The figure of Jacques Lacan remains one of the most controversial in the intellectual history of the 20th century. Some consider him a genius who made a colossal contribution to the development of philosophy and psychoanalysis, others - a charlatan who used "intellectual tricks" to dust the heads of gullible admirers. So what kind of person was he? Why didn't you write books? What united him with the surrealists? Why every time we try to delve into his ideas, we face such significant difficulties? Is it even possible to understand his ideas? Dmitry Uzlaner answers these and many other questions. He helps not only penetrate the universe of the French philosopher and psychoanalyst, but also convinces her to stay in it.