We can go back and forth about whether textbooks are really necessary for language learners, but the fact remains that many learners simply prefer using books. And books offer some benefits that other resources don’t.
Let’s look at some of the best Russian textbooks to help you study on your own and give you knowledge of the Russian language that lasts. The list below is made up of textbooks (both traditional and not) that are all at least somewhat beginner-friendly, offering something unique for the right learner.
This first book is from 1951—hear me out. The “Berlitz Self-Teacher” books exist in a world all their own. Modern textbooks can provide you more bells and whistles, of course: audio, color photographs, accompanying digital goodies. But just like no new food trend replaces your grandmother’s cooking, no new Russian learning book replaces the “Self-Teacher.”
Part of what makes the “Self-Teacher” format so ingenious is that it starts you off forming sentences that are likely to be relevant to you immediately:
What is this? This is the pencil. The book is red. The paper is white.
The “Self-Teacher” uses an interlinear text system, similar to that used by some dual-language readers. You’ll find Cyrillic on top, a pronunciation key in the middle and an English translation underneath.
Sure, the pronunciation key won’t have you speaking perfect, native Russian. But it’ll get you speaking and using the language to interact with the world around you. Plus, you can easily slip the book into a piece of carry-on luggage, no headphones required.
Although it comes from a time when textbooks were limited in terms of what resources they could provide learners, the “Self-Teacher” really does its darndest to be a simplified but complete learning system. It keeps things context- and dialogue-heavy, letting you progress naturally while sneaking in bits of grammar along the way.
Of course, you’ll still ideally want to supplement the “Self-Teacher” with audio and more modern learning materials.
If the idea of using an older textbook in the first place makes you uncomfortable, check out Natasha Alexandrova’s “Russian Step by Step,”a modern book that’s somewhat similar to the “Self-Teacher.” It’ll help you avoid the dated Soviet-era references and will give you downloadable native audio to boot. It’s pricier, though, so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what’s right for you.
Also, either of these options will combine with FluentU for a mix of structure and immersive Russian learning.
FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.
This one-volume textbook teaches you over 1500 vocabulary items, the Russian case and tense systems and the Cyrillic alphabet.
It includes 30 lessons with revision exercises that reinforce and test your Russian skills.
Along with each grammar lesson is a corresponding thematic lesson that’s designed to let you see the chapter’s grammar in action. Exercises are provided, so you can both drill learned topics and create your own phrases and sentences in Russian.
This book should give you knowledge in both conversational language and correct Russian grammar.
This textbook is one commonly used in college-level courses. As such it comes as a full package, including a textbook, workbook and audio-visual materials on CD/DVD.
Designed to follow the lives of young Russians in Moscow, the continuing story will give you incentive to move from chapter to chapter.
Grammar explanations are highly structural, so if you’re a linguist at heart, this might be the text for you.
This is probably the most popular (and possibly the best) college textbook in use today.
Much like other university-level language books, it comes with a workbook and accompanying audio-visual materials. Unlike others, however, these are kept on the publisher’s own site, with permission to download and use as you see fit; no code necessary.
This book follows the communicative approach to language learning, so language learning is done in context. There’s a healthy combination of grammatical exercises and opportunities to speak, read and write.
The “Self-Teacher” might be one of the best (and most time-tested) Russian textbooks out there, but obviously there’s plenty of other choices. Besides, you can always stand to know more about what learning options are out there, right?
This book is from the Teach Yourself series, and they take the “complete” part of their Complete courses seriously. It can be used by solo learners or alongside another course but no matter how you use it, it works to build your core knowledge and skills.
“Complete Russian” is organized into chapters, or “units,” that include cultural information, dialogues and various exercises. It comes with audio and is designed to teach all the main language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
It’s explanatory and takes a straightforward, traditional approach. For this reason, it’s probably best for learners who tend to be good classroom students and have the ability to self-motivate.
It’s worth noting that, as with this program, educational audio is still often distributed primarily via CD, even as CDs are becoming less and less standard from a tech perspective. Sometimes publishers offer a direct MP3 download option, but sometimes they don’t. So make sure you have the means to access the accompanying audio before buying this book or others on this list.
“Complete Russian” is meant to take you up to the intermediate levels of Russian proficiency.
Don’t be fooled by the title. Despite the low suggested time commitment, there’s quite a bit of information packed into this casual-looking resource. “Russian in 10 Minutes a Day” is great if you want to treat learning Russian like a fun project. It’s more of a workbook than a textbook, but it has all the information you need in one place.
“Russian in 10 Minutes a Day” teaches you the language through a variety of tools and approaches that seem designed to make you feel like you’re not actually studying. It helps you build your Russian vocabulary with minimal effort through Russian-English cognates. It also comes with vocab stickers you can place on objects around your home and office and it gives you pre-made flashcards.
“10 Minutes” also comes with an interactive software download that you can use in addition to the book. If you like extra goodies and being heavily engaged by your learning materials, this might be the book for you.
