John Lechner
@johnalechner.bsky.social
Writer, journalist, amateur linguist. DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS out with Bloomsbury March 2025. BEGINNER’S CHECHEN out with Hippocrene
https://www.johnlechnerauthor.com/
https://www.johnlechnerauthor.com/
Thrilled to announce that Marcel Diki-Kidiri and I have just published a Sango Dictionary & Phrasebook with
Hippocrene Books!
Featuring an in-depth grammar section, we hope this will be of great use to those traveling to the Central African Republic!
www.amazon.com/Sango-Englis...
Hippocrene Books!
Featuring an in-depth grammar section, we hope this will be of great use to those traveling to the Central African Republic!
www.amazon.com/Sango-Englis...
Sango-English/ English-Sango Dictionary & Phrasebook
Amazon.com: Sango-English/ English-Sango Dictionary & Phrasebook: 9780781814645: Diki-Kidiri, Marcel, Lechner, John: Books
www.amazon.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Thrilled to announce that Marcel Diki-Kidiri and I have just published a Sango Dictionary & Phrasebook with
Hippocrene Books!
Featuring an in-depth grammar section, we hope this will be of great use to those traveling to the Central African Republic!
www.amazon.com/Sango-Englis...
Hippocrene Books!
Featuring an in-depth grammar section, we hope this will be of great use to those traveling to the Central African Republic!
www.amazon.com/Sango-Englis...
Reposted by John Lechner
Very interesting one
@lilylynch.bsky.social @johnalechner.bsky.social
www.lilyslynch.com/p/the-yugosl...
@lilylynch.bsky.social @johnalechner.bsky.social
www.lilyslynch.com/p/the-yugosl...
"The Yugoslav Wars Never Ended, They Just Entered into Global Circulation" (With John Lechner)
On the afterlives of the wars of the 1990s
www.lilyslynch.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Very interesting one
@lilylynch.bsky.social @johnalechner.bsky.social
www.lilyslynch.com/p/the-yugosl...
@lilylynch.bsky.social @johnalechner.bsky.social
www.lilyslynch.com/p/the-yugosl...
A History of Outsourced Violence: The Rise of the RSF, LNA, and Wagner Group
My @smallarmssurvey.bsky.social Situation Update on historic mercenary economies in Sudan, Chad, Libya, and CAR, and how they've been connected for decades
www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/out...
My @smallarmssurvey.bsky.social Situation Update on historic mercenary economies in Sudan, Chad, Libya, and CAR, and how they've been connected for decades
www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/out...
A History of Outsourced Violence: The Rise of the Rapid Support Forces, Libyan National Army, and Wagner Group
In the war against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have relied on external backing and regional partnerships that extend well beyond Sudan’s borders. While these relati...
www.smallarmssurvey.org
December 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
A History of Outsourced Violence: The Rise of the RSF, LNA, and Wagner Group
My @smallarmssurvey.bsky.social Situation Update on historic mercenary economies in Sudan, Chad, Libya, and CAR, and how they've been connected for decades
www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/out...
My @smallarmssurvey.bsky.social Situation Update on historic mercenary economies in Sudan, Chad, Libya, and CAR, and how they've been connected for decades
www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/out...
In search of medicine in the Darien Gap
December 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
In search of medicine in the Darien Gap
Reposted by John Lechner
🚨 New podcast: @johnalechner.bsky.social talks to me about the life/death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, local agency in the Central African Republic and the role of mercenaries in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I learned a lot
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4A...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4A...
How Putin's Mercenaries Operate | John Lechner
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
🚨 New podcast: @johnalechner.bsky.social talks to me about the life/death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, local agency in the Central African Republic and the role of mercenaries in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I learned a lot
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4A...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4A...
Thank you, @lilylynch.bsky.social for recommending DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS in @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social's Summer Guide!
An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence... Lechner argues Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with mass privatization.
jacobin.com/2025/06/summ...
An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence... Lechner argues Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with mass privatization.
jacobin.com/2025/06/summ...
Jacobin’s Summer Reads Guide
We asked our editors and contributors what you should read this summer. They answered with everything from romances set in the former East Germany to thrillers about Russian mercenaries.
jacobin.com
July 1, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Thank you, @lilylynch.bsky.social for recommending DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS in @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social's Summer Guide!
An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence... Lechner argues Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with mass privatization.
jacobin.com/2025/06/summ...
An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence... Lechner argues Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with mass privatization.
jacobin.com/2025/06/summ...
In São Gabriel da Cachoeira with my friend and Tariana teacher, Jovino. Tariana is an endangered Arawak language spoken along the Vaupés River in the Amazon.
June 25, 2025 at 3:58 AM
In São Gabriel da Cachoeira with my friend and Tariana teacher, Jovino. Tariana is an endangered Arawak language spoken along the Vaupés River in the Amazon.
Reposted by John Lechner
Given the "departure" of Wagner Group from the Sahel, it's opportune moment to recommend @johnalechner.bsky.social's "Death Is Our Business".
