In the 1980s, leading world powers enviously attributed Japan's economic progress to the advantages of its education system. Now it's Finland's turn. In her book, Pasi Sahlberg tells how, over the last third of the 20th century, the Finns managed to turn a mediocre school system into one of the best in the world, attract the most talented young people to the teaching profession, and create schools throughout the country where children do not cram answers to standardized test questions. and learn with joy. It is not difficult to study in such a school, but it is interesting, they try to find an individual approach to each student, each teacher strives to work creatively, and school directors and higher authorities do not interfere with this, but promote it. Recently, in many countries of the world (including Russia) a completely different direction of education reform has become widespread, focusing on standardization and tightening control over students, teachers and schools. In his serious, fact-rich study, the author convincingly proves that there is a real alternative to this path, the existence of which is eloquently evidenced by the Finnish experience.