Is it possible to have a textbook clear view of the causes, driving forces and the very essence of the revolutions of 1917 in modern Russia? The attitude of society, which suffered cultural trauma during the collapse of the USSR, to those historical events, the author of the book believes, is overloaded with emotions and dramatic images of the past. S. G. Kara-Murza proposes to translate the important discussion of two large strategic projects - the February and October revolutions - into the plane of rational concepts. “A common language of concepts, logic and measure will temporarily calm passions and allow people to connect 1917 with 2017, and most importantly, look into the future,” the author believes and sums up: “This is our national task.”