The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a thought problem that considers how easily we can drift through life—avoiding pain, chasing comfort, and clinging to what looks respectable. Yet in the face of death, the story presses us to ask deeper questions: What are we truly here for? What does it mean to live rightly? As Ivan approaches his own death, he is forced to see beyond appearances and consider what truly matters. His story invites us to reflect on our own lives -- to let go of self and to look honestly at our choices and how we live.