The book examines Slovak education as an example of totalitarianism, exploring two opposing sides: the publicly expressed values and ideals of of cial compulsory education subordinated to government power and the alternative ideals and concepts of unofcial education implemented by informal groups and underground organizations (dissent). The authors seek answers to Hannah Arendts iconic questions: What happened? Why did it happen? How could this happen? The title of the book also references the dualism in the lives of individuals and families who did not identify with the doctrine of Marxism-Leninism and totalitarian ways of governing. In order to preserve their inner freedom, they lived a double life, one in private and the other in public.