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A review by jeremychiasson
What Men Live By and Other Tales by Leo Tolstoy
4.0
I was inspired to read this collection after encountering Jon J. Muth's gorgeous picture book version of Tolstoy's story "The Three Questions". In the adult version of the story, Tolstoy tells the tale of a King trying to lead a good life, and so he offers a reward to anyone in the kingdom who can answer these three questions:
What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?
But everybody gives him different and conflicting answers, so he visits a very wise old hermit who lives on the mountain. The king's visit doesn't exactly go to plan--instead of the hermit telling him the answer, the King ends up helping the hermit dig his garden instead, and then saving someone's life. Through his actions, he gets the answers to his questions:
“Remember then: there is only one time that is important-- Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!”
I guess that sounds pretty simple, but I think it's a great message. And Tolstoy unpacks the story beautifully. My favourite kinds of books are the simple but deep ones, and this collection of short stories definitely qualifies. You can read these to your kids, or you can write your dissertation on them, that's the beauty of them!
What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?
But everybody gives him different and conflicting answers, so he visits a very wise old hermit who lives on the mountain. The king's visit doesn't exactly go to plan--instead of the hermit telling him the answer, the King ends up helping the hermit dig his garden instead, and then saving someone's life. Through his actions, he gets the answers to his questions:
“Remember then: there is only one time that is important-- Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!”
I guess that sounds pretty simple, but I think it's a great message. And Tolstoy unpacks the story beautifully. My favourite kinds of books are the simple but deep ones, and this collection of short stories definitely qualifies. You can read these to your kids, or you can write your dissertation on them, that's the beauty of them!