Popular Science Books

Invented in Russia

The History of Russian Inventive Thought from Peter I to Nicholas II

2017 · Popular science book

In numerous reference books and lists of Russian inventions, three quarters of the remarkable ideas produced by Russian inventive thought are usually omitted; instead, one discovers claims that we invented the aeroplane (certainly not), the bicycle (also no), and the ballistic missile (by no means). This book has two aims: first, to tell the story of inventions made at different times by our compatriots, with the greatest possible objectivity, neither understating nor exaggerating their achievements; second, to dispel the many myths and historical falsifications connected with the history of invention.

Nominations:

Enlightener, 2017 // Humanities. Shortlist

Editions

Numbered editions

1st edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2017. ISBN 978-5-91671-752-5.
2nd edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2018. ISBN 978-5-91671-786-0.
3rd edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2019. ISBN 978-5-91671-955-0.
4th edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2023. ISBN 978-5-00139-941-4.
5th edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-00223-698-5.

Commercial editions

Edition for the company “Finval.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2018. ISBN 978-5-91671-786-0.
Edition for “Vnesheconombank.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2018. ISBN 978-5-91671-786-0.
Edition for the company “SVEL.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2019. ISBN 978-5-91671-752-5.
Edition for the company “Ostek-SMT.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2021. ISBN 978-5-91671-955-0.
Edition for the technopolis “Moscow.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2024. ISBN 978-5-907470-50-7.
Edition for “Moscow Credit Bank.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-00223-508-7.
Edition for the company “ERA Group.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-206-00529-5.

Gift editions

Gift edition in a leather binding by the workshop “Dobrye Traditsii”

Gift edition in a leather binding by the workshop “Designcenter”

Gift edition in a leather binding by the workshop “Dobrye Traditsii.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2024. ISBN 978-5-91671-955-0.
Gift edition in a leather binding by the workshop “Designcenter.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2024. ISBN 978-5-91671-955-0.

Other editions

E-book edition. Moscow: Alpina Digital, 2017. ISBN 978-5-9614-4930-3.
Audiobook. Moscow: Alpina Digital, 2019. ISBN 978-5-0013-9090-9.

Foreign-language editions

Chinese

俄羅斯帝國發明史：從彼得一世到尼古拉二世. 北京 / Beijing: 中国科学技术出版社 / China Science and Technology Press, 2024. ISBN 978-752-3602-91-1.

《俄罗斯帝国发明史》用生动甚至是幽默的语言讲述了俄罗斯帝国时期众多有世界影响力或有地位的众多发明，从破冰船、无线电、白炽灯到木偶动画、色谱分离法、降落伞，等等，当然还对一些伪说和杜撰进行了辟谣。通过本书，读者可以对这些发明和它们的发明家有深入的了解，还能了解外国同时期类似的发明，以及二者的比较和后续的发展情况。书中还有作者对俄罗斯帝国时期的发明体制和社会支持以及发明推广的讨论，让读者可以了解俄罗斯与美国、西欧的发明创新在体制的差异。

Invented in the USSR

The History of Inventive Thought from 1917 to 1991

2019 · Popular science book

Inventive activity in the Soviet Union developed in a distinctive way. It was actively encouraged in selected fields—space, military, and scientific—while being largely neglected in everyday life. In other words, the USSR achieved major breakthroughs in rocketry and fundamental research, yet lagged significantly in everything related to daily life, from vacuum cleaners to automobiles. This book has two aims. The first is to present, as objectively as possible, the inventions created by our compatriots during the Soviet period, neither understating nor exaggerating their achievements; the second is to place Soviet inventiveness in a broader context that explains its distinctive path. And, of course, to dispel the many myths surrounding the history of invention.

Nominations:

Enlightener, 2019 // Humanities. Longlist
National Bestseller, 2020 (longlist)

Editions

Numbered editions

1st edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2019. ISBN 978-5-91671-988-8.
2nd edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2020. ISBN 978-5-00139-651-2.
3rd edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2024. ISBN 978-5-00223-391-5.
4th edition. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-00223-577-3.

