Boris Yeltsin.

This cemented his reputation for playing all sides to his advantage, remaining ambiguous enough to adapt to shifting political tides, a pattern that persisted throughout his career.

Examples

• A deal Putin brokered, meant to address food shortages, reportedly funneled millions into his wealth through shady provisions.
• He helped Sobchak escape arrest by arranging his flight to Paris.
• After shifting to Moscow, he became deputy of presidential property management, a role that expanded his influence.

4. Putin’s Unexpected Ascension to Power

The rise of Vladimir Putin was as surprising to political insiders as it was to the general public. President Boris Yeltsin, surrounded by a small inner circle nicknamed “The Family,” chose Putin as his successor based on his perceived loyalty and lack of ambitions.

Putin’s connections, including oligarch Boris Berezovsky, worked to craft his political image. Berezovsky created Unity, a political party with no clear ideology, but a powerful vehicle for promoting Putin. He also funded a flattering biography to bolster Putin’s image as a modest yet capable leader.

By 2000, Putin was suddenly thrust into power as acting president, with most Russian politicians still unclear who he really was.

Examples

• Yeltsin bypassed more experienced candidates, elevating Putin to the position of acting president in 1999.
• Berezovsky’s media empire spun stories of Putin as an understated patriot.
• World Economic Forum attendees in 2000 asked who Putin was, underscoring how unknown he was on the global stage.

5. The Chechen Crisis Solidified Putin's Grip

The violent backdrop of the Chechen wars served as a catalyst for Putin to consolidate power. Following a series of apartment bombings in 1999, the Kremlin blamed Chechen terrorists without presenting concrete proof. Yet, suspicions arose that the attacks were orchestrated by the FSB to justify war and elevate Putin's strongman persona.

Under this premise, Putin launched a brutal military campaign, emphasizing the need for centralized control. The state of emergency allowed him to introduce sweeping changes, appointing governors directly and restructuring voting protocols with party-focused ballots.

By painting himself as the only leader tough enough to counter terrorism, Putin cemented his authority.

Examples

• The mysterious Ryazan apartment bomb incident raised suspicions of government involvement.
• His military response to the Moscow theater hostage crisis caused 129 civilian deaths.
• After the Beslan school siege, he restructured Russia’s political system, citing “necessity” for stronger leadership.

6. Silencing Dissent Became Putin’s Trademark

After assuming power, Putin swiftly targeted opposition voices. From oligarchs critical of his leadership to independent media owners, dissent was quashed efficiently and often brutally. Even personal benefactors like Berezovsky found themselves cast aside when they stopped toeing the governmental line.

Whistleblowers were often met with deadly outcomes. Investigators like Alexander Litvinenko and journalists like Anna Politkovskaya either fled or ended up murdered, their work left woefully incomplete. This pattern established the chilling cost of speaking out in Putin’s Russia.

Examples

• Media mogul Gusinsky forfeited his assets to avoid fraud charges.
• Berezovsky, who grew critical of Putin, retreated into self-exile, dying under suspicious circumstances.
• Litvinenko’s mysterious poisoning in London pointed back to intelligence networks.

7. Corruption: A Key Feature of Putin’s Rule

Contrary to his early image of integrity, Putin entrenched a system of rampant corruption that benefited his closest allies. His wealth expanded indirectly through kickback schemes and by funneling valuable assets into the hands of loyalists.

Putin's personal wealth, thought to be stashed in foreign accounts, may exceed $40 billion. Reports of even petty theft, like a Super Bowl ring taken from Robert Kraft, epitomize his willingness to flaunt power on the smallest scale.

Examples

• He allegedly took cuts from charity donations meant for hospitals.
• His Black Sea mansion, built unashamedly, serves as a testament to stolen wealth.
• Oil company Yukos, once owned by Khodorkovsky, was redistributed to allies after his arrest.

8. Puppet Political Structures Masked Authoritarianism

While maintaining a veneer of democracy, Putin systematically eroded it. He manipulated systems by controlling media narratives, funding fake opposition parties, and creating election laws to favor his dominance.

Through heavy-handed reforms such as making governors appointive positions and extending presidential terms, Putin ensured an unbroken hold over Russian politics. His replacement of direct political candidates with party-based voting further diluted democracy.

Examples

• By 2001, federal TV networks had been absorbed into state operations.
• Parliamentary elections in 2011 revealed widespread tampering.
• Opposition leader Garry Kasparov’s public appearances were sabotaged through closures and lack of media coverage.

9. Putin’s Persona: Strongman or Charade?

Putin relied heavily on imagery to maintain his strongman image, often resorting to staged stunts and photo ops. Public relations campaigns depicted him wrestling wildlife or discovering historical artifacts, but many of these events were later exposed as fabricated.

Despite these grand gestures, Putin often revealed his cold, unempathetic demeanor during crises, such as his dismissive reaction to the Kursk submarine disaster.

Examples

• He staged the discovery of Greek artifacts while scuba diving.
• His reaction to the Kursk disaster showed more anger over equipment loss than human lives.
• Publicity photos of Putin tackling tigers were later debunked as staged events.

Takeaways

1. Always approach political narratives critically and seek multiple sources of information to form a balanced understanding.
2. Recognize how historical security structures, like Russia’s KGB, can shape leaders’ inner workings and public personas.
3. Realize that democracy is fragile and requires active participation and vigilance to remain intact.