What Men Live By, and Other Tales

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

What Men Live By, and Other Tales

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Leo Tolstoy's collection of moral fables explores the nature of true happiness and the pitfalls of materialism. Through tales of a shoemaker, a king, a theologian, and a landowner, the stories challenge readers to prioritize compassion, immediate action, and spiritual contentment over wealth, status, and endless desire.

Summary up to 500 words

In Leo Tolstoy's collection *What Men Live By, and Other Tales*, four distinct narratives explore the destructive nature of greed and the redemptive power of charity, presence, and simplicity. The first story, "What Men Live By," follows Simon, a poor shoemaker who fails to buy sheep-skins for his family's winter coat after drinking vodka. Returning home empty-handed, he discovers a freezing stranger near a shrine. Despite his wife Matryona's anger and his own poverty, Simon gives his only coat and cap to the stranger, learning that love and charity are the true foundations of life, transcending material lack. In "The Three Questions," a king seeks the secret to effective rule regarding the right time, the right people, and the right actions. After consulting various experts with conflicting advice, he meets a wise hermit who teaches him through action rather than words. By helping a wounded enemy, the king discovers that the only important time is "now," the only necessary person is the one present, and the most important task is to do good to that person. The third tale, "The Coffee-House of Surat," features a Persian theologian who has lost his faith through abstract debates about God. Confused by the conflicting claims of a Brahmin, a Jew, a Catholic, and a Protestant in a Surat coffee-house, he realizes that God is not confined to specific doctrines but is found in the simple faith of the humble. Finally, "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" depicts Pahom, a peasant offered a deal to own as much land as he can walk around in a day. Driven by insatiable greed, he walks further and further, ignoring the heat and his exhaustion. He dies of collapse just as the sun sets, and the Bashkirs declare that his grave is all the land he will ever need. Through these stories, Tolstoy argues that human suffering stems from greed and that true fulfillment comes from kindness, simplicity, and living in the present moment.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Fiction