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"The Showman" by Simon Shuster is a biography and fly-on-the-wall account of Volodymyr Zelensky's journey from a comedian performing for Russian elites to becoming Ukraine's president. The book provides unprecedented access to Zelensky, his wife, top aides, and even his foes and associates of Vladimir Putin. It offers insights into Ukraine's fight against Russian imperialism, including the first account of how Ukraine was run from a nuclear bunker during the invasion. The author portrays Zelensky's transformation from a conciliatory politician to an uncompromising wartime leader, while also highlighting his use of martial law to suppress opposition and control the media. Despite its length, "The Showman" is considered the standard work on Zelensky and Ukraine's wartime politics. [Extracted from the article]

"Putin's Exiles" by Paul Starobin explores the stories of Russian refugees and dissidents who have fled their country since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The author suggests that these exiles, who come from diverse backgrounds and professions, could potentially be agents of change in Russia. The book highlights the historic parallels with the Bolshevik Revolution and emphasizes that Russia has not fully confronted its imperialist and oppressive past. While the exiles face challenges and divisions among themselves, the author remains hopeful that they may contribute to a better Russia once Putin's rule ends. [Extracted from the article]