This book is a collection of short stories; some really short, a mere 2 to 3 pages, while others may be 60 pages. It is a reflection of Tolstoy, the teacher, pointing a wise moral for the reader, showing us, “how to live.” The stories are reflections Tolstoy’s Christian faith, but this book appeals to the general reader as well. An author with a monumental writing style and a distinct voice, well known for classic longer works such as Anna Karenina and War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy proves here that he is a master of the short story as well, and that he is not just a gifted storyteller but a person concerned with the soul, humanity, and goodness as much as with literature as an art.

Proof that up until Chekhov, short stories were merely vassals of the church, morality tales. Tolstoy was obsessed to a mind-numbing degree with Christian cultism. All of Putin's restorative nostalgia bullshit is wrapped up in these simpleton stories. Pompous, pious platitudes with no soul. Tolstoy is the most overrated author in human history. I've read all these stories before and can honestly say, you can read this book in 5 minutes. Just scanthe story title, first couple of sentences then skip to the final final sentence (i.e. the "moral"). Proof that religion can rot the artistic mind (Flannery O'Connor notwithstanding) and is designed to enslave. The kind of book that will NEVER get banned by fascist school boards.

Thank God for Chekhov and Ludmilla Petrushevskaya.

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!

An amazing and enlightening book! My favorite tales are What Men Live By, Ivan The Fool, The Godson, The Coffee-House of Surat and Three Questions.

Lots of Christian themes. But it made me appreciative of labor and acts of kindness and less attached to material goods at the time of reading it. Very grounding and humbling.

Great collection of some classic Russian short lit. Tolstoy is a fave of mine. And a couple of my fave Tolstoy shorties are in this book. Huzzah!

Tolsoty pretty much rewrote old Christian and Jewish stories. They are fun to read and have great endings...

Profound... highly recommend and will reread!

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.

تولستوي طلع عنصري!

Yay yay religion religion !!! Sad stories religion ! So much religion ! Too much religion ? Who knows !!!!

الكتاب الذي رافقني في عمر المراهقة ، كم احببت وتعجبت من تصرفات ايفان المغفل ، كم هي عظيمة قصة بما يحيا الانسان ... من اعظم الكتب التي تركت فيَّ بصمة..
شكراً تولستوي ايها العظيم