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My Confession

Author:
Leo Tolstoy
Read by:
Expatriate
Read Read Own Own

Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
176
Narrator
51
Release Date
December 1, 2016
Duration
2 hours 41 minutes
Summary
"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)
Reviews
What listeners say
The audiobook received mixed feedback regarding narration but was generally praised for its honest and thoughtful content. Listeners appreciated the author's introspection and the exploration of profound life questions. While some found the narration challenging, many valued the spiritual and philosophical insights. The work is considered brief, insightful, and accessible despite its serious themes. Overall, it offers a meaningful listening experience for those interested in deep philosophical inquiry.
Profile Avatar Ian M Sep 2017

I've read a lot of philosophy books. This book is refreshingly honest, disciplined, and heart-felt. Leo Tolstoy is extremely intelligent and rigorous in his thinking. However, he doesn't attempt to disconnect his musings from the human experience. He is forthright, detailed, and clear minded in his reflections on his own state of mind and how he comes to particular conclusions and particular times. The book is brief, insightful, profound, and easy to listen to (as philosophy books go). Just using a cost/benefit analysis, I would easily recommend it to any person. Looking for2 hours and 41 minutes of dipping into the inner-most journey of a rare genius? You've found it.

Profile Avatar Heidi Bundschuh Jan 2017

It's interesting how books just "appear". I'm not so sure I could have appreciated the contents of Tolstoy's " My Confession " decades earlier. Reading this in ones fifties makes sense, just as it seemed to me, to issue forth urgently from Tolstoy at 51. As some have said, and no doubt will continue to, this is not a fun, nor light book, but it questions and speaks to many important life, death, and religion-based questions, concerns and quandaries. His is a deep, thoughtful, wise and, yet, accessible work. I will listen again...down the road...it's the kind of book to revisit.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Aug 2021

the confession in other was wasn't easy.

Profile Avatar Angela A. May 2021

Great read. Great narration.

Profile Avatar R. Salvtore Dec 2020

Good read!

Profile Avatar Anonymous Nov 2020

I’m a big fan of the authors works, so it was interesting to read about the man behind the books. I won’t forget. It taught me also about the culture in which he lived and the history of the times. Great listen.

Profile Avatar Munir S. Feb 2021

It takes a lot to admit to oneself the deep flaws and uncertainties of one’s understanding. The author takes us through a journey and the destination seems to be the starting point, except now we admit that in life nothing is set on stone.

Profile Avatar Anonymous May 2026

I feel it’s much unfortunate for the author who narrated himself would have gained my attention by his voice expression I so wished to have heard his story

Profile Avatar Anonymous Sep 2025

I dont even know what to say

Profile Avatar Fatima E. Aug 2025

I did enjoy his honesty and pout of view

Profile Avatar Snnizzle Jun 2025

A wonderful and underrated spiritual journey from a great writer.

Profile Avatar AnaS Mar 2025

Content is good, but had a hard time listening narrator.

Profile Avatar Yenny C. Sep 2022

I love this book very differently to what I’m used to but I really enjoyed it and recommend it

Profile Avatar Omar H. Aug 2022

Great book that shows how the path of nihilism is destructive for the human soul.

My Confession

My Confession

Author: Leo Tolstoy
Read by: Expatriate
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