I have not lived in such a place, but I have read part of the gulag archipelago. Even though I have not finished it yet, I am convinced of how terrible such a system is. It makes me sad, I have one friend who is a socialist, and all I can think is how they have no clue. Even if I don't personally have much of one either.

Also the memoirs of Pyotr Wrangle is a very interesting account of Russia's fall to communism. it's called Always With Honor.