Commercial editions

Edition for the book collection of the "Sistema" Charitable Foundation

Edition for the book collection of the "Sistema" Charitable Foundation. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2020. ISBN 978-5-91671-988-8.
Edition for the technopolis “Moscow.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-00223-518-6.
Edition for “Moscow Credit Bank.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-00223-509-4.

Gift editions

Gift edition in a leather binding by the workshop “Designcenter.” Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2025. ISBN 978-5-00223-509-4.

Other editions

E-book edition. Moscow: Alpina Digital, 2019. ISBN 978-5-0013-9131-9.
Audiobook. Moscow: Alpina Digital, 2019. ISBN 978-5-0013-9173-9.

Foreign-language editions

Chinese

苏联发明史：从1917年到1991年. 北京 / Beijing: 中国科学技术出版社 / China Science and Technology Press, 2023. ISBN 978-750-4698-49-0.

提到“发明”，您会联想到什么？是中国古代的四大发明，亦或是美国的托马斯•爱迪生，那么您对苏联的发明有多少了解？苏联发明人的处境如何，其贡献又是如何被铭记的？是否所有的发明都以技术物的形式呈现呢？本书从工业、交通、科学、航天、民生等方面，以一段段独立的故事，带您了解苏联的伟大发明与发明家，感叹其创意之精妙，体味其历程之艰辛。

Mars Rover, Accordion, MRI

The History of Armenian Inventive Thought

Popular Science Book. Moscow: Slovo, 2024. ISBN 978-5-387-02038-4.

Having found himself in Armenia by a twist of fate, the author discovered that Armenians, contrary to a popular joke, are not “the first in everything,” yet have indeed made a significant contribution to many areas of human life. Skorenko, true to his meticulous approach to information, set out to determine what Armenians had actually invented and to present it in a light and engaging manner.

Who invented the accordion? Who built the first Mars rover? Who developed the coffee vending machine? Who, and how, actually created the legendary green dye for US dollars, patented the handheld hairdryer, or, say, cultivated the orchid that became a symbol of Singapore? What is myth, and what is the plain truth? The book tells the story of inventors of Armenian origin who, due to historical circumstances, were scattered across the globe—from Soviet Armenia to the United States, France, Austria, and Singapore.

Nominations:

Enlightener, 2025 // Humanities. Longlist

Think and Invent

Popular science book for children. Moscow: Rosman, 2020. ISBN 978-5-353-09358-9.

A true inventor lives within every person. Often dormant, this inner inventor can—and should—be awakened. This book explains how to do it in an engaging and accessible way. Who is an inventor, and how does an invention differ from a discovery? How can one reinvent the wheel or combine technologies in new ways? Should an invention be patented, and how can a market for it be found? The book answers these and many other questions. Creative tasks will help spark your imagination. Onward to invention!

Foreign-language editions

Ukrainian

Думай i винаходь. Харькiв: Монолiт Bizz, 2022. Series: Творимо й витворяємо. ISBN 978-617-7966-73-8.

У кожній людині живе справжній винахідник. Часто він дрімає, але його можна й потрібно розбудити. А от як це зробити, ми весело й наочно розповімо на сторінках нашої книжки. Хто такий винахідник і чим відрізняється винахід від відкриття? Як знову придумати колесо і схрестити технології? Чи треба патентувати винахід і як знайти для нього ринок? Книжка відповість на ці та багато інших запитань! А творчі завдання розбурхають вашу уяву. Уперед до винаходів!

English

How to Become an Inventor. Amazon, 2026. ISBN 979-8181976368.

There is an inventor living inside every one of us. Most of the time, that inventor is asleep—but they can be awakened. And this book will show you how, in a fun and engaging way. What is an inventor, and how is an invention different from a discovery? How can you reinvent the wheel or combine existing technologies to create something new? Do you need a patent? How do you find a market for your invention? This book answers these questions and many more. Along the way, you'll discover fascinating stories about famous inventions, learn how inventors think, and tackle creative challenges designed to spark your imagination. So get ready to look at the world in a new way. Onward to inventions!

