LITERATURE: Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy was a remarkable novelist in part because he believed in the novel as a tool for social reform, something that would enable us to become kinder, more thoughtful and more generous towards others.
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[@prashunpcchakraborty70]

Though it is hinted, the video should have mentioned that Tolstoy was one of those few writers who was famous and received recognition in his own lifetime and not posthumously.

[@nutznchocolates56]

Why?

[@michaelmajid5142]

This is sad

[@gokurocks9]

That's brilliant and well-deserved to him. Good to hear that happened to someone. It's depressing to hear that the vast majority of influential writers are recognized and celebrated posthumously.

[@csmoviles]

He was nominated for Nobel prize...which he rejected! Something that I fail to understand.

[@syourke3]

Dostoevsky became very famous with his last novel, The Brothers Karamazov - and then he died within the year!

[@Milestonemonger]

"NO one should be outside the circle of empathy and forgiveness" -- Leo Tolstoy

[@chitownmo]

He never heard of Adolf Hitler. Or the writer of the Facts of Life theme song.

[@donaldrobinson7063]

Meaning only forgive women for their transgressions and adultery in marriages.

[@julesprince3639]

Every time I watch your videos about philosophy, literature, psychology and sociology I am left with one very unsatisfying thought: there are so many books in the world that I want to read and don't feel like I will ever have the time to though I'm only in my early 20's.

[@MindPalaceASMR]

+Jules Prince I would suggest audiobooks , if you have the proper dose of patience .....

[@julesprince3639]

young LaraCroft Thanks for your idea I might try that, though I do prefer books over anything else.

[@MindPalaceASMR]

Me too, but sometimes you have to compromise! Good luck!

[@nawalmustafa85]

I couldn't agree more!

[@melvintheboxerdog2263]

grow up to see things as they are...stop eating animals, never kill, and don't allow others to kill, any living creature. treat people as ends in themselves. now..you can dismiss 95% of everything ever written. you have plenty of time to read a fraction of those books that form the other 5%.

[@egirlsareruiningmylife]

His life is so wholesome and laddish at the same time, from being a drunk gambling layabout pestering gypsy women then getting bored and becoming an officer to penning literary masterpieces about inner kindness and understanding then just walking out on your family and dying of pneumonia. Absolute madman

[@bolivar1789]

I think it is a very good exercise to imagine yourself in your "death bed" every now and then . To prepare yourself for this, you must read the 9th chapter of " The Death of Ivan Ilyich" again. Just a very short chapter where Ivan lies all alone and in terrible pain in his bed. He suddenly hears the voice of his own soul saying: -What do you want? What do you want? He says: -What do I want? To live and not to suffer. So his inner voice says: - To live? How? - To live as I used to- well and pleasantly. - As you lived before, well and pleasantly? Here is how Tolstoy continues: " And in imagination he began to recall the best moments of his pleasant life. But strange to say none of those best moments of his pleasant life now seemed at all what they had then seemed_ none of them except the first recollections of childhood. There , in childhood, there had been something really pleasant with which it would be possible to live if it could return. But the child who had experienced that happiness existed no longer: it was like a reminiscence of somebody else. As soon as the period began which had produced the present Ivan Ilyich, all that had then seemed joys now melted before his sight and turned into something trivial and often nasty". So as he keeps looking back on his life his thoughts become darker and darker. He basically realises that his entire life had been a lie, he lived for what the others expected from him; for money, power and status...He wasted the time given to him in this world and now there is no way back! Indeed we all must keep Ivan Ilyich in mind every day. Just consider how fast the time goes by.... How much of it do we really spend seriously thinking about our lives? Very little indeed... Because it requires a certain level of focus and depth, which we don't have most of the time. That's why this scene is a great reminder. So as we make the "Death bed exercise" I have just mentioned, we can use the very questions that Ivan Ilyich's soul was asking him. I think people who live well, deal with their mortality better. So doing this exercise regularly can help us to live and die better. Thank you for this wonderful lesson. I love Tolstoy!

[@willyboundel8495]

I read it too few weeks ago. Tolstoy has such a talent to make us think and adopt a new point of view on our life. I'm young so illness and death seemed quite far (We tend to feel invicible when we are young) to me but Tolstoy radically made me change my thoughts about that. If we don't pay attention enough we could have this terrible feeling at the end of our life that we missed something despite social success. Always amazed by your great comments. You should publish a compilation where we'd find all your videos comments hahaha

[@bolivar1789]

+Willy Boundel Hello Willy! Thank you very much for reading my comment and for your message. I am very glad that you have also read that book and it had a similar effect on you. I think the younger you get that message the better will be the quality of the rest of your life. The problem is that we learn the lesson, but then we forget it again...I mean again we begin to live as if we will never die...That's why one always needs reminders. There is a great movie called " Ikiru" by Akira Kurosawa. It is like the story of Ivan Ilyich, but a bit less depressing, because the guy in the movie finds out that he still have six more months to live. He lives those 6 months more meaningfully and beautifully than his entire life before. Of course I won't tell you how:-) So at least he doesn't leave the world in regret and with a feeling of emptiness...I have read about that movie in a great book by Irvin Yalom ( Staring at the sun) , that's why I watched it. I thought may be you would also like it. I wish you a wonderful week!

