A thought-provoking window into a specific, under-ddiscussed country context that holds many lessons for Marxists and fans of neoliberalism alike. At times, its ponderings fall prey to a mild and understandable both-sides-ism, and I wish Ypi had been more generous with her adult self's reflections on left-right politics, instead of relegating this to her academic work. Often, I could not help but feel that her childhood memories had been idealised and polished, "literature-rised", perhaps. Nonetheless, every European reader, especially leftists, should feel rightfully challenged and inspired by this educational read.