French

Comment devenir inventeur. Amazon, 2026. ISBN 979-8185823194.

Il y a un inventeur en chacun de nous. La plupart du temps, il sommeille, mais il est possible de le réveiller. Et ce livre vous montrera comment, de manière ludique et passionnante. Qu'est-ce qu'un inventeur et en quoi une invention diffère-t-elle d'une découverte ? Peut-on réinventer la roue ou combiner des technologies existantes pour créer quelque chose de nouveau ? A-t-on besoin d'un brevet ? Comment trouver un marché pour son invention ? Ce livre répond à toutes ces questions, et à bien d'autres encore. Au fil des pages, vous découvrirez les histoires fascinantes de grandes inventions, comprendrez comment pensent les inventeurs et relèverez des défis créatifs conçus pour stimuler votre imagination. Préparez-vous à regarder le monde d'un œil nouveau. En avant vers les inventions !

Entertaining Experiments and Activities

Popular Mechanics

2018 · Popular science book

This book was created with the direct participation of the editorial team of the magazine “Popular Mechanics” and is based on its materials. “PM,” as is well known, is a magazine about how the world works. We should always remember that it does not arrange itself—it is we, people, who build cars, create spacecraft, construct buildings, and develop computers. We hope that this book will inspire you and your children to continue shaping the world around you, and that we, the editors of “Popular Mechanics,” will always have something to write about.

I served as the book’s editor and compiler, wrote the introductions to the sections, and also authored the chapters “Nothing Is Impossible,” “The Beauty of Harmony,” “Financial Pyramids,” “The Battle of the Eiffels,” “A DIY Camera,” “The Bright Room,” “Jurassic Cinema,” “A Dream from a Machine,” “Music in Glass,” “Fire Tornado,” “Don’t Play with Batteries,” “Burning Air,” “Flame in a Bottle,” “A Paraffin Engine Instead of a Heart,” “Dry Out of Water,” “Secrets of White Powder,” “The Invisible Flask,” “Drawings on Milk,” “Catching Frozen Smoke,” “A Bubble in a Cube, or a Soap Tesseract,” “Concentric Bubbles,” “Pressing Sheet Metal,” “A Mug Pendulum,” “A Kitchen Foucault Pendulum,” “Needles and Coins,” “Lying on Nails,” and “The Art of Levitation.”

Editions

1st edition. Moscow: AST, 2018. ISBN 978-5-17-096930-2.
2nd edition. Moscow: AST, 2018. Series: Popular Mechanics. The Best from the Editorial Team. ISBN 978-5-17-109869-8.

PR Me, If You Dare

A Guide for PR Specialists Written by a Journalist

Popular Science Book. Moscow: AST, 2019. Series: Runet Star. Business. ISBN 978-5-17-119376-8.

Books on PR are usually written by PR professionals. The problem is that almost none of them have ever been on the other side of the barricades—working in a magazine or on television, producing popular video blogs, or managing corporate social media accounts. As a result, conflicts between journalists and PR specialists arise constantly. Tim Skorenko, having spent ten years in journalism, decided to write a textbook on PR and explain the mistakes PR professionals make when working with the press and bloggers—and, conversely, the situations in which journalists themselves are in the wrong in their dealings with PR departments.

How Does the Inedible Become Edible?

Co-author: Tatiana Alekseeva

Popular science book for children. Moscow: Pink Giraffe, 2023. Series: Pocket Scientist Library. ISBN 978-5-4370-0381-7.

What happens when a science communicator and a cook meet in the same kitchen? It turns into a chemical laboratory! Why does a potato become soft when boiled, while an egg, on the contrary, hardens? Why does meat sizzle in a frying pan? And, by the way, why can’t we eat everything raw? Amazing transformations, secret ingredients, and a wide variety of food processing techniques will be revealed to those who read this book, created in collaboration with experts from the Polytechnic Museum.

