This introduction to the Soviet world by one of the first “dissidents” may help in understanding its post-Soviet version and now, in 2014, the turnaround to I’m afraid to say what.

Very readable and available in excellent translation.

I think this book is based on Sinyavsky’s lectures in the Sorbonne, thus very little of the brain-paralizing academic style.

A summary of Andrey Sinyavsky’s life and work in The Independent >>

See my background reading section. Marerials that pile up there may appear vague and pointless to some. To others they will perhaps help identify principles and algorithms that explain a plethora of specifics.