In times of crisis, every society needs strong leaders. During prosperous periods, we usually have the illusion that everything goes on its own, one good day follows another, nothing needs to be changed. Strong leaders—initiators of reforms and changes—are not in demand. The 20th century gave the world a galaxy of huge figures, completely different, but similar in scale. Mikoyan is in this row. Anastas Mikoyan is a major phenomenon, the scale of whose personality can only be admired, hoping that the new leaders will be no less decisive and ambitious. How and why a man, an unknown son of an illiterate peasant, armed only with intellect and will, ascended to the pinnacle of power and led a people of more than 200 million? This is what the book is about.