[@willyboundel8495]

Hello Lua. Thanks for the movie and the film. I just have a question. You seem to read a lot of books and you know how to get what message the author send us. Have you a special way to read (maybe you take some notes while reading). I often confronted to this kind of problem, I know that I'm reading a book very meaningful but I feel that I have missed something or I didn't get entirely the author's message. Have a good week !

[@bolivar1789]

+Willy Boundel Hello Willy! Oh I know what you mean! Believe me, we are all very forgetful and distracted creatures. One day you are most profoundly impressed by something, you want the rest of your life be determined by it. Two weeks later, your mind is totally somewhere else, because you got into other issues and have other anxieties etc. But I keep at least this fact always in mind! That's why I think that " repetition" is very important. I have a very simple system: When I read a book, let's say at page 52 I found something important. I underline that part, and at the beginning of the book, on that blank page, I write that page number, with a little note. Like: "page 52, about serenity". This way, when I get back to the same book later on, I always know where to find the places that were important to me. I read every day. But I read very slowly you know. I take time, I stop to think. I can't read one book every day. I would feel like having an eating disorder! You need the time to digest everything, to see your life in the light of the new insights you have gained and see what you could change may be. I also began to read with a Kindle ( E- Book )recently. Simply because I have no more space here for one more shelf of books! Of course for a book lover, it isn't the same, when you read on a screen. But still, I highly recommend it to you. You can underline passages, take notes, search inside the book etc.Really very practical.. I have a Kindle Paperwhite. It costs about 99 euros. But then the books for kindle are much cheaper. So in the end you save money. Have a nice weekend!

[@benmorran2121]

+Lua Veli +Willy Boundel Great little discussion folks, thank you

[@dondake3409]

The most epic WTF ending of a life ever.

[@edgregory1]

Epic case of Cabin Fever.

[@harrypollock6682]

Makes me smile that this is what you say after watching the whole vid haha

[@bigmack8307]

She must be one crazy bitch

[@davidgil6485]

It's a great way of dying if u ask me

[@aravindhmichael15]

@@bigmack8307 don’t be an idiot without knowing facts. She helped him rewrite with corrections of his work “War and peace” 8 times, gave birth to 13 children’s & raising 9 of em! Don’t jump to conclusions Mr.

[@thatscandigirl5189]

School of life has made my insight in philosophy so much wider.

[@anthonybrrah]

+Principessa Same

[@JDFauser]

You should check more of Tolstoy's actual philosophy, like his writings on nonviolence and anarchism.

[@thatscandigirl5189]

I will!

[@MisterBlueSky1000]

+Anthony Mura Saying philosophy is mere mental masturbation - is like saying that a car is a mere instrument for driving faster than the next guy on the road. Philosophy is about finding the WHAT FOR in life - what to live FOR. I can see no more worthwhile endeavor - and no greater gift to give a loved one, that to learn what to live for, and how.

[@thatscandigirl5189]

Stunning usage of words, I must admit. That last sentence were truly a piece of art. It fills me with joy to see the responses my little comment spawned ^_^

[@ladnie9454]

“His body was taken back to his house and buried in the garden, under some trees, where he liked to play as a child.” Hrk, my heart.

[@skyviewproductions1145]

Shortly through Anna Karenina, it occured to me that there was no protagonist in this novel. Instead, its world was inhabited by beautifully rendered people who each had feelings, motivations, aspirations, and flaws. Indeed, it was easy to empathize which each because their humanity was so fully realized that it was impossible to judge any of their actions harshly. Anna Karenina remains one of the greatest novels of all time due to Tolstoy's genius for allowing his characters to inhabit life.

[@TheHelghast1138]

As a writer, and someone who's experienced a lot of tragic loss in life, it's unbelievable just how much I genuinely identify with him, sincerely thank you so very much for this superb video.

[@Hissanrach]

The Death of Ivan Ilyich is one of my favorite short stories, and I have re-read it several times to keep its perspective fresh in my daily life and my interactions with others. Thank you so much for detailing that particular work of his and the broader meaning it contains that we can all take so much from.

[@ctfrancia]

I think you should do an episode on the famous Fernando Pessoa. He did so much for literature it's sad the world doesnt know more about him and Eça de Queiróz! The curse of Portugal.

[@matheusbergamo240]

I love Fernando Pessoa! It would be very nice to see an episode about his work!

