J. L. Black’s latest work is a rich and carefully crafted attempt to expose the textures of Russia’s perceptions of itself and its place in the world. The book is divided into two parts. The first is a chronologically organized story of Putin’s efforts to find a niche for Russia in the world. The second part focuses on Russia’s attention to specific regions of the world and types of international activity. Based almost entirely on Russian sources we are reminded that to understand Russian foreign policy-making, we must attempt to view international situations through the prism of Russian analysts and officials. Only then can we draw conclusions based on both our and their perceptions of current events and visions for the future.