Lars T. Lih is an independent scholar who has written widely on Soviet history. His books include Bread and Authority in Russia, 1914-1921 (1990), the English-language edition of The Stalin-Molotov Letters, 1925-1936 (1995) and Lenin Rediscovered: 'What is to be Done?' In Context (2006).

Lars T Lihs short biography is hardly Why Lenin was right, although it is no less dramatic for that. Lih advances some seldom-heard historical and political arguments in an unassuming, informative way . . . . This excellent book advises us not to congratulate ourselves on our hindsight. - Owen Hatherley, The GuardianLihs book is a stimulating and challenging interpretation of Lenin as a person and a politician . . . well worth reading - European History Quarterlyan excellent short biography that will help to bring a more historically accurate picture of Lenin and the meaning of his lifes work to a wide readership . . . The book is written in a highly engaging and vivid, at times witty, manner. - Slavonic and Eastern European Reviewin offering a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of Lenins philosophy and his emotional connections to it that contradicts theworry about workers thesis, this book offers far more to scholars than may be found in some of the larger biographies of Lenin. Additionally, Lihs pithy argument and the succinctness of the book ensure that the subject is presented in an accessible manner, offering a comprehensible reading on Lenin to scholars and non-experts alike. - European Review of Historya very valuable and stimulating interpretation of [Lenins] key ideas which, being clearly written and challenging, will be of benefit to beginners and specialists alike. - Revolutionary RussiaThe book is aimed at a general audience. It is well written, accessible, and probably the snappiest book on Lenin in the English language. - The NEP Era: Soviet Russia 1921-1928Lenin is a lucid, sizzling and witty account of the life of the Bolshevik leader . . . Lihs Lenin is a valuable (and well written) biography that compounds accessibility with scholarly insight and should therefore be part of the library of every person that has some interest in left-wing politics. - Socialist HistoryAny book that rejects the received wisdom that Lenin was intolerant, cruel and tyrannical, thus laying the basis for the inevitable rise of Stalinism, is to be welcomed. As such, Lars T Lihs concise biography of Lenin is a useful addition. - Socialist ReviewThis is an important contribution to our understanding of Lenin . . . . This slim volume is a welcome contribution to the battle to combat the lies and myths of both the Stalinist tradition and the right wing opponents of Bolshevism. The scholarly research which informs it makes it a valuable addition to anyones library. - Socialist AlternativeLihs biography is both an excellent introduction to Lenin and a provocative interpretation that will challenge those familiar with his life and work. - New Socialist, CanadaLars T Lihs excellent short biography of Lenin is a welcome addition to the serious socialist literature on classical Marxist history. Although it contains some nuggets from the archives and some references to interesting but lesser known contemporary sources, the books chief merits are its strongly contextual interpretation of Lenins life and its readable style. - Workers LibertyThis book is a very serious contribution to our understanding of Lenin, his political ideas and his revolutionary practice. - CounterfireA carefully drawn, subtle yet compelling portrait of a revolutionary. This is probably the best and most reliable treatment we have had on Lenin in many decades, and it will fill a fair gap for scholars, students and the general public. - Professor Ronald Suny, University of Michigan, author of The Soviet Experiment: Russia, the USSR and the Successor StatesA scholarly, highly accessible book. It uniquely links Lenin to a political project for human liberation . . . the best treatment of Lenin and his ideas I have seen in recent years. - Immanuel Ness, Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, City University of New York