Hey all. Despite having been an ML for a while, my knowledge of AES is quite lacking. I want to spend my time off in the summer to read and study this. But with so many history books being written by bourgeouis historians which come down to "1000 gazillon dead, Stalin evil", I'm unsure what books to consult. So, what books would you recommen to learn about AES states, their development, achievements, failures, leaders, etc?

Regarding the USSR, it seems Ronald Suny has written some good books ("The Soviet Experiment: Russia, the USSR, and the Successor States", "Red Flag Unfurled: Historians, the Russian Revolution, and the Soviet Experience", and "Red Flag Wounded: Stalinism and the Fate of the Soviet Experiment", Ronald Suny) as well as Richard Wolff ("Class Theory and History: Capitalism and Communism in the USSR"). Anyone read these and have an opinion to share? Anyone have recommendations about other states, like Cuba, Vietnam, China?

Apologies if this has been asked before, I couldn't find any relevant threads.