This is a sad story, since the entire time you know that Navalny was killed in an Arctic prison, for being a threat to Putin’s empire in Russia. The memoir begins during a typical plane flight, as Navalny was traveling across Russia as a presidential candidate, running against Putin. He was poisoned with Novichok, a lethal Russian chemical weapon nerve agent, and his wife Yulia managed to get him to a hospital in Germany, where they saved his life. After describing his coma and physical recovery, he and Yulia make the decision to return to Russia, to continue the fight against Putin. He is arrested immediately upon leaving the plane in Russia, never to be free again. The book continues with his life story, his experience growing up in the USSR, how he met and married Yulia, their two children, daughter, Dasha and son, Zahkar, his education as a lawyer, and the path his career and life took as he decided to fight against tyranny. He formed the Anti Corruption Foundation, a non-profit where he collected information on how Putin, his family and cronies were enriching themselves through stealing the natural resources of Russia, and buying yachts, palaces, and palatial homes overseas, while the Russian population suffered poverty, lack of opportunity, and poor health care. All evidence was published in his Internet blog, and later, a series of YouTube videos.

Navalny is a very charming person. He has a wonderful sense of humor, very likable and intelligent. It is easy to see how he engaged with all ages at his rallies across the country, and would be considered a threat to Putin. Navalny was repeatedly thrown in prison for made-up charges. He was a firm believer in the inevitability of true democracy in Russia, of freedom, fair elections, all to give the wealth and opportunity back to the Russian people. He was willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of Russia and her people. He felt there were many people who felt as he did, and he just needed to encourage them to not be afraid, to fight for that freedom, and he was willing to be their leader.

The last portion of the memoir is a prison journal. He was allowed to have pen and paper for one hour each day. He managed to get some material smuggled out with his lawyer, but it is known that much of his writing was confiscated by the authorities. We see closed, in-prison trials on made-up charges, lengthening his sentence to thirty years. Navalny realizes that either he will die in prison, or Putin will fall, but probably the former. He discusses the last time he talks to Yulia during a prison visit, and how they are able to accept the likely outcome of him dying a political prisoner in Putin’s prison. They have a beautiful love story. Navalny is a singularly courageous freedom fighter. I wish he was able to see his beloved Russia free. This is a must-read.