In this discussion-based session, we will explore The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, described as “one of the most lacerating works of literature ever written, a hard, pitiless stare into the abyss, not just of death, but of human nature.” Through the story of one man facing his own mortality, Tolstoy examines how people live, how they confront death, and how others respond when life nears its end.

This is not a lecture but a guided conversation. Participants are expected to read the novella in advance. The book is widely available online at low cost, often free, and through most libraries.