Peter Savodnik

In this book, Peter Savodnik examines Lee Harvey Oswald's time living in Minsk (then part of the Soviet Union) in order to gain insight into his motivations and frame of mind. Mr. Savodnik makes three arguments: First, the Oswald acted alone when he assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Second, that time spent on various conspiracy theories would have been (and still can be ) better spent studying why Oswald killed the President, especially in the context of the Cold War. Third, that Oswald's time in the Soviet Union is key to answering that question.

The book is well researched and written in an engaging style. I sometimes wondered how much speculation the author was engaging in while trying to determine Mr. Oswald's state of mind, but it is clear that Oswald's early life and his time in Minsk played a major role in his attitudes and beliefs. It was interesting to read more about this lesser-known part of Oswald's life,… (more)