First published 2024
Time correspondent Simon Shuster takes readers inside the presidential compound in Kyiv as Russian forces invade Ukraine. Shuster had unprecedented access to President Zelensky and his inner circle during the crisis. The book reveals how Zelensky, a former comedian turned wartime leader, navigates the chaos of invasion while trying to rally international support. Through intimate scenes in bunkers and emergency meetings, Shuster shows the pressure on Zelensky as he transforms from entertainer to symbol of resistance. The narrative captures the tension between Zelensky's public persona and private struggles as he faces an existential threat to his country. This account reveals the human cost of leadership during wartime.
Genres: biography, history, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism, current-affairs
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: public-persona, transformation
Setting: Kyiv, Ukraine
Period: 2022
384 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow
Content warnings: war