Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Peter Pomerantsev |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia is a 2014 publication by Peter Pomerantsev that explores the political shifts and media environment in Russia during the early 21st century.
Background
Miriam Elder from The New York Times highlighted how Pomerantsev’s experience in reality television influenced his viewpoint, emphasizing the theatrical elements and absence of genuine authenticity within Russian institutions.
Work
Drawing upon his tenure in Russia’s reality TV sector throughout the 2000s, Pomerantsev combines journalistic investigation with personal narrative. He presents portraits of individuals who either thrived or struggled amid the country’s changing political context. Interestingly, he seldom mentions Vladimir Putin explicitly, implying either Putin’s dominating presence or the enigmatic nature of his persona. Tony Wood of The Guardian remarks that the book connects the mental and emotional roots of modern Russia to the disorder and turmoil that followed the Soviet Union's disintegration.
Reception
Megan McDonogh from the Washington Post characterized the book as both "compelling and disquieting."
See also
- This Is Not Propaganda, a 2019 work by the same author
Further reading
- O'Rourke, P. J. "The Land of Magical Thinking: Inside Putin's Russia," World Affairs, 177(6), 73–79, 2015.
- Yaffa, Joshua. "Putin's Hard Turn: Ruling Russia in Leaner Times," Foreign Affairs, 94(3), 128–135, 2015.