Well worth the read by both those who've been watching the group professionally and anyone just curious about the web of organizations of Prigozhin & Co.
Well worth the read by both those who've been watching the group professionally and anyone just curious about the web of organizations of Prigozhin & Co.
June 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Given the "departure" of Wagner Group from the Sahel, it's opportune moment to recommend @johnalechner.bsky.social's "Death Is Our Business".
Well worth the read by both those who've been watching the group professionally and anyone just curious about the web of organizations of Prigozhin & Co.
Well worth the read by both those who've been watching the group professionally and anyone just curious about the web of organizations of Prigozhin & Co.
Reposted by John Lechner
🚨 Job alert 🚨Join @emorier.bsky.social, @vincentfoucher.bsky.social, @corinnajentzsch.com and me, and be part of a new exciting research project on jihadism in Africa. Two more positions will follow. Feel free to approach @emorier.bsky.social if you have questions. Please circulate widely
Job profile
hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk
May 26, 2025 at 8:18 AM
🚨 Job alert 🚨Join @emorier.bsky.social, @vincentfoucher.bsky.social, @corinnajentzsch.com and me, and be part of a new exciting research project on jihadism in Africa. Two more positions will follow. Feel free to approach @emorier.bsky.social if you have questions. Please circulate widely
"Not only has Lechner interviewed around 30 Wagner members, but he has conducted extensive ground reporting on Wagner in Africa. This would be a hazardous assignment even for the major news outlets, let alone a freelancer such as Lechner."
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
The Wagner Group’s dealings are darker than we thought
In Death is our Business, John Lechner offers a rare, vivid portrait of the mercenary group by interviewing ex-members – itself a feat
www.telegraph.co.uk
May 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
"Not only has Lechner interviewed around 30 Wagner members, but he has conducted extensive ground reporting on Wagner in Africa. This would be a hazardous assignment even for the major news outlets, let alone a freelancer such as Lechner."
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
Reposted by John Lechner
"Lechner blends beautiful first-person writing with granular reporting to show how Wagner became embroiled in foreign wars after the conflict in eastern Ukraine died down."
DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS is one of 6 books critics and editors at @nytimes.com recommend this week!
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
6 New Books We Recommend This Week
www.nytimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:42 AM
"Lechner blends beautiful first-person writing with granular reporting to show how Wagner became embroiled in foreign wars after the conflict in eastern Ukraine died down."
"Lechner blends beautiful first-person writing with granular reporting to show how Wagner became embroiled in foreign wars after the conflict in eastern Ukraine died down."
DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS is one of 6 books critics and editors at @nytimes.com recommend this week!
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
6 New Books We Recommend This Week
www.nytimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:42 AM
"Lechner blends beautiful first-person writing with granular reporting to show how Wagner became embroiled in foreign wars after the conflict in eastern Ukraine died down."
DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS is one of 6 books critics and editors at @nytimes.com recommend this week!
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
6 New Books We Recommend This Week
www.nytimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:41 AM
DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS is one of 6 books critics and editors at @nytimes.com recommend this week!
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/b...
"Lechner blends beautiful first-person writing with granular reporting. An enviably talented linguist, the author interviewed more than 30 Wagner fighters as well as people who fought with and against them across Europe, Africa and the Middle East."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/b...
Putin’s Shadow Armies Have Set Their Sights Beyond Ukraine
www.nytimes.com
May 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"Lechner blends beautiful first-person writing with granular reporting. An enviably talented linguist, the author interviewed more than 30 Wagner fighters as well as people who fought with and against them across Europe, Africa and the Middle East."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/b...
Reposted by John Lechner
Having completed @johnalechner.bsky.social 's "Death is Our Business", I can highly recommend it to connect the dots as it provides a great look between many of the mainstream stories of #WagnerGroup. #Africa, #Syria, #CAR, #Libya, #Sudan, #MaratGabidullin
www.goodreads.com/book/show/21...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/21...
Death Is Our Business: Russian Mercenaries and the New …
The disturbing inside story of how the Wagner private m…
www.goodreads.com
May 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Having completed @johnalechner.bsky.social 's "Death is Our Business", I can highly recommend it to connect the dots as it provides a great look between many of the mainstream stories of #WagnerGroup. #Africa, #Syria, #CAR, #Libya, #Sudan, #MaratGabidullin
www.goodreads.com/book/show/21...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/21...
