Gregory Feifer

Gregory Feifer is a critically acclaimed journalist and author.

His book "Russians: The People Behind the Power" (Twelve, 2014) examines the influence of social behavior, culture and history on the country’s political developments.

Feifer reported across the former Soviet Union and Eastern and Central Europe for more than a decade. As NPR’s bureau chief in Moscow, he covered Russia’s resurgence under Vladimir Putin and the effects of the country’s vast new oil wealth on an increasingly nationalistic society as well as Moscow's rekindling of a new Cold War-style opposition to the West. His other books include "The Great Gamble" (HarperCollins, 2009), a history of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and "Spy Handler" (Basic Books, 2005) co-written with former KGB colonel Victor Cherkashin, who recruited the Soviet agents Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen.

Feifer’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and other publications. Educated at Harvard University, he is executive director of the Institute of Current World Affairs in Washington, where he was chief editor of the anthology "Around the World in 100 Years." He’s currently working on a book about the Russian politician Boris Nemtsov.