The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where human civilization has been destroyed by a catastrophic event known as the Great Transition. The protagonist, a young man named Artyom, discovers a hidden underground bunker where he finds a collection of books and records that have survived the transition. He becomes obsessed with understanding the technology and knowledge contained within them, believing it holds the key to saving humanity and rebuilding society. The book explores themes of technology, knowledge, and the importance of understanding the process of technological evolution in order to survive in a rapidly changing world. It also touches on the idea of personal paradigms and how they can shape our perceptions of reality. The plot of the book follows Artyom's journey as he uncovers the secrets of the bunker and learns about the technological advancements that took place before the Great Transition. He soon realizes that the only way for humanity to survive is to develop a new paradigm for perceiving the technological process of developing modern knowledge, one that values understanding over power and control.

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