Reposted by John Lechner
@johnalechner.bsky.social looking forward to this
May 3, 2025 at 10:05 PM
@johnalechner.bsky.social looking forward to this
Reposted by John Lechner
And two recent pieces on the Wagner Group in Africa, starting with my review this week of two great new books on the mercenary outfit - one by @johnalechner.bsky.social, and the other by @jackmargolin.bsky.social
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
How “Putin’s chef” built the world’s most notorious private army
Two books trace the extraordinary rise and rapid fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin
www.economist.com
May 2, 2025 at 12:56 PM
And two recent pieces on the Wagner Group in Africa, starting with my review this week of two great new books on the mercenary outfit - one by @johnalechner.bsky.social, and the other by @jackmargolin.bsky.social
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
Reposted by John Lechner
Great read:
"Death is Our Business" by @johnalechner.bsky.social is one of the best books so far on #Russia's mercenaries and private warfare. And it reads like a thriller.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
"Death is Our Business" by @johnalechner.bsky.social is one of the best books so far on #Russia's mercenaries and private warfare. And it reads like a thriller.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
Death Is Our Business
"Extraordinary."-CHRIS MILLER, author of Chip War"Incredible."-ANNIE JACOBSEN, author of Nuclear War, via XFrom John Lechner, "an amazi…
www.bloomsbury.com
April 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Great read:
"Death is Our Business" by @johnalechner.bsky.social is one of the best books so far on #Russia's mercenaries and private warfare. And it reads like a thriller.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
"Death is Our Business" by @johnalechner.bsky.social is one of the best books so far on #Russia's mercenaries and private warfare. And it reads like a thriller.
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
Reposted by John Lechner
spoke with @johnalechner.bsky.social about his incredible new book 'Death Is Our Business.' It's everything you ever wanted to know about Russian mercenaries
angryplanetpod.com/p/life-insid...
angryplanetpod.com/p/life-insid...
Life Inside Wagner Before and After Prigozhin
For mercenaries, death is a business.
angryplanetpod.com
April 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
spoke with @johnalechner.bsky.social about his incredible new book 'Death Is Our Business.' It's everything you ever wanted to know about Russian mercenaries
angryplanetpod.com/p/life-insid...
angryplanetpod.com/p/life-insid...
Reposted by John Lechner
Finally had a chance to read @johnalechner.bsky.social’s fascinating book on Wagner. I highly recommend it. John explains with jaw-dropping details and fine analysis what Prigozhin represented for Russia’s state apparatus and vice versa. About Wagner’s in Africa… 🔽
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
Death Is Our Business
"Extraordinary."-CHRIS MILLER, author of Chip War"Incredible."-ANNIE JACOBSEN, author of Nuclear War, via XFrom John Lechner, "an amazi…
www.bloomsbury.com
March 30, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Finally had a chance to read @johnalechner.bsky.social’s fascinating book on Wagner. I highly recommend it. John explains with jaw-dropping details and fine analysis what Prigozhin represented for Russia’s state apparatus and vice versa. About Wagner’s in Africa… 🔽
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
www.bloomsbury.com/us/death-is-...
"Through dozens of interviews with Wagner members, Lechner delves into the group's murky beginnings...Death Is Our Business is a trenchant assessment of Wagner's ongoing influence and impact around the globe."
Thank you Shelf Awareness for the great review!
www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.ht...
Thank you Shelf Awareness for the great review!
www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.ht...
Shelf Awareness for Readers for Friday, March 28, 2025
www.shelf-awareness.com
March 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"Through dozens of interviews with Wagner members, Lechner delves into the group's murky beginnings...Death Is Our Business is a trenchant assessment of Wagner's ongoing influence and impact around the globe."
Thank you Shelf Awareness for the great review!
www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.ht...
Thank you Shelf Awareness for the great review!
www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.ht...
On April 9 I'll be sharing my new book, DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS, as part of The Aspen Institute's Susan and John Klein Book Series. Register for the event below!
www.aspeninstitute.org/events/susan...
www.aspeninstitute.org/events/susan...
Susan and John Klein Book Series featuring John Lechner
www.aspeninstitute.org
March 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM
On April 9 I'll be sharing my new book, DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS, as part of The Aspen Institute's Susan and John Klein Book Series. Register for the event below!
www.aspeninstitute.org/events/susan...
www.aspeninstitute.org/events/susan...
Reposted by John Lechner
Meta pirated 16 of my books/stories to train their AI. Fuck Meta, fuck AI, and fuck everyone stealing our work to call themselves a writer. Anyway, go buy House of Bone and Rain or The Devil Takes You Home.
March 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Meta pirated 16 of my books/stories to train their AI. Fuck Meta, fuck AI, and fuck everyone stealing our work to call themselves a writer. Anyway, go buy House of Bone and Rain or The Devil Takes You Home.
Reposted by John Lechner
🎙️On this week’s #Whowhatwhy podcast, author @johnalechner.bsky.social joins Jeff Schechtman to discuss the Wagner Group’s secretive origins and its rise to challenge Vladimir Putin.
whowhatwhy.org/podcast/coul...
whowhatwhy.org/podcast/coul...
Could Musk Buy Trump His Own Private Army? - WhoWhatWhy
Private armies now threaten democracy. When billionaires can buy their own military force, warfare itself becomes a deadly business venture.
whowhatwhy.org
March 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM
🎙️On this week’s #Whowhatwhy podcast, author @johnalechner.bsky.social joins Jeff Schechtman to discuss the Wagner Group’s secretive origins and its rise to challenge Vladimir Putin.
whowhatwhy.org/podcast/coul...
whowhatwhy.org/podcast/coul...