[@albuquerqueThomas]

+The School of Life So glad by your comment :)

[@danielfreeley5217]

They have a pretty strict no Portuguese language writers here

[@robocophello2684]

"El mundo es de quien nace para conquistarlo, y no de quien sueña que puede conquistarlo" *Fernando Pessoa (Poeta portugués).

[@ctfrancia]

We speak Portuguese not Spanish -_- an extremely common misconception

[@Jotari]

Natasha isn't engaged to Andrei at the start. At the start Andrei marries someone else, ignores her and then loses her to childbirth when he goes off to war only to realise his mistake, grieve by becoming detached from life and getting pretty Nihilistic before he even takes any note of Natasha...War and Peace is a big book.

[@karaamundson3964]

Sure is.

[@Jotari]

@@karaamundson3964 Shit man, it's six years on and I can't remember any of that.

[@esteban578]

Why aren't we seeing film like this before call me old fashion but we need to introduce the public to these classics again. We need another renaissance soon

[@SuperSerge87]

David Gonzalez Canadians made war and peace. it's pretty good.

[@fitofight8540]

David Gonzalez people dont want it

[@ieceineint452]

there was a big anna karenina movie not long ago with keira nightley (sucessefull so much that i had to wade through movie clips to find anything about the book when i googled anna karenina

[@ayushsadotra9426]

Bondarchuk's War& Peace is epic among epics made in 4 parts. This film single handedly revolutionized many aspects of the film making by introducing spider cam and what not. Check it out. Its on Criterion Channel

[@emgalinac7678]

Kids definitely need to be taught more about philosophy, politics, current events, and important literature in school. We seriously need to work on public education.

[@ilial5994]

This explanation of War And Peace was way too brief. I understand that this is just a 10-minute video and you are just trying to give people a vague idea and a taste of the book, but the way you made it out in your video it may seem like War And Peace is just about Natasha, but the whole point of the book is that it is a huge, epic story, with so many characters whose lives are all intertwined.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

Yeah, to say that "War and Peace" is about one person is just beyond insane and even if you've only read an abridged version.

[@tisiaan]

Yes, War and peace is about the view of 538 caracters

[@ASAPJermz]

More than 1,000 pages I should mention.. I'm buying this book right now.

[@31cranes]

I don't think the book's vastness is relevant here...

[@joegibbskins]

31cranes it is because it is about literally war and peace. The genius of the book even for the casual reader is that it approximates the feeling of real life - the way life unfolds. Tolstoy’s characters are unique and at the same time constantly generalized. When we meet them, even in a secular modern culture almost two hundred years later, we meet them as people we know. Natasha is one character in a story about a nation that is really about a nation. To narrow the story to her is so reductionist as to be absurd. It’s like saying the year 2020 is about you or about me.

[@NCbassfishing24]

Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilyich are among the best books I've ever read. If you do read Tolstoy, make sure to go with the Pevear and Volokhonsky translations; they allow you to get the most from his works.

[@godplayer5336]

Yes especially anna karenina has been one of my favourite books for so long

[@HelloSpyMyLie]

Falsehood. Garner is better

[@LtotheOG57]

Thank you so much for recommending the translations, im very wary when picking a translated book due to how much might get lost in translation

[@Aazka-dm2tp]

You forgot the part that his wife proofread his manuscripts and wrote them more than 5 times to correct the mistakes before publication. She had a big hand in his works (while she also gave birth to child after child AND did the household work) and yet after his death, he completely ditched her in his will even though he wouldn't have succeeded as an author without her.

[@umaprabhakar676]

I felt exactly these things when I read his short stories. There was something so real , simple and down to earth and practical in his characters. All were fit to be forgiven

[@gtr67]

My all time favorite writer. An entire School of Life episode could be dedicated to Tolstoy's short stories. Strider - God Sees the Truth, but Waits - What Men Live By - Master And Man - The Wood Felling - Sevastopol... I've read all those stories 50 times, and hope to read them 50 more. James Joyce once said that Tolstoy's How Much Land Does A Man Need is the greatest short story ever written.

[@Vilius347]

Lev Tolstoy War and Peace, this book actually made me cry at some point. His books are simply piece of art, it's live, you don't read it.. you are experiencing it!

[@karaamundson3964]

I'm reading it right now for the fourth time. Love this book.

[@MrFranciss]

I have just finished this masterpiece. I almost cried in some passages. Lew Tolstoi is a genius.

[@Mari-sy6px]

spoiler alert Were you crying when Bolkonsky died? That made me cry although I didn't like him as a person.

[@wowimaoi]

Perfect timing. This man became my hero last week. I had a spiritual revelation. God bless Tolstoy

[@tamerov2387]

And may he bless you too ;)

[@omarsanchez9709]

A man who had a bastard son and refused to recognize him? How he emphasized the importance of peasants to be literate but did nothing to ensure his son was literate? Or is it because of his guilt he had for all the women he hooked up with trough out his life? Yea.... I’m sure these are hero qualities.

