Black Earth: A Journey through Russia After the Fall

BLACK EARTH is captivating. In no small way, this book opens your chest and reaches deep into your heart. With passages reminiscent of John McPhee and even Steinbeck where writers' passions nearly cause the subjects to jump off the page - Meier lyrically weaves stories of both journalist and witness. The result is a tribute to the people who walk the land which is Russia today.

Meier is on an extraordinary adventure which he shares unselfishly with the reader. Undaunted by the scale of the landscape, his book maps a living portrait of today's revolution of the Russian society with remarkable stories underscored by poignant photographs to bring it home.

Whether read cover to cover or story to story, BLACK EARTH reads true.

Passionately written, this intricately woven tale of Russia --from the war zone of Chechnya to the gulags of Norilsk and beyond, to the Far East and to inside the psyche of political crime in Petersburg --Meier brought Russia together for me in a way never before imaginable. I couldn't recommend this book more -- whether you are taking a trip there or working there, (as I have often over the past decade), or simply just interested in Russia and her fate. I found Meier's unique technique of weaving the narrative a beautiful echo of the nuances of the country at large. I loved this book.. Enjoy!

If your down, out and chronically depressed this book is for you. The book was written from an extremely negative point of view. The author is a reporter following the same format as the first few minutes of the evening news. One sad story or tragedy after the other. I don't recall even one positve or optimistic comment.
The way the author writes is annoying. He starts talking about a particular subject, then with out warning starts on a different subject. Eventually half way through the chapter he gets back to discussing the origin topic. With all the authors travels and research this book had great potential. I do not recommend this book at all.