Book Review: Cigarettes and Soviets: Smoking in the USSR by Tricia Starks

Arriving at this book with a deep understanding of cigarettes and their production in the Middle East, but limited knowledge of the Soviets, I was pleasantly surprised by Tricia Starks’ beautifully written and well-documented study. Cigarettes and Soviets delves into the intricate world of tobacco consumption and production in the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1991, with an epilogue discussing post-Soviet smokers. Starks skilfully examines the multifaceted relationship between the state, production, profit, health, culture, gender, biology, use, image, and users during different periods of Soviet history. Rather than attempting an exhaustive history of tobacco, the book focuses on specific aspects that illuminate the socioeconomic, cultural, and political dynamics of the Soviet era. Starks also offers intriguing insights into the unique deviations of Soviet smoking from the global narrative. Overall, I found the book to be a captivating and enlightening read.