Book Review: The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy
(Three Stars)
“Human life is a combination of the animal life and the divine life. And the more this combination approaches to the divine life, the more life there is in it.”
Expected more from the author of War and Peace. Anyone who can organize and tell such a gripping, true-to-life tale ought to be able to frame an effective argument on any topic which he sincerely believes. Not so. Perhaps the circumstances of this book’s writing and publishing are partly to blame. Tolstoy wrote this in response to the criticism of his earlier work What I Believe. This book was so critical of the established Russian Orthodox Church that he could not publish it in Russia.
“Physical coercion is not acceptable to moral regeneration. The sinful dispositions of men can be subdued only by love. There is great security in being gentle, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy.” William Lloyd Garrison, 1830
That said, today’s reader should skip the first two chapters, or read them last, as they are Continue reading
As a Matter of Fancy 