20 Best Books to Learn Russian for Beginners to Advanced Learners

Are you looking for the best books to learn Russian? You’ve come to the right place.

Maybe you have watched dreamily the art of Russian ballet unfold during a Bolshoi Theater performance. Maybe the words of Tolstoy and Chekhov intrigue you or maybe you have fallen into the abyss of Russian rap. Whether you seek to embark on an exploration of the Russian steppe or want to expand your language palette beyond saying hello, learning Russian stands a mighty but exciting challenge!

If you’re not sure where to start, no worries! We’ve formed a list of the best books to learn Russian as a guide to beginners, intermediate and seasoned learners alike.  

Best books to learn the Russian alphabet  

Generally, the Cyrillic script comes with heavy baggage. Pronouncing 33 Russian alphabet letters, learning to write, and becoming comfortable with the soft and hard sounds of Russian digraphs are just a few honorable mentions.

Here are three Russian textbooks that can ease your assimilation into the Cyrillic alphabet.

1. Teach Yourself Beginner’s Russian Script

A favorite amongst novices, this book introduces a great method to learn how to write and pronounce Cyrillic script. Each chapter is accompanied by dialogue and exercises with phrases that can come in handy whether you’re at a restaurant, a metro station, or need to ask directions in Russian. 

Best features & tips:

• A must-have for self-taught beginners.
• Compartmentalization of pronunciation and writing.
• Best value for money as a starter’s guide.
• Revision quizzes to re-assess your knowledge.
• Perfect for learners who plan to visit Russia.

2. Жили были… 12 уроков русского языка. Базовый уровень. Учебник

This is the first book that helped me become familiar with the Russian “azbuka” (alphabet). It contains multiple grammar exercises, audio supplements, and a small workbook to help you structure step-by-step the cursive form of the Russian letters. 

Best features & tips:

• Perfect for absolute beginners and children.
• Comprehensive tables with basic grammar rules.
• A great supplement to your main coursebook.
• Authentic conversations.
• Available in PDF format.

3. Russian for Dummies

Having cold feet at the daunting task of teaching yourself Russian? Then this is the book for you!

This all-encompassing beginner’s guide is a perfect option to grasp the basics: learn how to write in Cyrillic; count; confess to your friend how many pounds of Borscht you ate; talk about your hobbies and much more.

Together with humor-driven text and poignant illustrations, you will get thrown fun-facts about Russian culture. For example, you will learn about common phrases, favorite holidays, traditional dishes, and things that you should never do in Russia.

Best features & tips:

• A user-friendly format, conversational tone, easy to follow.
• Focus placed on oral and listening skills.
• Textbook supplemented by audio material with narrations from native speakers.
• Gives you a taste of Russian traditions and customs.
• Can serve as a complement to your main coursebook as it is mainly written in English. 

Your essential Russian dictionaries

4. Лексический минимум по русскому языку как иностранному. Элементарный уровень. Общее владение

This freely available dictionary is the first out of the six-part collection of dictionaries published by the Russian Ministry of Education. It contains the fundamental vocabulary for the A1 ТЭУ level certification, translated into English, Spanish, German, French, and Chinese.  

Best features & tips:

• Translations in multiple languages.
• A vocabulary bank for learners who want to pursue a ТРКИ certification.

5. English-Russian, Russian-English Dictionary

This is almost exhaustive dictionary that can be your Sancho Panza when you are trying to kill those grammar giants (which are just harmless modal verbs). 

Best features & tips:

• Multiple concise definitions provided for each entry with different connotations.
• Guidance to conjugation and declension. 
• Annotations with both the imperfective and perfective forms of the verb.
• Includes words with the same root or stem and provides the entry’s genitive form.

Best Russian textbooks for beginners and intermediates

6. Русский язык : 5 элементов. Уровень А1 (элементарный)

Once upon a time, my path of learning Russian began with this textbook, filled with real-life conversations, several basic grammar, and vocab exercises. A very neat little appendix can be found at the end of the book, containing all the phrases and vocabulary you encountered in each chapter.

I promise that the humor and the Russian cultural references that permeate every text, whether it is referring to Tatiana Day or the number of roses that are appropriate for a funeral, will weird you out and make your first baby steps into this world a lot more exciting. 

