Alexander V. Avakov holds degrees in mathematics and mathematical economics with additional studies in economics, philosophy, law, politics, anthropology, sociology and psychology. After running afoul of the KGB for drawing attention to certain inconsistencies between theory and practice, he emigrated from the Soviet Union and has since settled with his family in the United States. His previously published books in English include Plato's Dream Realized: Surveillance and Citizen Rights, from KGB to FBI, and Two Thousand Years of Economic Statistics: World Population, GDP and PPP.