11 Best Russian TextBooks for Beginners & Learners.

Hi there!

A Russian textbook gives you structure – a path, from Page 1 to 200.

It teaches you the alphabet,  grammar, writing, reading  and everything that you won’t learn from reading articles online. I know you’ve read enough already.

Are textbooks the answer to the entire language? No. But they’re a safe and reliable start to Russian.

And in this guide, you’ll get the 11+ best Russian textbooks. So take a look below.

best russian textbooks

Notes

  • A word of warning: Kindle books often differ from physical textbooks in formatting. Be sure to get a free sample first. Also, textbooks – which you’d want to flip though for easy review – are not very friendly to use on the Kindle.

By the way…

If you want to HEAR real Russian, check out this audio lesson while you browse the books. (3-Minute Russian Lesson from RussianPod101.com)

So, here are the best Russian textbooks and phrasebooks for you to check out.

1. Sputnik: An Introductory Russian Language Course

I think this is one of the best Russian textbooks to start with. Why? First, a lot of textbooks, straight from Russia are…. old, dry and too formal. Soviet style old. Sputnik is a very modern textbook; published in 2014. Sputnik covers (1) reading, (2) writing, (3), listening – audio is provided – and (4) speaking skills. Completing it is like completing one semester in college.

  • 234 pages
  • very thorough explanations
  • includes website access for you to get supplementary audio
  • NOT boring & meant for beginners/introductory level learners
  • includes a workbook but that’s sold separately

Click here to read more.

2. Russian Stage One: Live from Russia: Volume 1

Universities use this book. You get a textbook, workbook, CD and DVD – all which are used together. That way, you can learn reading, writing, listening and speaking  – with this set. Books alone won’t teach you to speak and listen. Great overall introduction that follows the lives of young Russians in Moscow through 6 units that build upon each other. Be sure to check out Volume 2 too.

Click here to learn more.

3. Living Language Russian, Complete Edition

This is a complete set. You get 3 course books. You get 9 CDs and the entire program is designed to get you from Beginner to Advanced. It will give you a decent foundation in Russian grammar along with a  vocabulary enough for everyday communication. Overall, a big bundle of resources put together.

  • 3 course books
  • 9 CDs

Click here to learn more.

4. Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners

A lot of learners seem to love this book.This book teaches you 1,500 vocabulary, it teaches you Russian’s cases and tenses – all in a logical, step by step format. Oh, and it has exercises. It’s not a “learn a few russian phrases” book, but an actual and solid introduction to the language. Great even if you don’t know any Russian. But, only if you’re serious.

  • learn 1500+ words
  • learn Russian grammar

Click here to learn more.

5. Russian For Dummies

Take it by its title. Russian for Dummies is a gentle introduction into Russian. A much easier, slower pace – so you understand what you learn. Over 384 pages and a BONUS CD that comes with it. You can learn conversational Russian with this – but it won’t teach you the Russian Alphabet. There’s no Cyrillic used – just the English romanizations. Very easy. Good as a resource, but not a direct source of learning.

If you want a SAFE start, this is one of the best Russian textbooks to start with.

  • Good for learners that know ZERO Russian
  • You won’t learn the alphabet
  • Good for learning phrases and vocabulary for basic conversations

Click here to learn more.

6. The Everything Learning Russian Book with CD.

Definitely NOT a boring book. And most are. Great beginner book. It teaches you how to read. It’s clear and combines the language with the culture in every chapter. You can easily progress from the basic lectures to the more complicated lectures without getting beaten down with grammar rules. 304 pages + an Audio CD.

  • 304 pages total + 19 chapters
  • Audio CD
  • teaches you to read
  • mostly grammar focused

Click here to learn more.

7. Russian for Beginners

This is a newbie approach to Russian grammar. You’ll learn 4,000 words as well. And this is all done in a span of 42 lessons – 384 pages. This gem has been written in the 1960s and is still used today. So, the good news is that it works. Aside from teaching, the authors also give learning advice on grammar and memorization.

  • The downside to be aware of is… it was written in 1960s so it’s not modern.

Click here to learn more.

8. Russian Full Circle: A First-Year Russian Textbook

This is another well laid out and comprehensive beginner textbook. As with most Russian Textbooks, it focuses on the foundations of Russian – grammar and vocabulary. However, it does lack an answer key for the exercises you get. Safe option for beginners.

Click here to learn more.

