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24 December 2025
A journey into a world that no longer exists
On December 12th, a significant new book by Jacek Piekara was released. Świat Zaginiony. Wyprawa do wnętrza PRL (The Lost World: A Journey into the Interior of the PRL) is an extensive, 400-page compendium of everyday existence in the Polish People’s Republic, published by Zysk i S-ka. The author, a prominent figure in Polish literature, takes readers on an unusual journey—to the heart of communist Poland, describing it like an insightful ethnographer studying an alien, lost civilization.
“This is a completely atypical position for me because it is a combination of a lexicon and an encyclopedia, as well as personal stories and anecdotes. It contains a huge number of quotes, has an album-like character, and includes several hundred photos,”
– said the author recently in an interview with Wojciech Wybranowski on the Holistic News podcast.
Beyond the fiction: The raw truth of the Bloc
The book is not a work of fiction but a popular science compendium divided into thematic sections with dozens of extensive entries, illustrated with photographs and graphics.
It describes how the world of the Eastern Bloc functioned in the spheres of politics, economy, customs, and culture. It carefully observes its inhabitants: their rituals, daily troubles and joys, what they ate and drank, how they lived, worked, and played, how they dressed, and how they raised children.
“It’s about a fundamental understanding of what the socialist state actually was and what it was based on. For the modern reader—and I thought largely about making sure the recipients of this book were not just people my age, but also younger generations—all of this requires explanation from the ground up. I wanted them to be able to see what the reality really was,”
– the author explained during a conversation on Holistic News YouTube.
What is hidden inside the “Socialist Paradise”?
The study focuses on four key areas:
- Political life and state control
- Economic realities (shortages and queues)
- Eating habits and culinary survival
- Travel and restricted borders
In an era where the communist past is becoming an increasingly distant memory, this work is not only educational but also a reflection on national identity. By intertwining facts with anecdotes, the narrative showcases the joys and absurdities of the epoch—from dreams of owning a tiny “Maluch” car to the provocations of the secret services aimed at religious pilgrims.
“Today we have a tendency to warm up and infantilize the image of that era. The absurdities of life in a system of ‘socialist happiness’ seem so funny now! Maybe they are funny on one condition: that you didn’t have to live in that paradise. Day after day. Year after year,”
– Jacek Piekara noted on social media.
About the Author: Jacek Piekara
The creator of this compendium, Jacek Piekara, is one of Poland’s most popular writers, renowned for his vast body of work in fantasy and speculative fiction. Born in 1965, Piekara experienced the realities of the socialist system firsthand, which allows him to balance rigorous historical data with a unique personal perspective.
His prolific career, spanning several decades, includes influential work as a journalist, radio personality, and scriptwriter for video games. His literary achievements earned him international recognition, including the European Science Fiction Society Award for Author of the Year. Piekara’s creative reach extends into the digital world; his famous Inquisitor cycle served as the foundation for the dark fantasy video game “The Inquisitor” (2024), developed by the Polish studio The Dust.
Currently a regular columnist for Holistic News, Jacek Piekara continues to share his insights on both alternative worlds and the very real history of the 20th century. His latest book effectively ensures that the nuances of daily life in the PRL are not lost to time or distorted by modern nostalgia, reminding us that the “Lost World” behind the Iron Curtain was far more complex than a vintage postcard suggests.
Read this article in Polish: Jak żyło się w PRL? Jacek Piekara rozbija sentymentalne mity
