#3433

Mentioned in 19 episodes

Death of Ivan Ilyich

Book • 1886

The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a novella by Leo Tolstoy, published in 1886.

It tells the story of Ivan Ilyich, a judge who, after a terminal illness, undergoes a profound transformation as he confronts the meaninglessness of his life.

Through his suffering, Ivan comes to realize the artificiality of his existence and seeks a more authentic connection with others.

The novella explores themes of mortality, morality, and the search for true meaning in life.

Mentioned by

George Saunders

Mentioned in 19 episodes

Mentioned by

Dan Shipper

as a Tulsa primer.

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Recommended by

Yann Martel

as a universally wise literary work he once sent to Canada’s prime minister to show what the written word can do.

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Mentioned by

Matt Fradd

as an example of a novella, something manageable to start reading with.

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Mentioned by

Sam Harris

as a superb short meditation on death and a recommended classic.

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Mentioned by

Jenann Ismael

as the source of a passage describing the experience of impending death and loss.

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Mentioned by

Naima Reza

as a suggestion for Russian literature, specifically highlighting "Death of Ivan Ilyich".

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Mentioned by

George Saunders

as a story that he had in mind when writing 'Vigil'.

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Mentioned by

George Saunders

as a Tolstoy story about confronting a conventional life at death, which influenced his thinking about repentance.

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Mentioned by

Joshua Gibbs

as the book being read at the Classical Teaching Institute's fall literature retreat.

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Recommended by

Eddie Hood

as a book that might change your life.

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