The book is organized with conventional teaching structures. Exercises include writing essays; completing audio tasks; learning and practicing vocabulary and grammar separately.

Best features & tips:

• Suitable for learners who have not learned another foreign language.
• Ideal if you are accustomed to classroom teaching.
• A life-saver for deciphering the six Russian cases, with plenty of oral and written exercises. 
• Entirely written in Russian.
• Best used with the help of a Russian tutor.

7. The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners

Plunging into the unknown sphere of teaching yourself Russian? Then this can be your grammar bazooka. A no-nonsense textbook with concise grammar rules, readings, and exercises. Whether you are a novice or well-versed learner, this book can help you revise the basics and build your intuition when using different grammatical structures.  

Best features & tips:

• Straight-forward with digestible instructions.
• Suitable for self-taught beginners.
• Focus placed on grammar and reading.
• Ideally combined with apps like Duolingo or Memrise for listening practice.

8. Sputnik: An Introductory Russian Language Course

If you have explored a couple of beginners’ textbooks and feel ready to dedicate yourself to the glory of the Russian language, this holistic option, packed with listening, grammar, and vocab exercises, is one of your go-to books to learn Russian. 

Best features & tips:

• Engaging voice actors with clear pronunciation.
• Regarding pronunciation, a small tip from a tortured soul…Always make sure to pronounce the verb “писать” correctly. According to the placement of the accent, it either means “to write” or “to pee”. I learned that the hard way.
• A great option if you enjoy interactive online activities.
• Automatically checked exercises that help with listening and speaking.

9. Дорога в Россию 3. Учебник русского языка (первый уровень)

This three-part series (here showcasing the third book) introduces you to a more flexible way of becoming familiar with the language by immersing yourself in the history and culture of Russia.

The small excerpts in Book Three, for example, describing the life of Chehov, Gilyarovsky, and Shukshin, three figures that connect Tzarist Russia with pre-revolutionary times and the era of the Soviet Union, provide you with context to the cultural fabric of the country while making the grueling experience of studying present and past participles a little more colorful. 

Best features & tips:

• Suitable for intermediate learners who are comfortable reading text without accented syllables.
• A non-conventional teaching approach to familiarize the learner with Russian culture through illustrations and text. A great companion to fortify your writing and reading skills.
• The creepy and chaotic energy of that book-cover will always bring a smile to your face, even when you are studying the exceptions of the instrumental case.

10. Поехали!

The newest version of this volume, with its assigned workbook sold separately, represented for me one of the most modern Russian textbooks for foreigners. The book is filled with eye-catching illustrations as well as various classic writing, listening, vocabulary, and grammar exercises. Overall, it creates a conducive atmosphere for introducing gradually new vocabulary and learning new topics. 

Best features & tips:

• Entirely in Russian, so suitable for tutored-beginners.
• A golden mix between non-conventional and traditional teaching. 
• Numerous audio exercises, depictions filled with everyday oral expressions.

Best grammar books to learn Russian

Russian grammar can undoubtedly be an enigma. There are only three tenses in Russian, but for some reason, each verb has a myriad of different forms. Is it “поговорить” or “сказать”, “исправлять” or “поправлять”? There are six cases, which are more than a handful, and you can never be sure about which preposition follows motion verbs.

I still find it traumatic sometimes to talk about verb prefixes and past participles. However, a solid grammar book can always offer a gateway of clarification, with a good comprehension of grammar rules offering an oasis of relief when you encounter a monster word like “защищающийся”. 

11. A Comprehensive Russian Grammar (4th Edition)

This is the Book of Books to learn Russian as a beginner. Understanding the nuances of Russian phraseology, picking the prepositional or accusative case, (or choosing between Moscow and Saint Petersburg) are decisions, above all, filled with uncertainty (and thoughts of whether Ekaterinburg is underrated). 

This book covers every subject you can imagine, organized in detailed chapters ranging from numerals to pronunciation, case usage, short and long-form adjectives, and verb conjugation.

Its ebook format also allows you to write down notes, highlight sections, and browse smoothly different chapters.

