It is no secret that many researchers, scientists, and business people have repeatedly attempted to comprehend and describe the secret of achieving success, in other words to find the “formula of triumph”. These attempts were made by studying the biographies of various established personalities and historical figures. Often studies of this kind have boiled down to numbers, ratios, and dry statistics. However, to date there is no comprehensive answer to the question “How to achieve success and triumph in life”. In this issue, readers will explore the research concept of the “Matrix of Life” and the phenomena of the Russian and American quests. This issue also delves into the narrative traditions of various cultures, the role of social networks in our lives is examined, and readers will gain knowledge about the historical and social processes contributing to racial inequality, using Brooklyn as a case study. The authors cover a range of other relevant topics in their latest articles.