This book is dedicated to the things that surround each of us: matches and fountain pens, cologne and bras, stockings and fur coats, suitcases and bicycles, cars and fences, bathhouses and even toilets - in a word, everything that people cannot do without. Without claiming lofty goals, the authors nevertheless talk about the history of human civilization. After all, what is civilization? This is - to a large extent - a combination of ordinary, familiar, simple things. What discoveries took place, passions boiled over, insights and misfortunes happened before people had the opportunity to easily and naturally wear jeans or, say, fan themselves, flick a lighter or put a vinyl record on the turntable! Journalist Faina Osmanova and writer Dmitry Stakhov write their “Stories of Simple Things” with love for the things themselves and with respect for those who use, have used and will use these things.