This book is an interesting, fast-paced tour through the and ideas that shaped Russian thought in the 19th and 20th Century. The style is at times expository, at times anecdotal, but never overly difficult. It's a great tool for students of Russian history, politics and culture.

For me personally the most interesting discussion in this book is the place of religious symbolism in Russian social and political thought. Berdyaev draws some interesting parallels between the Slavophile and Liberal visions for Russia that help to shed light on the Revolutionary vision that defined the nation in the 20th Century. The book remains relevant to post-Soviet Russia as a guide to the intellectual heritage of current Russian political and social thought. It is also an excellent companion to the study of Russian literature.

Also valuable is Berdyaev's discussion of the influence of 19th Century German philosophy on the Russian intellectual tradition and his analysis of the mystical ("religious", if you will) aspects of Russian atheism.

Use this book as a starting point for your study of modern Russia, but don't make it your only stop in the journey. Treat it rather as a "bibliography in expository prose" for further investigation.