Using the example of individual artifacts preserved in the author's family, the book shows the history of their appearance, the connection with the processes that took place in the former USSR at all stages of its existence. The fates of people directly or indirectly connected with these artifacts, the history of the buildings and structures where these people lived, and the specific institutions in which they worked are traced. Each of the chapters of the book is illustrated with photographic materials, a significant part of which is stored in the author's archive. The book is intended for a wide range of readers interested in Soviet history. Ya. M. Mirkin.