[@simonkohli107]

@@omarsanchez9709 That's the point. No one's perfect. Just because a person makes mistakes, doesn't mean they are 100% bad, or that they didn't feel remorse, or learn and grow, that they didn't have vast and complex emotions, thoughts etc.

[@Sleepless_in_Stockholm]

The best lecs on russian literature I’ve ever seen or heard! Shorter, clearlier, more sapid and substantial than it could have been teached in a russian school.

[@dannyoviedoalem907]

one of the best channels in all youtube , such a shame it hasn´t as many subs as it deserves , even though is comprehensive not all of us are intrested in philosophic issues , this is material worth of sharing since it help us all to improve ourselves . Literature , philosophy , arts in general are amazing help the wolrd by sharing and liking this video

[@rome7424]

i am deeply honored to announce that i am now apart of this benevolent channel and comment section

[@frankuvlkan]

Hi Rose I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹

[@nirvanakamala2809]

I genuinely love this channel so much, it feels like such a comfortable place that feels like him, also I love your voice and I've said it before but I want to kiss this voice. Thank you for all the hard work and all the videos, the video you did on art/propaganda really helped me with my French essay on how art has influenced how we see history.

[@frankuvlkan]

Nirvana I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹

[@alextomich]

Alain, I would love it if you made a video on Kurt Vonnegut. Incredibly different style, but it'd make for a fantastic video

[@YouWi11NeverKnow]

+Krizzly I agree. I'd love to see a video on Vonnegut!

[@alexsevera7471]

How's that "feel the burn" working out for you 😂

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

KV is overrated - I read S. Five as a high school Soph. and loved it - I picked it up again last week and had to put it down after 25 pages - some of the writing is so juvenile

[@nikolademitri731]

J Ok. Is that the only book by him that you’ve read? I’ve read Slaughterhouse Five, and it’s not as good as Cat’s Cradle, Mother Night, God Bless You Mister Rosewater, or Sirens of Titan, and those are only a handful of his other beloved books, including Breakfast of Champions (which I’d say is on par with S.House5). You’re certainly entitled to your opinion that Slaughterhouse 5 is juvenile, I’d agree to some extent, as far as it’s sense of humor is concerned, but I think it’s a bit of BS to say he’s overrated based on that book alone, especially if you haven’t read his other classics (and maybe you have, but you certainly don’t suggest that here). If what you’re referring to as juvenile is his outlook on life, and humanity as a whole, as opposed to his sense of humor, writing style, etc., well then I legitimately feel bad for you. If it’s those other things (especially the humor), I tend to agree, but I still wouldn’t call him overrated.

[@SmokyTheDragonTFT]

This is quite apparently the most personally impacting video I have encountered in the whole library of extraordinary video essays from the School of LIfe. Thank you for underscoring the muddied waters of my own introspection. Without the guiding influence of literature, I believe I would have no clarity in my assumptions of others or the nature of my life. I just read The First Step by Leo Tolstoy, and I found it both wondrously entertaining and insightful. Most importantly, I can actually sense in my psyche that one step closer to my ideal self.

[@divaliciouswriter]

Tolstoy was definitely visionary. I have read some of his pieces and liked them from the very first page, which usually doesn't happen in my case. Thanks for making and this video and hope to watch more on other writers too.

[@frankuvlkan]

Hi Ayaka I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹

[@JimmyDThing]

THANK YOU! THIS is why I subscribed to this channel. MORE OF THIS PLEASE! Do you have any plans on starting a Patreon?

[@JimmyDThing]

+The School of Life One note I'll make is, I bet Tolstoy would have said "Don't judge Anatole so quickly, either. This is simply Natasha's story. He, for sure, has his own." :)

[@cliffordlevy3918]

+The School of Life I'm sure you have a plan and might already be on the way. Regardless, I would really love to see a video on Kurt Vonnuget. I nice in depth look at his writing (not just "Cats Cradle" and "Slaughter House Five"). Anyway keep up the good work, I really enjoy the channel

[@luftwaffle96]

+The School of Life Hey! I am a student at Southern Connecticut State University studying Romance Languages in the World Languages and Literature department. I love your videos on Literature. Do you have plans on doing one on Latin American authors like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Fuentes or Pablo Neruda?

[@Josh-vg2lj]

+The School of Life You should. We want to engage in patronage, to further enlighten this sometimes seemingly dim world.

[@harshalshinde227]

+The School of Life This was the best video I had seen uptil now on this channel and Alain de bottom has such a soothing voice.Also, not to forget the workshop videos do u post from carol Dweck to Alain de bottom , they are awesome too. You are doing a noble work !

