Of two books, I listened to this one first, without reading. I found I could listen and understand 90% of everything I heard at normal speed. Kristina’s reading is clear and professional, so using context for new words is easier. The chapters are perfect in length, 8 to 12 minutes. I did find the written portion great for reference and I read them aloud. I really like the added questions. Also, I appreciate stress marks. Reading without them can lead to mistaken pronunciation that is hard to shake. These books are great assets for anyone who wants to study Russian or keep their ear and pronunciation finely tuned.