Here’s another title that may arouse your skepticism but still deserves your attention. It’s not so much that “The Everything Learning Russian Book” strictly teaches you more than the other books in this list, but it couches learning in plenty of background information. This can be both enjoyable and beneficial, especially if you want to savor the history and culture behind the language as you learn it.
I said that “Complete Russian” was best for good classroom students, by which I mostly meant people who perform well in classroom settings. This book, on the other hand, is better suited for those who actually like classroom learning. If you enjoy the insight and context around a field of knowledge that an experienced teacher can provide, you can get some of that here.
Chapters include thorough introductions to language concepts and cultural subjects, along with plenty of practice and quizzes. The book also aligns with practical concerns like actually getting around in Russia.
The print copy of “The Everything Learning Russian Book” comes with an accompanying CD. You can also get audio with the Kindle version on some Fire tablets and iOS devices.
Like “Russian in 10 Minutes a Day,” this one from Barron’s might have you rolling your eyes at first, but reserve your scorn. This is an “activity kit,” or at least that’s what they call it, but really, it’s as much a textbook as your standard classroom fare.
It’s geared toward travelers, but can be used by anyone looking to get down their Russian basics with colorful illustrations, dialogues, grammar explanations and interactive exercises.
Also like “10 Minutes,” “Learn Russian the Fast and Fun Way” includes pre-made flashcards. These are quite jam-packed, with whole phrases and lists of related words printed on single cards.
While the cover may look kind of childish, this book will work well for people who want to be exposed to the language in an aesthetically appealing way. The cartoon illustrations aren’t exactly fine art but they’re well done, and the book provides an engaging and enjoyable atmosphere for learning.
There’s effectively no audio for this book (unless you want to grab a cassette version), so it’s best for those who like doing some learning unplugged.
This text provides exactly what the title says it will: real Russian.
It’s divided into a number of thematic chapters, such as food, education, technology and travel. This book provides authentic Russian materials such as menus, train schedules, newspaper ads and so on, complete with pre-learning, learning and post-learning activities.
This text is appropriate at all levels. Within each chapter, texts and exercises start with those appropriate for a beginning level learner and end with at least one designed for a more advanced learner.
“Reading Real Russian” will likely last you for years as you progress through the stages of learning Russian.
Many of the books above either have a limited emphasis on grammar or teach it in the context of practical usage. This can be great for making the language less intimidating, building your confidence and getting you started with Russian.
However, there’s a benefit to looking at Russian grammar right in its huge, gaping maw. Not only is it a monster that needs to be comprehended as a whole, but it’s actually quite a beautiful, well-organized monster. Staring at it head-on gives you the big-picture perspective necessary to unlocking its intricate logic.
Like any good beginner textbook worth its salt, “Illustrated Russian Grammar” presents the language from the logical starting point, first teaching the alphabet and then moving into basic vocabulary. However, rather than being divided into themed chapters or focusing on scenarios helpful to travelers, it’s formatted around Russian grammar.
The book starts you off with nouns and then almost immediately dives into the case system. This allows you to not only learn grammar in an order that makes sense, but also to learn vocabulary within the context of grammar.
This book would make an excellent supplement to one that isn’t as grammar-heavy, like the Assimil course above. However, it could also be useful for a beginner on its own, or for brushing up on Russian after having been away from it for a while.
Once you accept that Russian has cases and verbal aspect, they’re actually not that hard to learn. What’s challenging are Russian verbs of motion.
While Russian has verbs similar to those in other languages (walk, ride, fly, swim, crawl, carry, transport, etc.), the challenge is that they come in a variety of forms.
Need to know when to use the unidirectional form? The multidirectional form? The perfective? How each prefix changes the meaning of the base verb, which to use when, and how even the most subtle of differences is truly different?
If you want to understand Russian verbs of motion—and you’ll need to if you want to truly master Russian—this is the book for you! A great supplement to one of the more traditional-style textbooks on this list.
This is a standard intermediate-level text, full of conversational and grammatical exercises, readings and plenty of opportunities for you to practice and improve your Russian.
As with most texts at this level, grammar is reviewed before it’s expanded to include new information. Thematic topics build upon those introduced in the beginning level.
If you learned about the basics of the Russian family in first-year classes, for example, here you’ll learn about more nuanced topics in Russian, like how to discuss getting married or divorced.
This book is another solid choice if you want a more formal textbook for learning Russian.
Of the books on this list, this is one of the least like a traditional textbook. It’s essentially a dual-language reader, with dialogues presented in both English and Russian.
But what makes it more than just a reader is that it’s focused on practical conversation. It’s a bit like a phrasebook in the beginning, starting off with “survival phrases.” Then it jumps right into dialogues.
The reason why I’ve included this book on the list isn’t because it’s exactly a substitute for a “normal” textbook, but because it provides a bridge from textbook learning into real life. Grammar and vocabulary you learn from any of the other books in this list will be applicable to the dialogues you’ll find here. And if textbooks tend to lack anything, it’s enough examples of real-life usage.
