The review is written on the base of a report read at a conference dedicated to the A. S. Sokolov 75th anni­versary (Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conser­va­tory, October 9th–10th, 2024). It observes his little-known book, published in 2008 and addressed to the widest circle of readers, professionals and music lovers. The work’s subject matter is contemporary music, issues of its perception, performance interpretation, and composition technique. The peculiarity of the edition is the abundance of musical and illustrative material, which immerses the reader in the historical context. With these illustrations, Sokolov explains the difficult “conversation” about musical language, genres, style, and musical notation. Modern music is considered in the context of both academic and mass culture. Such a wide range of material makes the book useful for educational and outreach activities.