First Person: An Astonishingly Frank Self-Portrait by Russia's President Paperback – May 5, 2000

Once upon a time, there was a belief in America that anyone could rise from the humblest of beginnings -- such as Abraham Lincoln, born in a cabin he built with his own hands -- to become President.In Russia, without political opinion polls, focus groups or special interest funding, Vladimir Putin rose from a rat-infested cold water apartment to become President of his nation. This book is about a man who spent his professional life assessing people and situations, and thus is not afraid to make tough decisions. In Russia, for the immediate future, tough decisions are needed.Putin's hero, Czar Peter the Great, used his regal power to make Russia a great, rich and powerful nation. Putin intends to provide similar dynamic leadership with democratic principles. An example may be Singapore, a mix of authority, discipline and prosperity.The question-and-answer format of this book is based on six four-hour interviews by three journalists. Putin admits he was, ". . . a pure and utterly successful product of Soviet patriotic education." He was smart, dedicated, hard-working and very good in his chosen career with the KGB. He wasn't a old cloak-and-dagger "sneak and peek" spy; he spent his time reading reports, assessing East German officials and skillfully pushing paper.Trained as a lawyer, he was appalled at how Communist officials assumed they were the law simply because they were Party members. Putin was never a dissident, he was the ultimate Organization Man whose goal was a richer, happier, stronger and freer Russia. He worked hard to become an insider, and as such saw the total incompetence of the Party.His wife says, "He always lived for the sake of something. There are some people who work hard for money, but he works hard for ideas." When first married, they had a 10-foot by 12-foot room in his parents' 275-square foot apartment. Try and think of any American president since Lincoln -- another idea man -- who lived in any similar conditions.Like Lincoln, whose greatest idea was "to preserve the Union," the prime challenge for Putin is to preserve Russia. His practical experience taught him that a free market economy is far superior to the chaos, conniving and cronyism of communism. He says the Soviets failed because they ". . . had a terminal disease without a cure -- a paralysis of power."Two things are clear; Putin is not afraid to act, and he will never betray Russia. He learned from his father's World War II experience, ". . . there are always a lot of mistakes made in war. That's inevitable. But when you are fighting, if you keep thinking that everybody around you is always making mistakes, you'll never win. You have to take a pragmatic attitude." He approaches life in that fashion.His political heroes also rebuilt shattered nations. Charles DeGaulle saved France from itself; while in Germany, Ludwig Erhard succeeded because ". . . his entire conception for the reconstruction of the country began with the creation of new moral values for society." The Soviet collapse created a similar challenge for Putin. This book explains what his "effective authority" is all about. It's the best book available this year about a politician with new ideas.This is a refreshingly candid portrait of the soul of the new President of Russia, a fascinating contrast to "personality politics" that mask any inner feelings of American politicians. Putin trusts the Russian people enough to be honest; our politicians hire spin doctors to create "centrist" or "moving to the right" or "compassionate conservative" images. The contrast is ominous.Then, stop and think. Does America really need tough, effective authority? Or are we better off with superficial candidates and trivial issues? If Putin succeeds, he will outdo Peter the Great. In America, do we need a great crusade? or merely to be left alone? Another Lincoln? or a Shrub?

I'm Gabrielle Chana (Gail Chord Schuler), the author of a Vladimir Putin biography The Forbidden Abyss (Part One: 1990 to 2011), The Forbidden Abyss: Part One: 1990 to 2011 (Volume 1), and The Forbidden Abyss. Based on my own relationship with Vladimir, I find this account of Vladimir Putin interesting, but shallow. I believe that Vladimir was constrained (for political and personal reasons) from exposing to the world his heart and soul. It's a shame, because Vladimir's a great man. I just wish his self-portrait could have shown the world what a pioneer he is, and what a trailblazer he is, this is why he is so attacked by the Western press. He is a very passionate and direct lover, but not a womanizer, and was good to his wife whose name was Larisa, not Lyudmila (see my book "The Forbidden Abyss"). What I most dislike about this portrayal is that he is depicted as a man so devoted to his career and ambitions that he would neglect his wife. The book claims that his wife cried a whole day when she learned he became Russian President, because she knew her private life with him would be over, and that Vladimir himself didn't tell her that he became President, that she found out from her girlfriend.I believe others wrote this book, and that some American political leaders extorted Vladimir into releasing this version of his life story. The most inaccurate parts of this book are about his family life. Some depictions about his family life are absurd and absolutely unfair to Vladimir. Come now. Why would a wife cry when she learns her husband has become President? Doesn't that strike you as a strange and inconsistent statement? The most accurate part of the book (in my opinion) are his political views and his views about Chechnya. I believe that his wife cried when she learned he became Russian President, not because she feared her private life with him would be over; but because when she found out, she was dying. I would describe Vladimir as very direct, passionate, highly intelligent, full of depths and longings, and who blazes his own trail in love and in life. Though he's very pragmatic, underneath it all he's a dreamer and can be very romantic with unabashed directness and daring, and with a devotion that many think him incapable of. This man has inner depths that he only reveals to his woman. I think there's some bad translation in this book. For instance, his family is described as talking frankly about their father's temper. And yet, in another section, his wife mentioned that he never raised his voice, though he could answer sharply. These contradictions in the book indicate that not all aspects of this book are truthful.My experiences with Vladimir seem to indicate that Vladimir's enemies have skewed this book to make him appear cold, ambitious and uncaring. To sum it up, the average person who deals with all Vladimir deals with, would be far worse than Vladimir. I feel he's very direct and often has a "take it or leave it" approach to how he presents himself, this could be misconstrued as a temper. He doesn't play games (unless he's intimidated)--he's incredibly honest for a politician. And I don't respect Vladimir when he's intimidated. When he's brave, it gets him in trouble, but a head of state is garbage (like most of them are), if all he cares about is to pander to public opinion and the press. If you try to cage Vladimir in (especially if you're up to no good), his language can get a bit salty. But at least you know where you stand with him, unlike some politicians who are real snakes. I almost gave this a three-star rating, but, because Vladimir wrote this (sort of), I decided to give it a four-star. But the Vladimir I know is not portrayed in First Person.Go to the YouTube channel and look for a video entitled "Vladimir Putin on his Bear (July 2013)".