In the book of his memoirs, the last President of the USSR paints an emotional picture of his path to the pinnacle of power, full of unique facts and revelations, vivid episodes and dialogues. The origins of the political choice of the “architect of perestroika” become clear, the course of reforms and their impact on the development of the situation in the country, the post-perestroika realities of which the author assesses as a drama, is critically analyzed. For the first time in such a volume and with such a degree of confidence, Mikhail Gorbachev talks about his private life, about his family and people close to him. The second part of M.S. Gorbachev’s book is devoted to the foreign policy consequences of the reforms, the formation of a fundamentally new type of relationship between the USSR and foreign countries, especially with The USA and other leading powers, as well as with the countries of the former socialist camp. The author's analysis of the tragic events associated with the collapse of the Union, the role of individual former and current political figures in it, a critical assessment of the seven-year period of government of the country, and moral lessons from the life of the first and last President of the USSR are interesting.