That all being said, if you already have a beginning grasp of Russian—including the alphabet, pronunciation and some basic vocab—you could probably use this book as your main learning system, at least for a while, provided you’re willing to do some research and work out the grammar on your own.
This two-volume text is great for those looking to really focus on Russian listening skills. The Soviet Union made some excellent films with basic, everyday language spoken at a speed that can be readily understood.
These texts provide written and spoken exercises, discussion questions and opportunities to write brief essays about the content of some of the most famous and most accessible of these films.
You’ll increase your Russian-language knowledge while you learn more details about Russian culture through authentically made content with “Cinema for Russian Conversation.”
Afraid of commitment? If so, you should probably stay far away from Living Language’s “Complete Edition,” because it’s intended to take you all the way from a beginner to an advanced level. On the other hand, if you want the all-in-one, three-course-dinner version of a language textbook, this is for you.
It’s worth noting that many learners find benefits in studying with a variety of resources, and that programs like FluentU can easily pick up where beginner and intermediate books like those above leave off. However, there’s still definitely something to be said for having it all. The “Complete Edition” doesn’t just consist of one book, but three books, along with nine CDs worth of audio (which you can, thankfully, download), as well as corresponding online materials.
The books include lessons that are meant to build your practical knowledge of the language gradually, integrating grammar and culture and giving you ample opportunities to review and retain what you’ve learned.
So, maybe you’re not interested in messing around. You’re over these new and old takes on making learning easier, more practical, etc. You just want a plain, regular, real textbook.
This one from Yale University has all the usual textbook essentials. It’s comprehensive. It paces you. It has a system and it’s sticking to it. Plus, it’s a Yale textbook, so you can feel cool studying with it even if you have no Ivy League credentials in your past or future.
“Russian Full Circle” is divided into lessons that follow a layered approach. Each lesson introduces new vocabulary and grammar, teaches culture, gives you some conversation practice and caps off with some exercises. This type of learning can be really effective because it pushes your limits but doesn’t give you too much of any type of information at once.
The thing is, a lot of time and resources go into crafting academic materials, so they can be really great for your studies even if you’re not the type of person who’d benefit from a college course. The main problem with college textbooks is trying not to spend $300 on one. “Russian Full Circle,” however, is more affordable than many college textbooks you’ll find widely available online (especially considering that it’s relatively recent and from a well-known university).
Learners of nearly all languages will spend a large amount of time at the intermediate level. Getting beyond this level generally requires substantial time abroad, immersed in the language.
This book is designed to help make the transition from intermediate to advanced easier.
Using themes similar to those used in beginning- and intermediate-level textbooks, you’ll find exercises that will push you beyond the intermediate level.
You’ll be introduced to “complications” to rules and already-known ideas, thus setting you up for success in making the jump to the advanced level of Russian.
At some point, you’re going to get tired of grammar-heavy learning. You might even want to learn more about Russia in actual, authentic Russian.
This text allows you to do just that!
“Advanced Russian Through History” has 36 chapters that will take you from Kievan Rus to the post-Soviet period. The web-based activities allow you to practice your speaking and writing, namely to help you to develop both skill areas to a higher degree.
Qualities of a Good Russian Textbook
Russian textbooks come in a variety of different formats. But no matter how they’re organized, they should serve as a conduit between the Russian language and you.
Let’s explore what a Russian textbook should do for you:
Provide comprehensive core knowledge. This is especially important for beginners. If you don’t learn the vocabulary that a language uses most frequently, you’re not going to progress very quickly.
That being said, simply force-feeding yourself a list of the most common Russian words will get old quickly. It’ll also leave you without much understanding of how that language should be employed. But textbooks can present you with core vocabulary in an organized, context-rich format.
Good textbooks keep you from being 100% focused on the individual words you’re learning and allow you to learn basic vocab through sentences.
Reinforce knowledge through practical exercises. Using Russian is how the language becomes your own, so some level of interactivity is important. Some books encourage you to speak, others ask you to produce writing. Ideally, a textbook should provide multiple opportunities for output.
Give you the guidance and momentum you need to establish a regular learning routine. Perhaps the most valuable thing a textbook can offer you is the ability to stop worrying about how to learn, and simply learn.
Once you’re in the habit of taking in a chapter or lesson a day and doing regular reviews, it’ll only be a matter of time before you’re capable of using the language on your own. The right textbook for you should make regular study feel manageable and realistic.
Ultimately, the best Russian textbooks can make learning easier.
So don’t just consider what you want to learn, but which book (or books!) will inspire you to learn every day.
Once the habit is yours, the language will follow.
If you love learning Russian and want to immerse yourself with authentic materials from Russia, then I should also tell you more about FluentU.
FluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning the Russian language and culture. You'll learn real Russian as it's spoken by real Russian people!
FluentU has a very broad range of contemporary videos. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of Russian-language content available on FluentU:
FluentU makes these native Russian videos approachable through interactive transcripts. Tap on any word to look it up instantly.
Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab. Easily review words and phrases with audio under Vocab.
All definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Russian learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.
And FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.
The best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You'll have a 100% personalized experience.
