This work investigates the systemic decay and geopolitical tensions within the Soviet Union during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Andrew Nagorski, a veteran foreign correspondent for Newsweek, utilizes his firsthand experience as a journalist stationed in Moscow to document the contradictions of the Soviet state. He examines the disconnect between official party rhetoric and the lived reality of citizens, ranging from the corruption in elite vacation spots to the widespread public skepticism regarding the military intervention in Afghanistan.

Experts and historians frequently cite this work as a valuable primary source for understanding the atmosphere of the late Brezhnev era. Readers often note the clarity of the author's reporting and the effectiveness of his journalistic approach in capturing the decline of the Soviet system.