[@jimbeam4736]

I cannot thank you enough for these wonderful videos. They truly enrich my life.

[@joep.1792]

I love you school of life! Your work is articulate and always worth my time. Thank you is never enough. This videos you make drive me to wanna write, or paint, or anything. They just enlighten me so much. Great job you sagacious fools.

[@user-lv8qy5ng2l]

Thank you Alain for tentalizing and encouraging us to set sail for the shores of philosophers' minds, where we can delve deeper in their philosophical works instead of reading the frivolous and shallow.

[@TheSec09]

I was expecting to be mentioned that "War and Peace" revolves around several noble Russian families and their respective circles. Not just Natasha is very well and deep portrayed, but all the main characters. Leo Tolstoy had thoroughly researched the French Invasion of Russia in 1812, even talking with people who lived through that moment (almost 60 years before Tolstoy's day). The way he explains the tactics, the maneuvres the unfolding and the aftermath of the invasion is brilliant and worth reading only just for this.

[@ibotah]

Thanks for doing Tolstoy. I am currently reading Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment I plan on reading War and Peace this Summer, and The Leviathan. Keep up the good work. :)

[@jbt6007]

Thank you for these wonderful, insightful and educational works. My hope is that EVERYONE on the planet will find their way to The School of Life.

[@OrigamiSt3ve]

Channels like these are great and need more attention. Fortunately visual history is much appealing to today's generation that doesn't feel comfort near books. These videos are a great start for further knowledge seeking.

[@jacobcarmichael8929]

No mention of his political ventures into anarchism?

[@TehFrasssaa]

+Jacob Carmichael This is an analysis of the literature not his philosophy, as much as it would make a good video.

[@RiotForLiberty]

+TehFrasssaa I believe its political believes might give a different analysis of its writing in some ways.

[@TehFrasssaa]

True but trying to analyse both at the same time might lead to neither analysis being done justice.

[@RiotForLiberty]

Yes, I think we agree :) and Jacob seems too, because he was talking about mentioning it, not quite of in depth analysis.

[@JDFauser]

+RiotForLiberty If anything only The Great Man Theory and Christianity really put light on his novels. By the time he got deep he pretty much wrote all his novels off as shit.

[@msthang5366]

He was so wordy!! I still love “Anna Karenina”!! Her ending was so tragic

[@cihankenar1]

I always loved your videos and just recently realised the Alain de Botton does the voices. Love love love the bite size philosophy you present to us with these great videos. Thank you.

[@petterbladlund6514]

Wonderfully thought-provoking. As always. Thank you for highlighting all important ideas!

[@willtality1320]

hey guys could you do a video about fjodor dostojewski? :)

[@alhlapov1734]

Yes agreed

[@sugeeban5121]

i second that

[@Babli02]

+wex Less And Chekhov would be great too

[@tomasleboulaire627]

YAY!!!

[@pisxxx4]

+wex Less agreed!

[@DEUSexPOLSKA]

Mikhail Bulgakov PLEASE !

[@faridabayramova6531]

I would love to see more literature videos!Especially one about John Hersey!

[@el6178]

Thank you. I feel gratititude for these animated lessons. I have learned so much from School of life.

[@c.t.1893]

I know you do these ones for literature, however could you possibly start videos in relation to film as well, similar to these literature videos? looking at famous directors and meanings behind their films? That would be awesome! Anyways, keep up the good work, very educational! :)

[@kaiftintoiwala6414]

War and peace is my favourite novel of all time

[@charliedrosario999]

I am very fond of your short documentaries. Mummy says your voice is remarkably like mine.

[@themovingdance2744]

I was rebellious at school as I was constantly pressured by not being academic. But went on and Studied Literature, early childhood and the individual in society. Then learning psychology and training for work 10 years later. After that Steiner Waldorf Education in the creative Arts for young children, then Language teaching. I help nuero diverse children and young people to learn literacy through painting and drawing for creative writing and English Literature. 💕

[@hattie3584]

Thank you for making such amazing videos. I really would want you to make a new video in Literature, about Geoge Elliot.

[@verisimuli]

I'm astonished they haven't talked about Dostoevsky yet. I read Crime and Punishment when I was 14 and since then it's been one of my favorite books of all time, and I'd like to see what TSOL has to say about it.

[@TheZarkoc]

+swf Have you read any of his other book, I've read a few (The Gambler and Letters from the Underground) and I have to say they are all at the top of my favourites list.

[@juicyjesuss]

I read crime and punishment last year. Such a good book! Somewhat happy ending too. Who knew all he needed to do was fall in love and find God.

[@jaliscodiss]

@@juicyjesuss I hated the ending, though I liked the book overall.

[@preciousamaechi5887]

At 14? Here in Nigeria, reading isn't quotidian in the zeitgeist of our societies. At 14 I was barely trying to know my path to right living. Couldn't even read anything sophisticated.

