The book is a popular account of the history of the origin and development of things. Surprisingly, the most ordinary things for us were once looked at as a curiosity. At the same time, their appearance reflects the needs and spirit of their time - therefore, the history of things allows us to learn more about the life and customs of people of the past. What did the first bikes look like? How did people in ancient times determine the time? Why has instant coffee gained popularity? You can learn the answers to these and many other questions from this book.