Looking for book suggestions on 2 topics

[Metacomet]

1. The "everyday" life in the USSR. This is what most fascinates me about history, how people lived/worked/shopped/entertained themselves day in and day out. Any good books on this topic?

2. The Soviet space program. How it operated etc.


Thanks people.

[ComradeOm]

Try Fitzpatrick's Everyday Stalinism for an overview of daily life during the 1930s

[Ismail]

Challenge to Apollo is seemingly recognized as the best book on the Soviet space program from its origins to 1974. It can be downloaded in PDF format here:

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt2.pdf

Fitzpatrick's book is indeed good. There is also Popular Opinion in Stalin's Russia by Sarah Davies. I know a website where you can get both in PDF but it's down at the moment. For a controversial take on popular opinion during the Great Purges in particular there is Robert W. Thurston's Life and Terror in Stalin's Russia.

[Metacomet]

Challenge to Apollo is seemingly recognized as the best book on the Soviet space program from its origins to 1974. It can be downloaded in PDF format here:

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt2.pdf

Fitzpatrick's book is indeed good. There is also Popular Opinion in Stalin's Russia by Sarah Davies. I know a website where you can get both in PDF but it's down at the moment. For a controversial take on popular opinion during the Great Purges in particular there is Robert W. Thurston's Life and Terror in Stalin's Russia.


Thanks a bunch. I'll keep my eye out next time I'm at the library. Might start reading that PDF (can't read a lot on the computer, kills my eyes) If all else fails I'll print in pieces as i read.