Presenting the "Book of Life" by the remarkable grandmaster Yuri Averbakh, a participant in the Candidates Tournament for the World Championship and a champion of the USSR. The first part of the book features 64 games, complete with detailed authorial commentary, offering significant educational value. Averbakh is not only a renowned opening theorist but also a master of technical play and the world's foremost expert on endgames; his classic work "Chess Endings" has been translated into many languages. The second part of the book comprises unique memoirs. During Soviet times, the context behind many crucial decisions in chess was known only to a select few. Among the most informed was Yuri Averbakh, who spent over three decades in the elite circles of Soviet and international chess federations. Additionally, he provided assistance to greats like Botvinnik, Smyslov, Petrosian, and Tal throughout the years. The insights of such a figure are truly invaluable!