Support for NPR and the following message come from SAP Concur, a leading brand for integrated travel expense and invoice management solutions.

With SAP Concur solutions, you'll be ready to take on whatever the market throws at you next. Learn more at

concur.com. This is fresh air. I'm Dave Davies. Now and then in the affairs of

nations a celebrity entertainer becomes a prominent political leader.

Think Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eva Perron.

In Ukraine, Valodimir Zilinsky made an unlikely transition from actor and comedian to president

and is now one of the most recognizable heads of state in the world, known for his fearless leadership

as his country fights to repel the Russian invasion. his to tell Zilinski's story. He was born in Moscow, the son of a Ukrainian father and a Russian mother.

His family emigrated to the United States when he was six, and after graduating from Stanford, he went into journalism.

He's been reporting from Russia and Ukraine. Graduating from Stanford, he went into journalism.

He's been reporting from Russia and Ukraine for 17 years,

for Reuters, the Associated Press, and since 2009 for time.

His new book is a revealing look at Zolinsky's life and career,

drawn in significant part from Schuster's own time with Zolinsky in the

Presidential compound in Kyve, and traveling with Zilinsky to sites of combat and atrocities.

Schuster also did extensive interviews with Zilinsky's associates, allies, family, and adversaries.

His account is full of information and insights that were new to me.

He finds that Zolenski's background as an entertainer was valuable training for his role

in convincing Western leaders and their citizens to support Ukraine's fight for independence.

And he writes that the war has changed Zellinsky and his view of the world.

Schuster's book is The Showman.

Inside the Invasion that Shook the World and made a leader of Valotamer

...