The book works because Giuliano Da Empoli is a bright guy who thinks deeply about Europe and the darkness in men's souls, particularly middle-aged men who are consiglieres of men in power. Surkov himself is really not that interesting of a guy and, as the last four years have proven, Putin really is just a m... vertically-challenged, brain-rotten boomer obsessed with the US, the puppet show satirists were right. Baranov in the book is interesting because da Empoli projects a Dark Me onto him.