Anne Applebaum is an American author, journalist, political scientist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. Her books explore topics surrounding Communism and the advancement of civilization in Central and Eastern Europe. She’s best known for her thought-provoking commentary on political and civil issues.
Her vast knowledge of foreign affairs has made her one of the leading experts in international relations today. Her books provide readers with a fresh look at mundane political issues. Continue reading to discover some of the best books by Anne Applebaum to see if they are something to add to your reading list.
Anne Applebaum’s biography
Anne Applebaum was born on July 25, 1964, in Washington, D.C., where she spent most of her early years. However, her lineage trees back to Belarus, where her ancestors lived before moving to America. When she was a teenager, she moved to England.
Applebaum returned to America and went to Yale University, where she learned more about Soviet history and graduated with a degree in history and literature. She then pursued a master’s degree in international relations at the London School of Economics.
Her journalism career began in Poland as a correspondent for The Economist, where she explored the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. She was later promoted to the position of deputy editor of The Spectator.
Throughout her career, Applebaum has worked in various positions, including:
- Member of the editorial board for The Washington Post
- Lecturer at Harvard and Columbia Universities
- Washington Post columnist
- Political editor of The Evening Standard
- Professor of Practice at the London School of Economics
- Columnist for Slate and several other British newspapers
Her work has appeared in various magazines, including:
- The Wall Street Journal
- The New York Review of Books
- Foreign Policy
- Foreign Affairs
- The New Republic
Currently, Applebaum works as a staff writer for The Atlantic. She’s also co-director of Arena, a program that explores 21st-century propaganda and disinformation at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Furthermore, she serves as a senior fellow at the Agora Institute.
Applebaum has also received many awards throughout her career. Among them are:
- Winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for the book Gulag: A History
- National Book Award Finalist for Gulag: A History
She’s married to the Polish politician and journalist Radosław Sikorski, and the couple has two children: Tadeusz and Aleksander.
Best Anne Applebaum books
Here are some of the best Anne Applebaum books according to reader reviews on various sites:
Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine
This book gives readers a new perspective on the Holodomor, also known as the Great Famine. In 1929, Joseph Stalin initiated the policy of agricultural collectivization, marking the beginning of the second revolution in Russia.
The policy coerced millions of peasants to relocate to collective farms. The result was one of the deadliest famines in European history. The Soviet Union recorded that the famine led to more than three million deaths.
In the book, Applebaum shows that this was a political move by the Russian government to eliminate the Ukrainian population.
Gulag: A History
This extensively documented book gives readers a historical account of the Gulag system. Gulag was the name given to the massive networks of forced labor camps throughout the Soviet Union. It was responsible for the imprisonment, suffering, and death of millions during the Stalinist era.
The book draws from rich sources, including memoirs, official interviews, and archives. This account stands out from all others as it explores the Gulag system’s impact on post-Soviet Russia.
Between East and West: Across the Borderlands of Europe
This book is a travelogue that narrates Applebaum’s journey across the newly independent borderlands of Europe. Through her journey, Applebaum helps readers understand the impact of political turmoil on a personal level.
During her travel, Applebaum also encounters a vast array of religions, cultures, and national aspirations, all vying for dominance in the region.
Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe
This book provided a thought-provoking account of the establishment of Communism in Eastern Europe after World War II. Applebaum skillfully traces the region’s descent into Stalinism and analyzes the impact of the Soviet Union’s policies on the citizens of Eastern Europe.
The book sources from personal accounts, historical analyses, and archives giving readers an in-depth understanding of everything that occurred during this dark period in Eastern Europe.
From a Polish Country House Kitchen
This cookbook gives readers a glimpse into some of the most delicious traditional Polish dishes. Applebaum is a Polish-American journalist who has lived periodically in Poland, so it’s only natural that she would have a few tricks up her sleeve on how to create some outstanding Polish cuisine. Throughout the book, she also explores the history and origin of various Polish dishes.
If you’re a foodie and love to try out dishes from around the world, you should definitely add this book to your reading list.
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FAQ
How old is Anne Applebaum?
Anne Applebaum was born in June 1964, so she’s 58 years old.
When was Twilight of Democracy published?
Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism was published on July 21, 2020. It was on The New York Times best-seller list.
What is the name of Anne Applebaum’s top-selling book?
The name of Anne Applebaum’s top-selling book is Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine.
What is Anne Applebaum’s Twitter handle?
Anne Applabaum’s Twitter handle is @anneapplebaum.
Where did Anne Applebaum live before the fall of the Berlin Wall?
Anne Applebaum lived in Warsaw, Poland, before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