Best features & tips:

• Modern reference grammar book for absolute self-taught beginners, intermediate and advanced learners.
• Covers every topic related to the Russian language.
• Preferable for those who are accustomed to traditional teaching methods.
• Plenty of ebook features that appeal to tech-savvy folks.

12. Чистая грамматика (Russian Edition) 

My holy bible of Russian language learning, the fighter against prefix ambiguity, my cheat-sheet when I am lost between the instrumental and dative case, an indispensable verb thesaurus. It might be a dense book, but it can become your trusted friend when you’ve got some of that Russki lingo down and require a reliable Russian grammar book.

Best features & tips: 

• Comprehensive, organized into digestible chapters with multiple examples and exercises.
• A useful reference book for advanced learners.
• An abundant source of verbal vocabulary introduced in sentences with their prepositions.
• One of the best books to learn Russian grammar for those who prefer classroom learning. 

13. Грамматика русского языка в упражнениях и комментариях. Часть 1. Морфология

Given that you have achieved a certain level of Russian fluency and want to identify your strengths and weaknesses, this might prove to be a hidden gem with exercises covering almost every grammar you will encounter while learning Russian.  

Best features & tips:

• A great aid to learners preparing for the ТРКИ-2 or ТРКИ-3 exam. 
• Realistic examples from oral and written language.
• An excellent tool for advanced learners to maintain their level.
• Warning: English translations are not provided. 

Best audiobooks to learn Russian

Perhaps you are more of an auditory type or are looking for an audiobook to fit your main Russian textbook. Russian is a language overflowing with phonetic nuances and accent subtleties. Therefore, listening and repeating are crucial skills in taking decisive steps toward building confidence in your oral skills. 

14. Russian Level 1 Lessons 1-5

Created by Pimsleur, this audiobook collection is based on its renowned method of spaced-repetition and enriching your vocabulary through the organic process of incorporating a manageable number of new words in different contexts.

Best features & tips: 

• A great tool to sharpen listening and oral skills through contextualized common dialogues. 
• Can be combined with Russian textbooks for writing as well as the Pimsleur app. 

15. Learn Russian for Beginners Easily & in Your Car! Vocabulary Edition!

You might not have time to breathe but you still want to take on the challenge of learning Russian, at least the basics. This approximately six-hour-long Russian audiobook can help you kill your time productively while practicing your listening skills. 

Best features & tips:

• Contains over 1,500 frequently used Russian words, covering several spheres of everyday life.
• Ideally combined with a quality grammar book and a vocab exercise book.
• Contains a PDF with the transcribed version of the audiobook.
• Addressed towards intermediate learners who are comfortable reading Cyrillic text. 

16. Short Stories in Russian for Beginners

In my third year of learning Russian, I had been surprised by myself when we did an excerpt from Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin (a special recommendation for some of you that are into sonnets). Despite not knowing most of the words, I managed to understand the gist of the story. When I studied the unfamiliar vocabulary afterward, each word represented a part of the plot, embedding their meaning in my memory. 

If this is an effective learning method for you as well, then you will certainly enjoy these eight short stories, transitioning from romantic to thriller and mystery genres.

Best features & tips:

• Contains plot summaries, reading comprehension questions, as well as a bilingual wordlist, useful for new vocabulary.
• This audiobook might not suit beginners without a good grasp of Cyrillic script, Russian vocabulary, and grammar.
• An excellent tool to broaden your lexicon and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Alternative books to learn Russian for intermediate and advanced learners

Learning a new language shouldn’t be solely about grammar rules and vocabulary indigestion. Maybe the initial reason that compelled you to search for a book to learn Russian was the country’s stormy history and its interesting cultural evolution.

Maybe you couldn’t resist the prospect of traveling to the Mother Motherland to cross the Ural Mountains, an icy Siberia, and Gobi desert on the Trans-Siberian railway to reach Japan. In any case, here are some suggestions that might satisfy your cultural cravings.

17. Russian Folktales from the Collection of A. Afanasyev: A Dual-Language Book 

I don’t think that you can really take a deep dive into the Russian soul without knowing the Tale of Tsarevich Ivan, the Firebird and the Grey Wolf or without being aware of the mythical creature Baba Yaga. Additionally, I cannot omit these excellent story collections by the same publisher. 

