We all know the phrase “public upheavals.” But how to live in a “shaken” society, how to preserve property, dignity, inner peace—and even life itself? How to withstand the first blow when the familiar world suddenly collapses? How to get through the crisis wiser and stronger? Who else, if not Russia, can answer these questions, because for centuries it has been tossing us from one extreme to another. Yakov Mirkin has long been known as a collector and careful custodian of Russia’s historical experience of overcoming wars, revolutions, repressions, and crises. He built an entire gallery of portraits of politicians, scholars, and cultural figures who reacted to stress in different ways. But this book is unique. It’s not only about the past, but also about present-day experience. The author gathered more than 100 personal stories from his subscribers and created a truly healing book—without seeking the “right” ones and “wrong” ones, without labels and accusations. A soul-healing book about how, over 200 years, our ancestors and contemporaries survived in times of endless change.