Description
By: Leo Tolstoy (1828-1920)
Leo Tolstoy’s “Bethink Yourselves!” is a thought-provoking and introspective book that challenges readers to consider their actions and values in the context of humanity and society. Through a series of essays, Tolstoy examines the consequences of war and violence, urging readers to reflect on their own role in perpetuating conflict and injustice.
Tolstoy’s writing is both eloquent and impassioned, as he appeals to the reader’s sense of morality and empathy. He argues that true change must come from within, and that individuals have the power to make a positive impact on the world by practicing compassion and understanding towards others.
While the book was originally published over a century ago, its message remains relevant in today’s world, where conflicts and divisions continue to persist. “Bethink Yourselves!” serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of mindfulness and ethical behavior in creating a more peaceful and harmonious society.
Overall, “Bethink Yourselves!” is a compelling and inspiring read that encourages readers to examine their own beliefs and actions, and to strive for a better future for all.
Book Description:
As Russia goes to war against Japan, Tolstoy urges those at all levels of society, from the Tsar down to the common soldier, to consider their actions in the light of Christ’s teaching. “However strange this may appear, the most effective and certain deliverance of men from all the calamities which they inflict upon themselves and from the most dreadful of all—war—is attainable, not by any external general measures, but merely by that simple appeal to the consciousness of each separate man which, nineteen hundred years ago, was proposed by Jesus—that every man bethink himself, and ask himself, who is he, why he lives, and what he should and should not do.” (Introduction by David Barnes, and extract from Chapter VI)
