What We Are Reading Today: Calculus Reordered by David Bressoud

Author: Leo Tolstoy

Russian literary giant Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich,” published in 1886, is a powerful story about facing death and the lies we tell ourselves to fit into society.

At under 100 pages, this timeless classic moves beyond its 19th-century roots to ask big, enduring questions: What makes life meaningful? What happens when we refuse to see the truth about ourselves?

Ivan Ilyich, a respected magistrate in Tsarist Russia, lives a life governed by propriety and ambition.

A minor injury, however, escalates into a terminal illness, shattering his carefully curated existence.

As pain consumes him, Ivan descends into isolation, abandoned by family and colleagues who prioritize decorum over compassion.

In his final days, he confronts the hollowness of his achievements, leading to a searing epiphany: Only authenticity and empathy can grant peace in life’s closing act.

Tolstoy’s genius lies in his psychological brutality. He unveils Ivan’s psyche, exposing denial, rage and fleeting grace with unflinching honesty.

The novella’s interrogation of what makes life meaningful stands out as a universal experience through time.

Equally compelling is Tolstoy’s critique of bourgeois values, framing social climbing as a cowardly distraction from life’s impermanence.

The book’s realism influenced writers such as Albert Camus and philosophers studying the human condition.

For modern readers, Ivan’s journey — from delusion to clarity — serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to live with intention.