Book excerpt: All the basics of Russian—fast and easy! The Everything Essential Russian Book is perfect for a quick introduction to learning the Russian language. Whether you are planning a vacation or adding a valuable second language to your resume, this portable guide covers the most important basics, including how to: *Recognize and read Cyrillic letters *Pronounce Russian words like a native *Ask and answer everyday questions *Ask for directions, order dinner, or conduct business *Hold your own in a conversation With The Everything Essential Russian Book, you will see how exciting learning Russian can be!