Russian at a Glance: Phrase Book and Dictionary for Travelers

by Thomas R. Beyer

Release Date: February, 1991

Edition: Paperback

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This should be the "2nd" phrasebook you buy!

"Russian at a glance" is an excellent choice as a compact phrasebook to accompany you to Russia or other CIS countries. I have to be honest telling you this one is not as "worn" as our Lonely Planet phrasebook (my first choice). In spite of that, it definitely has a few great advantages.

The first difference you'll notice will be the addition of maps of Russia, Moscow and the Moscow Metro. If you are going to Moscow, that in itself could be a lifesaver (I dare you to find a small map anywhere on the street when you need one!)

It also incorporates a bit more helpful material such as passport control info and a brief cultural guide to each section- shopping, entertainment etc. The truth about traveling in Russia is that you will have a tough time finding much help once you get off the plane or train. The more you have thought through in advance or have at your fingertips the better.

Another strong point is a decent sized dictionary for a phrasebook. The phonetic pronunciation guide for each phrase is good as well. This book is small, but not ideal at 3.75 X 6 inches and around 240 pages. The book isn't thick (3/8"), but the pages are tightly bound and a little difficult to turn. You may find it just a bit awkward to keep around at times.

This will be a good choice for you, but honestly, this became our "number two" phrasebook during our 7 or so trips to Russia and Eastern Europe in the past two years. It was just a hair too big to keep in my pocket and we constantly opted for the Lonely Planet book instead. The lack of wear it received compared to the other speaks for itself.

Easy to follow pronunciation shown for every word!

This is an excellent phrasebook, with a very small form factor so that you can easily carry it in a coat pocket. The most useful feature is that words are shown in both Cyrillic and phonetic spellings so that you can pronounce the word or phrase with complete confidence. The emphasized syllable is capitalized. (Example: thank you = spaSIba) There's a nice dictionary in the back, and the grammar section is concise with easy rules. Great value for the money!