Walk in the Light Twenty-Three Tales By Leo Tolstoy

A happy introduction to the world of Russian literature! Tolstoy writes about the virtues of poverty, self-sufficiency, and humility. The heroic characters say things like God's will be done and That's none of my business; their hands are dirty with the hard work they've done in the fields, and their minds are so filled with the logistics of immediate tasks that they have no time for politics or pompous speculation. This is an admirable collection of ways to say Your way, not mine to God. I am inspired to make my life more sparse after reading this. I'd like to devote each day to the work of God and forget myself; I'd like to perform the most menial of tasks with the spirit of a saint. The old man in Walk In the Light While There is Light says to Julius, Work, brother! Work is joyous! ... God's work is infinite. God's work is you. This is a a vision, a destination, a meaning of a life that's worth living.

I agree with the general picture of possessions possessing their owners. I admire simplicity, humility and industry with Tolstoy. I do notice, however, that he has a scorn for the thinking/abstract/learned people of society, which feels both disproportionate and unwise. It is the devil who tells good King Ivan's citizens to work with their heads; of course he has malicious intentions since he's the devil, but is it so inconceivable that any good work might be done with the head? Isn't that what this entire collection is, anyway? The bishop on the boat, a likable and good character, makes a fool of himself when he tries to teach three Holy hermits how to pray the Our Father, what he calls the right way to pray. True, the hermits were holy enough without his help (they can walk on water, for Christ's sake) but is it so prideful for a man who wants to shepherd other men toward holiness to want to teach unlearned men Jesus' special prayer? This was the only real eyebrow raiser I had for dear old Tolstoy. Next: Anna Karenina!

Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction I have somewhat mixed feelings about these stories. On the one hand, I often find the naive and overdone. But on the other hand, after reading them for a while, I start to see why they're so good; they remind me, in my sleepy intellectual world, what life is really about. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction So good. Almost biblical. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction These short stories by Tolstoy are considered by some to be profound philosophical statements. I had great expectations but was unfortunately very disappointed. The ones I read ( I did not complete the book) were simply parables focused on teachings from the New Testament. Parables explained by Jesus in a few lines whereas Tolstoy's go on for 20 pages or more. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction This is a book of many fine short stories from Tolstoy. They are Tolstoy's attempts to exhibit the qualities that he thought made for good, authentic art: they transmit feelings that either serve to unite people under what Tolstoy thought of as the religious consciousness of our age (the brotherhood of man and sonship to God) or unite people in universal, everyday ways. They stand in sharp contrast to Tolstoy's well-known novels (which he later repudiated--along with the vast majority of what has been considered great art--as being either counterfeit or bad). Some readers may find some of the stories to be didactic, even preachy. I generally find the more preachy stories to be the more edifying, although some of the less preachy stories are also excellent. There are a few that stand out as clearly inferior to the others. The stories are simple and their messages are clear. The best among them have the same effect as parables from the Gospels. They make a simple but powerful point or promote compassion and fellow-feeling. Very good stuff. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction

These stories were hit or miss, but those that hit, hit hard. The best from this collection are:

-A Talk Among Leisured People
-God Sees the Truth, but Waits
-What Men Live By
-A Spark Neglected Burns the House
-Two Old Men
-Where Love Is, God Is

My favorite was Where Love Is, God Is. It's a Christmas tale, very touching and a great message. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction My favorite short stories from this collection:
A Spark Neglected Burns the House--This ought to be obligatory reading for all mediators.
The Story of Ivan the Fool--Excellent reflections for anyone who thinks overly highly of their intellect.
The Godson--Tolstoy's contribution to the tradition to nonviolence, which he inherited from H.D. Thoreau, and passed on to Gandhi and later Dr. King.
How Much Land Does a Man Need--An important reality check for anyone consumed with ambition. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction These stories are heavily influenced by Tolstoy's Christian anarchist leanings (which I didn't know about until I started reading them). They are powerfully written - often based on popular folk tales - and effortlessly combine the Biblical lessons with beautiful depictions of Russian life in the 19th century. I think some of these stories would be great for kids especially. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction There is a reason Tolstoy is still widely read in such a vast array of languages. However, one must admit that his novels can be daunting. This collection of stories is a good introduction to his style, his passions and his humanity. I took my time with this reading a story or a chapter every now and then, usually at night and it was a very favorable experience. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction Ok, I know I am a bad person for not being all that into Tolstoy, but I wasn't. :) I read the main story Walk in the Light, and the Christians were these kind of idealistic hippie commune dwellers. Personally, I think the main character could have become a Christian, remained in his home, and reformed his life instead of moving to the commune, so I don't get it. Maybe it was about how Christians are not of this world, so in the story, Tolstoy literally had them living somewhere else. But I just didn't like the commune aspect of it. Even if you're a Christian, you are still sinful. It's not all love and wonderfulness. I read a couple of the other stories as well, and they were good, just felt like I wasn't that into the book. Life is short--you don't have to finish every book. Fiction, Philosophy, Nonfiction

Leo Tolstoy ☆ 7 Read & Download

Uncluttered by the complexities of plot and character that daunt so many readers of the longer Russian masterpieces, Tolstoy's tales illumine eternal truths with the forceful brevity. While inspired by the sense of spiritual certainty, their narrative quality, subtle humor, and visionary power lift them far above the common run of religious literature. Walk in the Light Twenty-Three Tales