This book is a must for readers that like a no-non sense approach to history.Ms Applebaum tells the story of the russian Gulags with integrity and without masquerading the truth.She presents what happens in those Gulags without being to cruel in details.Her book give us a fantastic voyage thru the labor camps in a way that you feel inside the camp. She doesnt leave any stone unturned.You can read about the prisoners,the guards and people in positions of authority.You read what was the sentiment and feelings of those who were captured and sent to these camps.I especially enjoyed the last three chapters which talks about the reaction of the prsioners when they were released and how the russian society received those former prisioners...Kudos to Ms Applebaum for a phenomenal work