"Non-standard. Forgotten Experiments in Soviet Culture is a unique collection that immerses the reader in the depths of the Soviet past, revealing little-known and often forgotten pages of the country's cultural history. In this fascinating study, a team of authors, including Julia Weingurt and William Nickell, masterfully reveal to the reader a whole palette of unusual, sometimes risky and daring experiments that took place outside the walls of the official culture of the Soviet time. This book is a real storehouse of unexpected facts, vivid stories and deep analytical reflections that make you look at the Soviet era from a new, non-standard angle. The focus of the collection is those “forgotten experiments” that did not make it into history textbooks, but had a significant impact on the development of Soviet culture and art. The team explores how artists, writers, musicians and directors sought new forms of expression, breaking canons and creating unique works that often contradict the official ideology. The book details the rare occasions when creators boldly took risks to express their individuality or protest against imposed standards. These stories not only capture the spirit with their courage, but also show how important freedom of creativity was even in conditions of strict control. Non-standard . Forgotten Experiments in Soviet Culture” will be a real discovery for a wide range of readers from lovers of history and culture to students and specialists interested in the Soviet past. It will be especially interesting for those who appreciate non-standard approaches, looking for answers to questions about how new ideas are born in a repressive regime and how they can change society. For young people passionate about art and history, this book will open their eyes to the fact that even in the harshest of times, creative freedom and courage were possible. The topics raised in the collection cover a wide range from experimental art movements and unusual literary movements to unusual cultural initiatives and hidden layers of the Soviet music scene. A special place is occupied by the analysis of how these experiments influenced the development of Soviet culture and how they were perceived by society and government. The authors masterfully show that even in conditions of severe ideological pressure, sometimes sparks of freedom appeared, which could become the beginning of new cultural eras. The style of Julia Weingurt and William Nickell is a subtle combination of scientific rigor and a lively, fascinating narrative. Their approach allows not only to gain valuable knowledge, but also to enjoy reading, immersing in the atmosphere of the era, feeling the spirit of the time through vivid descriptions and analytical reflections. In their works, there is a deep respect for the cultural heritage and a desire to show its versatility, which makes "Nekstandard" not just a collection of facts, but a real guide to the little-known facets of Soviet culture. This book is not only a source of information, but also an inspiration for those who are looking for non-standard ways of self-expression and appreciate courage in art. It is worthy of attention of all who want to understand how new ideas are born in conditions of strict censorship and ideological pressure, and how these ideas can change not only culture, but society as a whole. "Non-standard. Forgotten Experiments in Soviet Culture is a book that will force you to look at the Soviet era from the other side and open new horizons for reflection on the freedom of creativity and its role in history.