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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Read this at, what I didn’t realize, would be the perfect time for me. Questions of habitually following aspects of religion while struggling to find my own truths. A very cyclical way of thinking of moral guidance and picking which practices work to make sense of your world. Maybe everyone goes through this in some way, shape, or form but to read through the duality of believing in a higher power to wanting life to end was very… comforting I suppose
Lots of thought-provoking philosophical arguments, it’s nice to see the author’s journey through different beliefs (yes he does contradict things he said earlier as the essay progresses). It does have the tone of “I’m a smart educated rich man so I must be right”, he momentarily seems to appreciate the simple people’s wisdom yet still is not satisfied and quickly forgets that perspective. The book ends quite abruptly and you’re left not really knowing what the conclusion was, the prologue does not really help much.
"the fourth means of escape is that of weakness. it consists of continuing to drag out a life that is evil and meaningless, knowing beforehand that nothing can come of it. the people in this category know that death is better than life, but they do not have the strength to act rationally and quickly put an end to the delusion by killing themselves; instead they seem to be waiting for something to happen. this is the escape of weakness, for if i know what is better and have it within my reach, then why not surrender myself to it? i myself belong in this category."
this book was a sold 5 ⭐️ about 74 pages in. the last 30 pages... not so much. i hate a book so well done with an inconclusive / dissatisfying ending
this book was a sold 5 ⭐️ about 74 pages in. the last 30 pages... not so much. i hate a book so well done with an inconclusive / dissatisfying ending
While Tolstoy's writing is extremely clear, it makes little sense to me.
It's easy to point out passages about his declinging mental health and his struggle with everyday life but simultaneously it's just as contradictory. He talks about all of the points that give him joy and reason in life before completely annihilatin his argumentations with a simple negation.
I didn't like it.
It's easy to point out passages about his declinging mental health and his struggle with everyday life but simultaneously it's just as contradictory. He talks about all of the points that give him joy and reason in life before completely annihilatin his argumentations with a simple negation.
I didn't like it.
challenging
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
A cure for suicide, or at least Tolstoy's response to despair.
It may also be a cure for you.
It may also be a cure for you.
A short read but a necessary read, nonetheless. It is as am I embarking on a spiritual journey through different thought and Tolstoy's own brand of Anarchist Christianity called to me, as did seeing and reading his own journey to find faith, to find peace in his life. Tolstoy's confessions are maybe universal to people seeking knowledge in a world of skepticism and in world of suffering and unending pain, war, and so on. And even Tolstoy, as of my understanding of this, doesn't always get answers to his questions and his questions persist onward throughout his journey of faith but the 1882 ending to it, however, suggests he finds some peace and that all will be okay. It shows understanding and compassion and a person's struggle to find meaning in life. Not the meaning of life, but meaning in one's life nonetheless. And that, to me, is rather beautiful and even noble.
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Such a raw, honest document from a great mind like Tolstoy. You can really sense the existential turmoil he went through while writing this essay.
reflective
medium-paced