The book is dedicated to the original Russian cosmonaut training school, those who are preparing for space flights, and their mentors, engineers, doctors, scientists, pilots, trainers, testers, methodologists and other professionals of the Gagarin CPC and related organizations. The author, astronaut, tester and writer, writes "from the inside," relying on his experience and diaries of different years. The text is supplemented by short articles by specialists responsible for the selection and training of astronauts, documented and equipped with many unique, previously unpublished photographs. For a wide range of readers.