Includes bibliographical references and index.

ONE Welcome to Moscow -- TWO Geography and Culture -- The Origins of Russia -- The Cold North -- Distance and Isolation -- Communalism -- Nationality -- Religion -- THREE Culture and Character -- Egalitarianism -- Caution and Conservatism -- Pessimism -- Extremes and Contradictions -- The Russian Soul -- Big Is Beautiful -- Women-the Stronger Sex -- Messianism -- Rebellion and Revolt -- Westernizers and Slavophiles -- FOUR State and Society -- The Russian Heritage -- Statism -- The Bureaucracy -- Crime and Corruption -- The Mafia -- The KGB -- The Law -- Order and Disorder -- School Days, Rule Days -- FIVE Personal Encounters -- The City -- Friends and Familiar Faces -- At Home -- The Toast -- Alcohol, the Other "-ism" -- Vranyo, the Russian Fib -- Nyekulturno -- Time and Patience -- The Russian Language -- Misunderstandings -- Communication Differences -- The Telephone -- Russians and Americans -- SIX Negotiating with Russians -- The Art of Negotiation -- Procedures and Tactics -- The Endgame -- The Paperwork -- Verification -- Expect the Unexpected -- SEVEN Seeing the Real Russia -- EIGHT Whither Russia?