The publication “The Power of Heritage: Socio-Economic Examples from Central Europe”, edited by Joanna Sanetra-Szeliga and Katarzyna Jagodzińska, explores how cultural heritage contributes to social and economic development across Central Europe. Inspired by the EU-funded project Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe, this volume aims to fill a research gap and provide empirical evidence on the multidimensional value of heritage, particularly in post-communist societies where its developmental potential is underappreciated. The book is structured in two parts: a theoretical section and a series of case studies. The theoretical framework redefines cultural heritage as a dynamic, community-driven process with economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts. It emphasizes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach and critiques the lack of impact evaluation in heritage-related projects. The empirical section includes studies from countries like Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Czechia, and Slovakia. These studies analyze diverse cases – from revitalized castles and manor schools to post-industrial creative hubs and music festivals – highlighting how heritage fosters local identity, tourism, economic growth, and social cohesion. Overall, the book argues that investing in heritage is investing in the future, and it calls for greater academic, policy, and civic engagement with the socio-economic potential of heritage in Central Europe.