The Russian revolution(s) of 1917 may be the most important and world-altering event of the twentieth century, but restrictions on documents and 'official' communist histories have often affected the efforts of historians. Nevertheless, there are plenty of texts on the subject; this is my list of the ten best. There are also lists for the imperial era (1500 - 1916) and key Russian personalities.
1. A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes
Covering the events of 1891 to 1924, Figes' book is a masterclass of historical writing, mixing the personal effects of revolution with the overall political and economic effects. The result is huge (almost 1000 pages), but don't let that put you off because Figes covers almost every level with verve, style and a highly readable text. Myth breaking, academic, gripping and emotive, this is marvelous.
2. The Russian Revolution by Sheila Fitzpatrick
Pick 1 may be excellent, but it's simply too large for many people; however, while Fitzpatrick's book may only be a fifth of the size, it's still a well-written and comprehensive look at the Revolution in its broader period (i.e., not just 1917). Now into its second edition, 'The Russian Revolution' has become standard reading for students, and is arguably the best shorter text.3. Three Whys of the Russian Revolution by Richard Pipes
Short, sharp and fiercely analytical, this is the book to read after some of the longer histories. Pipes' expects you to know the detail and thus provides little himself, focusing every word of his short book on presenting his challenge to the socially orientated orthodoxy, using clear logic and insightful comparisons. The result is a powerful argument, but not one for beginners.4. The Soviet Union Since 1917-1991 by Martin McCauley
This is actually the second edition of a successful, not now very outdated, study of the Soviet Union that was originally published in the early 1980's. Since then the USSR has collapsed and McCauley's hugely revised text is thus able to study the Union across its whole existence. The result is a book that's as important for politicians and observers as it is for historians.5. The Longman Companion to Russia Since 1914 by Martin McCauley
This reference book provides a reservoir of facts, figures, timelines and biographies, perfect for supplementing a study or simply using to check the occasional detail.6. The Russian Revolution 1917 by Rex A. Wade
Another very modern text, Wade's volume strikes a middleground between picks 1 and 2 in terms of size, but pushes ahead in terms of analysis. The author ably describes the complex and involved nature of the revolution while spreading his focus to include different approaches and national groups.7. The Stalin Era by Philip Boobbyer
The 1917 revolutions may attract the most attention, but Stalin's dictatorship is an equally important subject for both Russian, and European, history. This book is a good general history of the period and particular effort is made to place Stalin in context with Russia both before, and after, his rule, as well as with Lenin.8. The End of Imperial Russia 1855 - 1917 by Peter Waldron
The End of Imperial Russia presents a distinctly long-term analysis on a subject which, although hugely important, is often found only in the introductions to texts on 1917: what happened to the Russian Imperial system that caused it to be swept away? Waldron handles these broader themes with ease and the book makes a helpful addition to any study on Imperial or Soviet Russia.9. Stalin's Peasants by Sheila Fitzpatrick
In 1917 the majority of Russians were peasants, upon whose traditional ways of living and working Stalin's reforms wreaked a massive, bloody and dramatic transformation. In this book Fitzpatrick explores the effects of collectivization on Russia's peasants, in terms of both economic and socio-cultural change, revealing the changing dynamic of village life.10. The Russian Century by Brian Moynahan
A former political editor to one of the UK's broadsheet newspapers and now a Russian historian, Moynahan's account of Russia in the twentieth century is sweeping, political and based around plenty of quotation.