A new book by Ukrainian historian and political scientist Kostya Bondarenko explores the phenomenon of Ukrainian politics during the first thirteen years of independence. This is not a biographical book in the usual sense of the word. The ego is an attempt to comprehend our recent history through the activities of Leonid Kuchma - the most prominent representative of the era - to show logical chains, relationships, a causal series of what is happening in our politics. The author puts forward many hypotheses regarding certain events and phenomena, sometimes his conclusions are quite provocative and unusual. This book is not an attempt to rehabilitate Kuchma, but an objective look at events, at the weaknesses and strengths of the Ukrainian president and the system he created, at his mistakes and achievements. The book does not give estimates, but calls for reflection and discussion. Designed for a wide range of readers.