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Leo Tolstoy
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What Men Live By and Other Tales Kindle Edition

by Graf Leo Tolstoy (Author), Louise Shanks Maude (Translator), Aylmer Maude (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 532 ratings
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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
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  1. Print length
    59 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    May 12, 2012
  5. File size
    93 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0082T6MOY
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 93 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 59 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1975686667
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 532 ratings

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Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy

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Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote two of the great novels of the nineteenth century, War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
532 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jane Eyre
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing collection of short stories.
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2014
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If you like Tolstoy, short stories, stories that make you think, or just plain good literature, you will love this book! I won't spoil any of the content for you, but each story is different, with a different theme or moral, but each one really makes you think about life. It is a quick read, or read one story a day and savor them.
One person found this helpful
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Juan Manuel Wills
4.0 out of 5 stars Tolstoy, writer and moralist
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2013
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As in each of his writings, in these three stories (What Men Live By, The Coffee House of Surat And How Much Land Does a Man ​​Need?) Tolstoy shows his great ability to describe environments, characters, landscapes, desires, anxieties and takes advantage of any situation to generate a story less enjoyable and give the reader a moral, a lesson and a reflection process associated with ethics and Christian customs. At the time when these stories were written is clear and explicit belief (? Fanaticism?) The author by the teachings of the Catholic religion. further highlights the virtues and flaws and obsessions for which a man must fight in the course of his life. Solidarity towards others, pride, love, ambition, pride, bribery, suffering. Simple yet profound stories that have an impact and can be a cause of a process of reflection. Tolstoy certainly is one of the greatest contemporary writers.

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(Spanish)

Como en cada uno de sus escritos, en estos tres cuentos ("What men live by", "The Coffee House of Surat" y "¿How Much Land Does a Man Need?") Tolstoy muestra su gran habilidad para describir ambientes, personajes, paisajes, deseos, ansiedades y se aprovecha de cualquier circunstancia menor para generar una historia amena y entregar al lector una moraleja, una enseñanza y un proceso de reflexión asociado con la ética y las costumbres cristianas. En la época en que estas historias fueron escritas es evidente y explícito el convencimiento (¿fanatismo?) del autor por las enseñanzas de la religión católica. resalta las virtudes a seguir y las obsesiones y defectos por los que el hombre debe luchar en el curso de su vida. La solidaridad hacia los demás, el orgullo, el amor, la ambición, la soberbia, el soborno, el sufrimiento. Historias sencillas pero profundas que tienen un gran impacto y pueden ser motivo de un proceso de reflexión. Tolstoy, sin duda, es uno de los mas grandes escritores contemporáneos.
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Lifetime Learner
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read This Classic Tale
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2014
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Classic stories have great values. Reading this will give you real insight into Russian culture and the Russian mind. An easy read, I would recommend this book to all of my friends. I selected it on Marvin Olasky's recommendation. He said it was his favorite short story, and I can understand why.
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Claire Wahrhaftig
5.0 out of 5 stars Rght and Wrong: Greed, Revenge, and Love in three dozen short stories
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2013
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Seventy years ago my fifth grade teacher read the story "What Men Live By" to our astounded and silenced class. It was so out of the ordinary, to bring a hard covered book with gold print and read this story about the humble cobbler who takes care of the naked man who turns out to be an angel. Could not happen now: religion? nudity? Not PC. But I have remembered this story all my life and often told it to people. It was only many years into adulthood that I discovered it was written by the great author Leo Tolstoy. The stories in this book are concerned with major life problems and choices, those which may lead to love and forgiveness, or greed and revenge. In the guise of simple folk tales they examine our human sterngths and weakensses as only a great author and philsopher can do. Stay away from this if you are bored with stories which take place in the past and in rural areas, and seem simplistic. Read away if you enjoy some serious thinking and appreciate the fine literary qualities of these remarkable tales. See if you too can connect these predicaments with any in your present life.
7 people found this helpful
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Jeremy Nicheols
5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom Gained
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2014
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An easy read with beautifully written short stories that will leave you wiser for its reading. This is the first book of his I've read and now look forward to more of his work.
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M. DeKalb
4.0 out of 5 stars Relevant life lessons.
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2012
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1. What Men Live By - Simon, a rather poor shoemaker finds Michael, a very enigmatic character, naked in the midst of winter. After bringing him home and teaching him his craft Michael spends the next six years with Simon and family. During this time Michael smiles only three times each to signify the learning of an important aspect of being human as it relates to God & love. Michael, the fallen angel, can gain re-ascension.

2. Three Questions - A King is attempting to gain answers for: A) when is the best time to do anything? B) who are the right people to listen to? And C) what is the most important thing to do? After meeting with a hermit and picking his brain the King learns an age-old lesson that many are still now learning - NOW is the most important time. Whom you're with is the most important person to listen to and the goal is always to do good.

3. The Coffee House of Surat - A theological argument which essentially boils down to a position that no man's conception of God can be flawed. However, the better a concept is the more likely a man is to try to be as good as that concept, and this action is incapable of being flawed.

4. How Much Land Does a Man Need? - Pahom gets a bit too greedy in his land acquisition endeavors and strives to continuously expand his lot. However, ultimately all he or any other man needs is "six feet" head to heel.
16 people found this helpful
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D.C
5.0 out of 5 stars When life gets complicated, read this book.
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2021
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Life could be so simple if we would only focus on what really matters. Tolstoy’s work should be read throughout the world. If more and more people would live by the truth he wrote, there will be less and less conflicts but more and more peace.
One person found this helpful
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LeftEar
3.0 out of 5 stars ok
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2019
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ok
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Top reviews from other countries

John
5.0 out of 5 stars Leo Tolstoy Tales Have Much Insightful Morals
Reviewed in India on August 19, 2022
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The stories in this book provides some insights into the many unknown positive factors involved in a calamitous situation befalling a human being that even Angels are unable to comprehend. The moral of the story is, therefore, to blindly obey the commands of the Almighty without application of our own discretion to it.
Short & Insightful stories which gets over in the blink of an eye - making us thirst for more of Tolstoy.
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Mar Nezzo
5.0 out of 5 stars .
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2013
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Who wouldn't be delighted to find the public domain list of FREE classic literature. This is fantastic. All the titles I've always wanted to read and for free - this is my kind of kindle heaven. I love the way they arrive on your kindle, they're so quick, it's like magic. Thank you public domain!
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James Bolder
5.0 out of 5 stars Indeed, simple "Tales" to inspire people of all ages; hauntingly powerful.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2020
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Simple parables, that Tolstoy used to inspire his farm workers, men, women and children, and those who saw him as a wise man. The "Three Questions" in particular is so simple and profound, I have read it every day since I received it.
His spiritual philosophy, deeply lived out after he wrote "War and Peace", levels classes and raises up the simple values of ordinary people.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A good collection of stories
Reviewed in India on March 31, 2019
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The book is a collection of stories by one of the greatest authors of this world, Leo Tolstoy. I liked the story "How much land does a man need?" very much
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Rahul
5.0 out of 5 stars A genius at work.
Reviewed in India on June 29, 2018
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Just read the book! It's the work of a master which needs to be read and re read. Genius at play.
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