[@dammuozz]

I watch all your videos and they inspired me and my friends greatly. We would love to see a video on Gandhi too! Please keep up the good work, you are making the world a better place to be in.

[@arvj123]

Been waiting for this ever since the essay came out on The Book of Life. Thank you!

[@jonkeuviuhc1641]

I don't know why, but I always envision School of life like a marriage counselor projecting his profession onto philosophy, literature, history, and humanities in general.

[@Maynard0504]

because it is. this is a terrible analysis of tolstoy.

[@lolagreydottir6429]

Its pretty wrong that you mentioned how much he "loved" his wife despite her being"irritable" but didnt think to mention the endless psychological abuse she endured AND her HUGE contribution to his work. She redrafted war and peace 7 TIMES to correct his errors and made additions to the plot. He read her short story and used it as the base for the Rostov family in W+P with no cedit. She took out a loan to publish his works when HE DIDNT WANT TO meaning we may not have some of his work without her. In his will, he gave the rights to his works to a friend, leaving her "cast aside" in her own words. While we can still appreciate genius and artists despite their wrongs, we still have to acknowledge them.

[@romandivalenti9690]

Interesting. Writers often lack the spine to support morality, tolerance, and criticism. I know of only hints about her contributions, and thank you for your forthrightness to mention her in your comments.

[@homelessathome]

At the same time Sophia was the main prototype of Natasha which is Tolstoy's favorite character in W+P

[@augustinedennis4865]

Wonderful,wonderful story.Therapeutic.!! excellent production. Thank you

[@jyotidas2707]

These illustrations are everything 💜

[@elroy8138]

Fantastic! I love your channel and videos like this one especially. I will buy something right now. I want you guys to keep making these

[@harshalshinde227]

+The School of Life I got emotional orgasm seeing this video!

[@elroy8138]

shinyam75 they are not perfect for everyone. I agree. but maybe that's a life lesson for us all.. there cant be good without bad. I wont pick on them (or not contribute) for a few videos I don't like. but interesting about the censorship. maybe a huge fight broke out so they just blocked it - which would be fair enough. I doubt they did it without good reason

[@BramowitchIII]

Intresting, but seemed more like a summary of War and Peace than a story about all the ideas of Tolstoy. I always found his view of history as one not decided by leaders like Napoleon but one decided by the millions of interactions between humans as intresting. Simplicity, goodness and truth, that's all that Tolstoy strived for.

[@verisimuli]

This was just a video on his literature, not his political beliefs.

[@jtaps72]

MOAR! I love your videos that follow this format!

[@diveinnjim]

I'm loving these school of life vids, especially the Monty Pythonesque animation, great work

[@esteveslisboeta]

Ive been reading a lot of Dostoevsky and Tolstoi, also comparing them. Am I the only that finds Tolstoi to be much more subjective and at the same time, trying to teach the reader stuff about the social status, ethics and moral etc through out his characters in a much more direct and persuasive way... I mean...Dostoevsky also does that but it feels like it is more vague and that he leaves me to take my own conclusions.

[@cengiztaner4754]

It may be something to do with the fact that Tolstoy always saw art as a tool to teach things

[@godplayer5336]

I feel like tolstoy is alot more real and his characters speak to me much more. While in dostoyevski, the way he uses some topics such as religion feels a little tacky to me.

[@user-se8mi2io1v]

It is a pitty that you did not mention the Tolstoy's evolution. For example, in his older works("Confession"), he have argued that "War and Peace" is not a good book, that he don't like it. He had radically evolved during his old age. He became an anarchist, a religious mystic and social progressist. His later works, such as "Resurrection"(or "Saturday", these words are same in Russian), are more thoughtful and philosophycal then his early works, such as "War and Peace". We should analyse his older life through his ideas. For example, he run out from Yasnaya poliana not cause of his wife, but cause he was ashamed of living in a fancy aristocratic house when most of russian peasants were sleeping with their cattle. Like Jesus said in The Gospel from Jews: "And the Lord said: How can you say that has fulfilled the Law? For it is written in the law: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. And look, a *lot of your brothers, the sons of Abraham, stained with mud and die of hunger, your house is full of good and nothing of that does not go to them?*" And also, if you can, reader, learn Russian and read Tolstoy in original. If Dostoevsky was a bad writer as writer(in "Karamazovy brothers", for example, he muss up the brothers, because they are talking in same style, without any individuality; it is more pleasant to read Dosotevsky in translated version), Tolstoy's words are beautiful, his literature style is great.

[@homelessathome]

"Resurrection"(or "Saturday", these words are same in Russian) - actually Sunday.