The World of Mechanic Kulibin

The Man Who Could Do Everything

2025 · Popular science book for children

Who was Ivan Kulibin? What did he invent, and what became of his inventions? Ivan Kulibin was a great mechanic and inventor, a self-taught genius whose name eventually became a household word. Yet if you try to recall what exactly he invented, at best you might think of the Peacock Clock in the Hermitage (which he did not build, but merely repaired). In this book, we aim to tell the true story of the famous master. Kulibin devised many remarkable inventions that were ahead of their time. Here you will read about his searchlights and watercraft, bridges and prosthetics, a self-propelled carriage and a screw lift. We invite you to embark on a journey through time and experience what it was like to be a self-taught genius during the Industrial Revolution in Russia.

Editions

Numbered editions

1st edition. Moscow: Alpina. Children, 2025. Series: Worlds. ISBN 978-5-9614-9905-6.

Other editions

E-book edition. Moscow: Alpina Digital, 2025. Series: Worlds. ISBN 978-5-0063-0286-0.
Audiobook. Moscow: Alpina Digital, 2025. Series: Worlds. ISBN 978-5-0063-1307-1.

The Evolution of Thought in Landmark Dates of Science and in the Exhibits of the Polytechnic Museum

Calendar 2017

Popular Science Book. Moscow: Polytechnic Museum, 2017. Series: Polytechnic Museum Calendar. ISBN 978-5-98962-044-9.

This book continues the “Calendar of Anniversary and Memorial Dates in Natural Sciences and Technology,” which has been published annually since 1949. The calendar includes significant dates in the fields of natural sciences, technology, and industry. It also contains an index of names, an index of enterprises, scientific and educational institutions, and a list of the main sources used. An expanded version of the calendar is available on the website of the Polytechnic Museum, polymus.ru, in the section “Museum for Professionals.”

Compilers: Lyudmila Volkova, Valentina Tumanova; text author: Tim Skorenko; editor-in-chief: Dmitry Mamontov.

For “Calendar 2017,” I wrote the vast majority of the texts, including full-length articles for all sections, as well as a large number of shorter anniversary and memorial entries.

Polytech Calendar 2068

Calendar 2018

Popular science book. Moscow: Polytechnic Museum, 2018. Series: Polytechnic Museum Calendar. ISBN 978-5-98962-028-9.

This book continues the “Calendar of Anniversary and Memorial Dates in Natural Sciences and Technology,” which has been published annually since 1949. The calendar includes significant dates in the fields of natural sciences, technology, and industry. It also contains an index of names, an index of enterprises, scientific and educational institutions, and a list of the main sources used. An expanded version of the calendar is available on the website of the Polytechnic Museum, polymus.ru, in the section “Museum for Professionals.”

Compilers: Lyudmila Volkova, Valentina Tumanova; text authors: Ekaterina Pazukhina, Alexander Pisarev, Tim Skorenko; editor-in-chief: Dmitry Mamontov.

For “Calendar 2068 (2018),” I wrote 12 full-length articles—one for each month—as well as the calendar of upcoming events.

People of the World: The Russian Scientific Diaspora

Editor and compiler: Dmitry Bayuk

Popular science book. Moscow: Alpina Non-Fiction, 2018. ISBN 978-5-91671-766-2.

“People of the World” is a book not simply about emigration, but about Russian scientists and engineers who realised their talents abroad. The tragic events of the twentieth century forced millions of our compatriots to leave their homeland. Yet the history of the Russian scientific diaspora extends beyond the traditional chronology of the waves of Russian emigration, as part of the intellectual elite had already left the country in the years 1895–1915. A powerful wave of emigration followed the Revolution; some scientists, such as the renowned theoretical physicist George Gamow, managed to escape the USSR during the years of Stalinist terror, while others, like the cosmologist Alexander Vilenkin, broke through the “Iron Curtain” during the period of stagnation. Many of the book’s protagonists, for example the engineers Igor Sikorsky and Vladimir Zworykin, received well-deserved recognition in the West; however, in their homeland, the names of most of these outstanding émigré compatriots were unjustly consigned to oblivion. This book is an attempt to restore them to history.

