Eminent scientists, writers, actors and science popularizers speak every day at the Direct Speech Lecture Hall. Their assessments and opinions often do not coincide with the established point of view - ideas, thoughts and discoveries are born right before the eyes of the listeners. For ten years now, the calling card of “Direct Speech” has been Dmitry Bykov’s lectures on literature. Bykov teaches us to turn to familiar texts for advice and consolation, to seek and find in them answers to the challenges of the new day. His lectures are always events. Now they are also available in book format. “Soviet Literature: Myths and Temptations” is the second book of lectures by Dmitry Bykov. Mikhail Bulgakov, Boris Pasternak, Marina Tsvetaeva, Alexander Blok, Daniil Kharms, Bulat Okudzhava, Joseph Brodsky, Sergei Dovlatov, Victor Pelevin, Boris Grebenshchikov, Russian energy poetry... The book contains obscene language