Russian Stories: A Dual-Language Book (English and Russian Edition)

The book contains a collection of stories that marked the Tzarist era of novella Russian history, comprised of tales by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Chekhov, Gogol, Turgenev, Bunin, and many others. The volume is enriched by cultural notes, a Russian-English dictionary, and a questionnaire on each text. These details let you travel between pre-revolutionary and Soviet society, from the aristocratic avant-garde to the common folk.

Great Russian Short Stories of the Twentieth Century: A Dual-Language Book

“The Fugitive” by Vladimir A. Gilyarovsky, “The Present” by Leonid Andreev, “Trataton” by Dimitry Mamin-Sibiryak, “Life Granted” by Aleksandr Grin, and “Icarus” by Stepan Skitalets are among the stories that this book includes. 

Best features & tips:

• Cultural immersion in the world of Russian literature and folklore.
• Russian text might be an intelligible read only for advanced learners due to outdated literary expressions.
• Provides an insight into the transformation of the language and the thought patterns of the masters of that era. 

18. Advanced Russian Through History

I dedicate this to you insatiable history buffs! If you are up for a challenge and enjoy a good command of the language, this is one of the best books for you to learn Russian!

The book is an exposition of the history of Russia, starting from the times of Kyivan Rus’ and reaching up to the Post-Soviet Era. Chapters on Slavic philosophy, the activity of the Samizdat, and the position of women in the 19th and 20th-century are sprinkled throughout the book.

Best features & tips:   

• Interactive applications, with chapters expanded by mini-lectures.
• Diverse online exercises that cultivate your argumentation skills in Russian.
• You are introduced to a multi-dimensional presentation of Russian history.

19. Cinema for Russian Conversation, Volume 1

Both cinephiles and movie-mortals will have a blast with this one. A book that acquaints you with the largely unchartered, for most Westerners, world of Russian cinema. The proposed films aim to spark discussions on Russian culture, reflected through the lens of Russian directors at different points in history.

Best features & tips: 

• 14 Russian films act as inspiration for discussion on shifting Russian norms.
• A textbook that allows students to combine their Russian linguistic and historical knowledge.
• Exercise combinational thinking while improving oral and writing skills.

20. Russian Comics and Graphic Novels: Майор Гром

Finally, for comic-book lovers, you might find various series at Ozon.ru, with Bubble Comics being one of the most popular publishers in the country.

If you enjoy action and noir graphic novels, check out “Майор Гром” (Major Grom). The series captures the adventures of a brooding police detective solving murders and uncovering trafficking cartels in Saint Petersburg. 

Best features & tips:

• Opportunity to combine a favorite hobby with language learning.
• A stress-free way to enrich your vocabulary.
• Gradually makes you familiar with Russian dialogue and idioms.
• Heavy visualization contributes to memory retention.
• A great alternative for visual learners who do not pair well with classroom teaching techniques.

How to learn Russian fast

Download some apps: Combine these books with some of the best apps to learn Russian. This will transform the strenuous act of learning Russian into vocabulary-charged games of speed and memorization.

Use a language exchange app like Tandem: Finding an exchange pal is one of the best investments to learn Russian. This way, you can receive immediate feedback on your sentence structure, declension, and verb conjugation. You can also ask for constructive corrections on written assignments and messages. Even better, study Russian with the guidance of an online tutor.

Watch Russian movies and listen to Russian music: I will make a confession. I have an unhealthy addiction to Soviet Patriotic songs. Also, I have been recently falling into a rabbit hole of Russian Cold War spy movies. All in the name of learning Russian, of course. So, I’d suggest obsessing away on Russian pop, rock, or rap (or even join the Cold War comrade club). You can always indulge yourself with movies like Ivan the Terrible (1945), Brother (1997), Russian Ark (2002), and Battle for Sevastopol (2015).

Buy Russian cookbooks and make some Blini! This way, you can experiment in your kitchen preparing Shashliki, Kasha, and Pirozhki, making sure you have nailed down your food vocabulary for a future trip to Russia. 

To conclude, in the world of the Internet and Russian banyas, you can find plenty of resources to learn Russian effectively and pleasantly.

Just remember..

Πовторение- мать учения! 

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