[@cassietheodora]

FINALLY SOMEONE GETS IT

[@tinyrick2921]

Really nice insight. It probably comes to the fact that Dostoevsky was impoverished and wrote feverishly, not to mention his life troubles; and Tolstoy came from a well-off background and had the luxury and education and time to write beautifully.

[@metalfungirl]

I am no tolstoy expert. I have only read anna karenina and resurrection. And must say resurrection is a definite must read . It has the "being inside the charecter's mind" aspect and ideas about social equity. Beautifuly written and moralistic.

[@samuel0851]

Thank you!

[@mhcmhco]

Wow this is perfect timing. I'm reading part of War and Peace this week.

[@crystalmeth6177]

I absolutely adore this channel, Thank you!! Keep on this good work :)

[@nikito958]

You should do Dostoevsky next.

[@glenthemann]

I mean, I know its like 180 years later.. but thanks for the War & Peace spoilers.. not.

[@ode6105]

Very touching! You have a way of highlighting everones good side!

[@kevinjames2235]

I think Tolstoy's use of the novel can be applied to storytelling in general. Some of the best stories I've ever read, watched, or played gave me a greater understanding of myself and those around me. It's easy to find ourselves in a story's protagonist, but I think it's much more rewarding to acknowledge aspects of our character in less likable characters. It's humbling to think that we can be "the bad guy" sometimes. And more importantly, we should understand that real life antagonists are often more grey than we think.

[@gdlignos]

hi guys, Nice work! But what about "the kingdom of God is within you" and the spiritual journey of Leo Tolstoy? You should include his battle with the Orthodox Church and the Tolstoyan movement, as well as the "christian anarchism" movement in general.

[@4478nick]

"...became a fitness fanatic..." HA! I didn't expect THAT! Did he even lift?

[@mgkos]

He wasn't a "fitness fanatic" 🤦🏼‍♀️ Lev Nikolaivich Tolstoy observed all the fasts of the Russian Orthodox church, year-round, most if which are strictly Vegan. He lived a healthy life of the farming & village people including working in fields reaping, sowing & harvesting. He did own lands & was titled aristocracy , but preferred the quiet, healthy life in the country rather than being a well heeled nobility socialite at balls in Moscow. Alain needs ro fact check more effectively & not lure views by appealing to the the masses with meme like language snippets.

[@josephfernando4867]

The ending was beautiful and touching... his body was buried under some tries where he used to play in his childhood.

[@charliedrosario999]

It's been such a while since I watched these tremendous short docs.

[@crisisofdemocracy8940]

Fun fact: Tolstoy was an Anarchist.

[@mangosteen1564]

And a vegan ;)

[@NCbassfishing24]

+Crisis of Democracy An anarchochristian, to be precise. So quite different from most anarchists of today.

[@nini.purple]

+Mango Steen or vegetarian? school of life could have said something about this :/

[@dbrr97]

+Crisis of Democracy check out "The Kingdom Of God Is Within You"

[@mangosteen1564]

+Nin Aries - Vegan :) Back in those days, a vegetarian was synonym with a person who would eat a strictly vegetable and fruit based diet (vegan diet). The meaning has changed over time. Eggs and milk where added later... and now even occasionally seafood. Vegetarianism today is a diet. Veganism is a lifestyle where one seeks to exclude all cruelty to animals in not only food but in clothing sports, recreation etc... Tolstoy did not only not eat any animal products, he was also very actively against wearing leather, against vivisection and cruel sports.  I also find it strange that SOL does not mention any of this...  One famous quote by him is " “A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral.”

[@MegaFREAK313]

Please do Dostoyevsky!

[@TheLandOfTears]

A compassionate fellow warms my heart.

[@joelfry4982]

Thank you for producing this. It is interesting and enlightening.

[@emilieher8332]

can you please make an episode on Charles Bukowski? 😊

[@jack_amie]

Women, can't live with them, can't live without them.

[@karenm7449]

13 children, not surprised there arguments about sex

[@saprissa30]

You can live without them. Very easily

[@KwameAmedzo]

​@saprissa30 how ' especially if you’re heterosexual

[@exhalesolutions]

I love this channel. It is fantastic. More funding to this type of education and seeking!

[@michaelbookout7561]

love your presentations ! the narator's voice both compelling and intriguing all is well

[@stuffedmannequin]

Really looking forward to when you do Dostoyevsky

[@alexf7368]

Same here.

[@alonzososa2012]

It's already been made..Type Fydor Dostoevsky school of life. Enjoy my friend.

[@96oliverl]

When I was in Russia a man told me this and i found it very interesting: War and peace in Russian means woina i mir (phonetic). but the word mir has a different meaning when this cyrillian i which looks very similar to an latinum u has a small wave over it. so war and peace was actually called war and "community" or "society"

[@AnakiBoo]

96oliverl or "world"

[@1991justforfun]

Mir or мир actually means "peace" in this context. But it also has an additional meaning - "world" (not community or society).

