In "The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep," David Satter dives deep into the heart of modern Russia's enigmatic and often chilling political landscape. With unparalleled insight, Satter unveils a narrative that reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a chapter from recent history. Central to his exploration is the audacious claim that the 1999 apartment bombings, which catalyzed Vladimir Putin's rise to power and the subsequent invasion of Chechnya, were not the acts of Chechen terrorists but rather a meticulously orchestrated plot by the Russian FSB security police. Through meticulous research and unwavering courage, Satter exposes the underbelly of a regime where the line between the government and criminality blurs, challenging the reader to confront the unsettling realities of a power that operates beyond the reaches of accountability. Beyond the explosive revelations, Satter's narrative is a sobering reflection on the nature of power and the veneer of democracy in a country where the truth is often stranger—and more frightening—than fiction. As he traces the path from Boris Yeltsin's tumultuous presidency to Putin's calculated ascendancy and relentless suppression of dissent, Satter paints a portrait of a nation where the past casts long shadows over the present, and the implications reach far beyond its borders. "The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep" is not just a testament to Satter's journalistic prowess; it is a crucial discourse on the dangers lurking within the corridors of Russian power, serving as a stark reminder of the high stakes at play on the global stage.