9. Russian: From Intermediate to Advanced

In terms of intermediate books, this is one of the best Russian textbooks.

At 466 pages, this book is massive and for good reason; it promises to take you from Intermediate to Advanced. Across 10 chapters, you’ll improve your speaking, reading, vocabulary and grammar.  Plus, it has great reviews on Amazon and is written by Russian Professors at UCLA.

  • For 3 & 4 year students of the Russian language
  • Will boost your vocabulary by 1600-1800
  • Promises…
    • speaking: to help you engage in conversations with confidence
    • reading: understand main ideas and details when reading
    • listening: understand main ideas and details when listening
    • writing: be able to use most-common grammar patterns with confidence

Click here to learn more.

10. V Puti: Russian Grammar in Context, 2nd Edition

Whereas most Russian textbooks are “academic,” this one is meant for every day life. You learn the language and grammar for basic conversations, daily activities of everyday life and things you normally talk about in general. Inside, you also get conversational exercises, examples, reading exercises like biographies and poems – that are based on real life situations. Since this book is written with Grammar in mind – and knowing Grammar is definitely the way to fluency and speaking flexibly – I recommend it. For Intermediate and Advanced students.

Click here to learn more.

11. Advanced Russian Through History

Just as the title says, you learn Russian language by learning Russian history. You go from the 9th century to the 1990 post-Soviet time. However, it’s all text, don’t expect any pictures. In each chapter, you get a Russian passage, a lecture on CD (if available), and website learning homework. The goal is to help you understand and talk/argue at an academic level.

  • 36 chapters
  • 264 pages

Click here to learn more.

12. Lonely Planet Russian Phrasebook & Dictionary

If you’re learning Russian, then you’ll want to know phrases. Why phrases?

Phrases get you speaking more right now. Especially if 1) you’re a tourist and need to say some basic things, or 2) you’re a learner who wants to add more “range of expression” to your Russian.

You’ll also want a dictionary… just to load yourself up on more words.

  • Pages: 272
  • By Lonely Planet

That’s where this phrasebook/dictionary comes in, with over 3500 words inside. Plus, plenty of phrases for real-life situations. The phrasebook-dictionary hybrid is geared towards travelers but beginners can also make good use of it.

  • Strength: Phrases

Click here to learn more.


These are some of the best Russian textbooks and books I’ve found so far.

But, if you want something a little more than a “book,” then I recommend RussianPod101.

RussianPod101 is a Russian learning program. You get audio/video lessons made by real teachers. The lessons get you speaking in minutes and are just 3-15 minutes in length. Just press the play button below to check out a lesson.

So, if you want to HEAR real Russian and learn faster with a program, I recommend them.

Click here to get a Free Lifetime Account at RussianPod101.com.

– The Main Junkie

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[…] Best Russian TextBooks […]

Hikaru

Hello!!
I’d like to ask you a question. I almost finished “Living Language Russian, Complete Edition” and after that which textbook would you recommend? I’d like to learn more advanced Russian.

Jehoiadak

Option 3 was the worst book on the list. The best book I have used out of five, is Troika (http://bit.ly/2bT8Tcf). Nice and easy, takes it slow with the grammar (Russian grammar almost made me quit Russian). Also, learn to take your time, when you start getting frustrated, just take a break. Всего хорошего!

Artemiy

Also, I wanna recommend my book “Russian language in 25 lessons”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A74965S
The book represents a course of 25 lessons of Russian language adapted for self learning that will help to form skills of using essential structures of Russian language. The lessons represent essential subjects – the structure of the Russian language in non complicated and easily understandable way. The textbook will be useful for a beginner, as well as intermediate students of Russian. The learning material is followed by many examples after each lesson.

Ignaty Dyakov

May I also humbly point at my own unconventional Russian language textbooks written in the form of fun detective stories aimed at those at Elementary to Upper Intermediate levels.

Available as paper-backs and audio-books they can be found on Amazon, selected bookstores in London, Paris and Helsinki.

Also, at Bookdepository which offers free delivery worldwide http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=ignaty%20dyakov&search=Find+book

Artemiy

Also, “Russian language in 25 lessons”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A74965S
The book represents a course of 25 lessons of Russian language adapted
for self learning that will help to form skills of using essential
structures of Russian language. The lessons represent essential subjects
– the structure of the Russian language in non complicated and easily
understandable way. The textbook will be useful for a beginner, as well
as intermediate students of Russian. The learning material is followed
by many examples after each lesson.