[@mariya7958]

It's true. This is a spelling mistake. "Community" in the old Russian is "миръ", "Peace" is "мир", so the meaning was lost when the letter "ъ" was removed from the Russian alphabet.

[@solstice1681]

Thank you for this! It really explains a lot!

[@igorspie8241]

This double meaning thing is not intentional since these words (миръ, мiръ) had different spelling when the book came out.

[@hdfjdjify]

Glad you guys got around to my favorite Christian anarchist!

[@harshalshinde227]

This video was super duper awesome. Infact, it is inspiring me to read Leo Tolstoy books!

[@ulysses8300]

James Joyce next! wonderful video guys!

[@V1CCZ3XX]

Fancy making a video of Emil Cioran?

[@issac7787]

I like the soothing voice of the narrator, my kind of therapy

[@sassaidi]

"We spend our lives trying to unlock the mystery of the universe, but there was a Turkish prisoner, Bahá’u’lláh, in Akka, Palestine, who had the key." Leo Tolstoy

[@santiagoreyes404]

enjoying death Iván Ilich so much so far. I'm mid book.

[@Jake-kn3xg]

Dostoevsky next then?

[@derrickgarner3629]

I would love to see a video covering Leo Tolstoy's philosophy more in depth from some of his lesser known books. Things like religion, human rights, etc.

[@PegiBruno]

good material! I need to watch those movies again (simply wont be able to handle reading the whole War and Peace again haha)

[@MrKostyaChernov]

It's very poor description of Tolstoy's personality.

[@romandivalenti9690]

Will you elaborate? Curious you should suggest this assessment of Tolstoy's personality.

[@tamerov2387]

Yes. He was an anarcho-pacifist, vegetarian and had his own theology of divine love and goodness.

[@BRIJKISHORESHARMATARA]

The greatest novelist of all time,will always be revered and remembered .May his soul be in peace.

[@tm23822]

I had to read Ivan Illych last year for an essay, and I have to say Tolstoy is brilliant. I really need to read his other stuff.

[@jhNNNNNNNy]

i cried at the end, thank you for that.

[@DoReMi123acb]

this was truly amazing. Tolstoy was a true visionary. I especially like your analysis on the introspective nature of his work. I see a similarity with him and George R.R. Martin. Do you?

[@Sunshiiineandstorm]

oh yes!

[@DoReMi123acb]

prerana adhikari good to know. :)

[@FluffRecordings]

+Egie Asemota Perhaps more similar to Tolstoy than to Tolkien.

[@jmiquelmb]

+Egie Asemota I've read the second book from ASOIAF, and watched all seasons of Game of Thrones.Maybe it's just me, but I don't understand what's so great about GRRM. I find his characters bland, and the plot just depressing. Like he has a fetish with violence and a nihilistic view of life. I don't complain about the blood and gore, but more about how it's portrayed. Now I'm halfway through War and Peace, and I feel I really care about all the main characters, with their qualities and defaults. To me, they are very different books.

[@DoReMi123acb]

jmiquelmb yeah, i can see your point, but have you read the first book? That is where the characterization really begins for the story and it also showcases one trope George uses which is subverting expectations. i.e Prince Charming being a short-tempered and angry youth with a superiority complex (Joffrey). Also, the violence is used as a means of furthering certain parts of the story but also to highlight it's futility and George's anti-war stance. Believe me, ASOIAF definitely does characterization incredibly well. Characters you start off hating due to their exponential nature turn out to become one of the most complex and sympathetic characters ever. e.g Jaime Lannister.

[@ddddaaaa7995]

He was lev not Leo

[@allofthemmilkingwithgreenf7493]

+Дарья Абросимова I think his real name was Лев Николаевич Толсто́й = Lev Nikolaevič Tolstoj, so you seem to be right. But in translation, especially in the englisch laguage he is also often refered to as Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy or just simply Leo Tolstoy, as stated in the video.

[@zarathustra8789]

+Дарья Абросимова I think that's the transliteration officially used in the English speaking world and it's easier to understand why, since "lev" means "lion", which one could relate through Leo. For example, in old Portuguese books, his name was "Leão Tolstói", being that "leão" means "lion" in Portuguese as well. The sequence probably came from something around this: Lev -> Lion -> Leon -> Leo

[@zarathustra8789]

+Дарья Абросимова PS: You get the same thing with other people such as Plato (Platon) and Joseph Stalin (Iosif Stalin).

[@poohoff]

+Дарья Абросимова а Шекспир был Шейкспирем, что дальше?

[@Jake-kn3xg]

+Pedro Silva Should make a video on Tarkovsky.

[@kayu_music]

This was brilliant, thank you!

[@nathan-eg7tr]

Surprisingly, you haven't done literature of Voltaire. I thank you for making this video, because I just bought these books.