Mikhail Shishkin was born in Moscow in 1961, lives in Switzerland. Author of the novels ”Notes of Larionov“, ”The Taking of Ishmael“, ”Venus's Hair“, ”The Letter-writer“ and the literary and historical guide "Russian Switzerland". Winner of the Big Book, Russian Booker and National Bestseller awards.“This book contains texts written by different me as I approach. Someone said that culture arose out of a feeling of loneliness before death. There is a legend about a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary. He had been scratching a boat on the wall with the handle of a prison spoon for years. And then one day they brought him, as usual, water, bread and balanda, but the cell turned out to be empty, and the wall was clean. He got into his scratched boat and sailed away.A book is a boat. You just need to enliven the words so that the boat becomes real, so that you can get into it and sail away to those who love you and are waiting for you. Culture did not arise out of loneliness, but out of human warmth.” (Mikhail Shishkin) Five reasons to buy a collection of essays on culture from the author of the cult novels "The Letter Writer", "The Taking of Ishmael", "Venus Hair" and others. 2The continuation of the author's series "Mikhail Shishkin: Calligraphy Lessons". Mikhail Shishkin is a well-known novelist, winner of the Big Book, National Bestseller and Russian Booker awards. 3 A collection of stories about writers and autobiographical texts, including memories and discussions about Russian and world cultures in the context of each other. 4This prose is a brilliant example of essayism as a special art of laconic expression of a lengthy idea. 5texts as a rescue tool from meanings and words. "In a boat scratched on the wall" - salvation for drowning in confusion and despair.