For years, I knew Leo Tolstoy as the guy who wrote War and Peace—the massive books that look good on a shelf but are intimidating to read. But last year, I stumbled upon a shorter, more piercing work that started with a simple, haunting question: “What Is to Be Done?”
Reading this book wasn’t like reading a story; it was like looking into a mirror. It’s the most “human” Tolstoy has ever been.
1. The Question That Started It All
In the late 1800s, Tolstoy moved to Moscow and was shocked by the extreme poverty he saw in the slums. He didn’t just write about it from a distance; he went there, tried to help, and failed. This book is his honest, raw struggle to answer: How can I live in luxury while my neighbor starves?
2. Why Americans are Googling it in 2026
With the current economic shifts and the rise of social consciousness in the U.S., this 140-year-old book feels like it was written yesterday. People are looking for “moral clarity,” and Tolstoy provides a brutal, honest roadmap.
Tolstoy’s Major “Question” Books
| Book Title | The Core Question | My Personal Take | Impact Score |
| What Is to Be Done? | How should we live ethically? | Life-changing. It makes you rethink every purchase. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| A Confession | What is the meaning of life? | Very dark, but deeply relatable if you’ve had a mid-life crisis. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| What Is Art? | Is art for beauty or for the soul? | Intellectual. Great for artists and creators. | ⭐⭐⭐ |
3. My Experience: It’s Not a Comfortable Read
I’ll be honest—I had to stop reading this book several times. Tolstoy doesn’t give you easy answers. He challenges the “charity” we do just to feel better about ourselves. He argues that true help requires sacrifice and manual labor, not just writing a check.
4. The Verdict
If you are asking yourself “What is my purpose?” or “Am I doing enough for the world?”, skip the modern self-help books for a week. Go back to Tolstoy. He asked these questions better than anyone else.
