My Confession


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(4.6 stars; 95 reviews)

"My Confession" is a brief autobiographical story of Leo Tolstoy's struggle with a mid-life existential crisis of melancholia. It describes his search for answers to the profound questions "What will come of my life?" and "What is the meaning of life?", without answers to which life, for him, had become "impossible." Tolstoy reflects on the arc of his philosophical life until then: his childhood abandonment of his Russian orthodox faith; his mastery of strength, will, power, and reason; and how, after he had achieved tremendous financial success and social status, life to him seemed meaningless. After despairing of his attempts to find answers in science, philosophy, eastern wisdom, and his fellow men of letters, he describes his turn to the wisdom of the common people and his attempts to reconcile their instinctive faith with the dictates of his reason. The main body of the text ends with the author reaching a compromise: faith, he realizes, is a necessity, but it must be constrained by reason. However, an epilogue that describes a dream he had some time after completing the body of the text suggests that he has undergone a radical personal and spiritual transformation. (Summary from Wikipedia) (2 hr 41 min)

Chapters

Chapter 01 9:28 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 02 9:49 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 03 10:35 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 04 11:12 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 05 13:45 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 06 16:57 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 07 12:13 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 08 6:34 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 09 11:39 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 10 8:39 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 11 6:42 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 12 10:43 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 13 8:28 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 14 6:30 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 15 9:15 Read by Expatriate
Chapter 16 9:00 Read by Expatriate

Reviews

Interesting and thought-provoking material


(4 stars)

Very grateful for the reading. My only gripe with it is that it was sometimes very monotonous and felt a bit unmotivated.

A fascinating ride.


(5 stars)

Tolstoy’s fierce pursuit of the truth and his ability to communicate the extremes of his logic are what makes this book exciting, especially once he reaches the end of his logic and must make a critical decision.

good stuff


(4.5 stars)

A look into the struggles of the soul of this great mind and he eventual triumph of the heart. Well read.


(5 stars)

This is a clear reading of a good text. The authors dispassionate tone matches the attitude of Tolstoy's approach.

Very enlightening insight into the human soul


(5 stars)

Very enlightening insight into the human soul. it's a must-read!

interesting


(4 stars)

The reading is clear but the rythm and tone is not appropriate for the text


(5 stars)

True faith is the truest of salvation. incredible book. This book definitely deserves better production.

Great reading


(5 stars)

A vivid and relatable journey. Thank you.