Were there revolutions in Russia? How is the "revolution" different from the troubles? What place in the history of Russia is occupied by unrest? These and other equally pressing questions for understanding the past were posed in the book of the historian, Professor A. Yu. Dvornichenko. A small but meaningful essay is a fascinating fusion of the historiography of the Russian revolutions carefully studied by him, these sources, and the presentation of factual material. At the same time, the book is innovative. However, the author does not seek to create another historical and sociological scheme. For him, the history of his native country is not something abstract - history passes through each of us. That is why he chooses for himself "guides in the era," real and close people - G. V. Vernadsky and V. N. Chadrantsev.