Kotoshikhin's work is divided into 13 chapters. Here he talks about the tsar and the royal family, their way of life, court ceremonies, about tsarist officials and service people, about the relations of Moscow tsars with foreign sovereigns, about royal courts, orders, cities, their management, about the organization of troops, about trading people and trade, about peasants, boyars and their life. Well acquainted with all aspects of the life of the Moscow state, Kotoshikhin provides important information for the study of the state and public life of pre-Petrine Russia. Having learned many Western views, he has a negative attitude towards the organization of the Moscow state, condemns prejudice and ignorance.