The second novel by the famous Russian writer Evgeny Stepanov, “Stagnation. Perestroika. Sucks” is not panoramic and large-scale in a modern way. The writer shows life in three eras, using broad strokes to paint a picture of Soviet-Russian reality from the 60s of the last century to the 2000s. His characters study at a Moscow school, a provincial university, work in the village in the teaching field, sit in a mental hospital and prison, fight in Afghanistan, learn the basics of business, go through emigration, etc., etc. Various layers of society are shown, different stages of the country's socio-economic development. According to the critic, doctor of cultural studies Sergei Biryukov, “this is one of the most epoch-making works about our life in the last fifty years.” The main character of the novel is Evgeny Viktorovich Zharkov, poet, literature teacher, journalist, businessman, person , surviving in the most difficult and incredible life situations and without losing good spirits and a sense of humor.