Contributors: Alexander Allakhverdyan, Andrey Vaganov, Gennady Gorelik, Vladimir Gubailovsky, Elena Zaitseva (Baum), Olga Orlova, Anton Pervushin, Irina Ponomaryova, Tim Skorenko, Sergey Yastrebov.

For People of the World, I authored the chapters “A Light in the Window: A Brief History of the Light Bulb” (on Pavel Yablochkov and Alexander Lodygin), “Russian Wings: Aviation in Exile” (on Igor Sikorsky and Alexander Prokofiev-Seversky), “Yurkevich’s Bulbous Bow: A Maritime Story,” “The American Father of Video Recording: Alexander Poniatov,” and “Vladimir Zworykin: The Patent War.”

Weapons and Military Technology: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Popular Mechanics. Compiled by Oleg Makarov

Popular science book. Moscow: AST, 2018. Series: Popular Mechanics. The Best from the Editorial Team. ISBN 978-5-17-102383-6.

For fifteen years, the magazine “Popular Mechanics” has been published in Russia, becoming the country’s leading popular science periodical. “Weapons” is one of the magazine’s most popular sections. To ensure that each issue features articles on modern types of weaponry, PM correspondents visit defence enterprises, interview designers, spend time with military personnel, and work on remote testing grounds. This book includes only a small selection of the articles that PM has devoted to military topics, but they nonetheless represent a broad range of subjects related to weapons and military technology.

Contributors: Oleg Makarov, Alexander Grek, Konstantin Lazarev, Dmitry Mamontov, Roman Fishman, Mikhail Vannakh, Nikolay Tsygikalo, Tim Skorenko, Yuri Granovsky, Dmitry Tiunov, Demyan Belyakov, Sergey Apresov.

For “Popular Mechanics. Weapons and Military Technology: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow,” I authored the chapter “Armour Against Armour,” dedicated to tank rams.

Made in Russia: Ideas, Technologies, Discoveries

Popular Mechanics. Compiled by Roman Fishman

Popular science book. Moscow: AST, 2019. Series: Popular Mechanics. The Best from the Editorial Team. ISBN 978-5-17-112453-3.

“Popular Mechanics” is a magazine about how the world works. This new collection of selected articles is intended to help readers take a fresh look at the world around them, to introduce the technologies that surround us today, as well as those still under development but already poised to transform our lives. It explores the brilliant ideas of Russian engineers of the past and the remarkable challenges that today’s inventors tackle with the same persistence. We live in a remarkable world and in an equally remarkable country—let us get to know them better.

Contributors: Airat Bagautdinov, Yuri Granovsky, Alexander Grek, Alexander Emelyanenkov, Nikolay Korzinov, Oleg Makarov, Dmitry Mamontov, Alexey Levin, Tim Skorenko, Alexander Petrov, Sergey Sysoev, Roman Fishman, Anastasia Shartogasheva.

For “Popular Mechanics. Made in Russia: Ideas, Technologies, Discoveries,” I authored the chapter “The Soviet Maglev.”

Combat Knitwear. A Book About Comfort

Co-author: Evgeny Dolgov

Popular science promotional publication. Moscow: Combat Knitwear LLC, 2011.

Health directly depends on taking proper care of your body. One of the most important factors affecting comfort and well-being is maintaining the body’s proper thermal balance. A person should feel neither cold nor hot — they should feel comfortable.

We at "Combat Knitwear" have carefully studied the question of the ideal thermal balance of the human body and are eager to share the knowledge we have gained with you. We will explain how to maintain this balance during physical activity and at rest, how to improve well-being, endurance, and energy levels by choosing the right clothing, and how to protect yourself from the whims of nature.

A small promotional publication commissioned by Evgeny Dolgov, head of the company “Combat Knitwear,” and written with his participation. I served as the writer and producer, assembling a team consisting of a photographer, designer, layout designer, and literary editor to produce the book from start to finish.