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Genre: History / Slavic Studies / Political Science
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5

Book Review:
This book is an essential collection for anyone seeking to understand the complex tapestry of socialist Yugoslavia. Dennison Rusinow was not a distant academic but a long-time resident and keen observer, and his writing reflects this unique, on-the-ground perspective. The essays, selected by editor Gale Stokes, cover pivotal decades from the 1960s to the nation's collapse, exploring everything from high-stakes political purges to the cultural significance of a Serbian holiday feast.

The ''oblique insights'' of the title are the book's greatest strength. Rusinow masterfully uses everyday life—like the arrival of an American-style supermarket—to illuminate larger political and social shifts. While the subject matter deals with the country's tragic fate, the prose is accessible and immediate, reading like insightful journalism with the depth of historical analysis. This is not a dry textbook but a vivid portrait of a unique country that defied the Cold War binary, making it a profoundly informative and readable resource.