Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Republics.

This article provides summaries of four recent books on various topics related to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The first book, "Domestic Service in the Soviet Union" by Alissa Klots, explores the issue of domestic service in the Soviet state and its struggle with inequality and exploitation. The second book, "High Caucasus" by Tom Parfitt, is a travelogue that recounts the author's journey through the Russian North Caucasus, highlighting both the beauty of the region and its history of conflict. The third book, "The Eastern International" by Masha Kirasirova, examines the Soviet Union's efforts to cultivate relationships with Arab, Central Asian, and Jewish communities in its pursuit of leadership in global anticolonial movements. The final book, "The Wrong Stuff" by John Strausbaugh, reexamines the Soviet Union's initial lead in the space race and the risks and failures of its space program. [Extracted from the article]