The metaphysics of domestic reform seems to be the leitmotif of Russian political science. The debate about the direction of the reforms of the last 25 years, about the nature and specifics of transformation of the society and the individual constantly come up in various contexts, the intersection point of which is the identification of relations between political and institutional transformation and the status of Russia as a subject of historical creativity. The goals and results of transformations in the social and individual projections reflect multilayered overlay of civilizational parameters of Russian society, its social canvas, social needs and political strategies. The problem of social stability and variability correlates with the notions of subjects and objects of political and economic reforms, their ideological intentions and the dominant socio- political discourses. The ambiguity of the outcomes of the reforms in Russia implicates research perspective of categorization and understanding of the essential forces of the individual and the society: understanding the social features of Russia, reflection of social needs in the mass consciousness, the political meanings of the reformation and finally the destiny of man. Many of the concepts and narratives are reflected in the book: 25 Years after the USSR: People, Society, Reforms: People, Society, Reforms (Compiled by P. Dutkiewicz, R. Sakwa, V.I. Kulikov. Ed. by E.B. Shestopal, A.Y. Shutov, V.I. Yakunin. Moscow: Moscow University Press. 2015). The given article proposes reflection on methodological approaches of the reviewed book.