The problems of humanities education are gaining national status in modern Russia. By refusing to solve them, we deprive ourselves of the future. Although many of those who are to govern the state in future years prefer to study economics and law, the primary component of humanities training should consist of literature and history. However, literature classes are conducted in accordance with outdated Soviet methods, and history textbooks are written by authors who are unaware of Russian historical thought. The author suggests a holistic approach to overcome this crisis.