The greatest advantage (to me) is that this book is very well written and quite easy to read - I'm not sure if this attributable primarily to the original writing by Simis or the translation by Edwards and Schneider, but it is the case. The book primarily consists of anectdotes highlighting the corruption (with an emphasis on bribe-taking) found in the old USSR. A primary theme is that of the two worlds that existed in the country; the government, and the criminal underground. For a person with an interest in modern Russia, this book may provide insight into the history and formation of the criminal world that now alledgedly wields great power in the former USSR. This is a wonderful book that demonstrates what happens when communism is put in action.