Paul Zumthor's book is dedicated to the historical era, which is rightfully considered the Dutch “golden age”. It was a time when trade, industry, agriculture, and science were rapidly developing in Holland, and art, in particular painting, joyfully captured all the manifestations of the “Dutch miracle” in its everyday life. The author managed to create a wonderful, detailed canvas of the ordinary life of people of different classes and conditions. The reader will learn how they conquered lands from the sea, traded, received medical treatment, grew flowers, cooked, did general cleaning, got married, used money to grow, raised children, and what god the Dutch who lived in the distant 17th century believed in.