I remember reading the the autobiography of Leo Toltoy called Confessions.
Jordan Peterson · The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast · Jun 2025 Listen at 2:40 Why people recommend it
Leo Tolstoy's autobiographical work, Confession, explores a profound spiritual crisis and existential despair. On The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, host Jordan Peterson discussed the book on multiple occasions to illustrate a striking paradox regarding human suffering. Peterson noted that Tolstoy plunged into a state of suicidal desperation despite experiencing the absolute peak of fame and earthly material success. By bringing up this powerful text, Peterson sought to examine how extreme external achievements do not inherently shield an individual from a paralyzing lack of meaning. He specifically used the harrowing details of Tolstoy's inner turmoil to draw a direct parallel to the experiences of his guests, such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Peterson wanted to highlight that deep spiritual despair can strike anyone, even those who appear to have secured everything society tells them will bring permanent happiness and fulfillment. Through these discussions, Confession serves as a timeless literary reference point for understanding the heavy psychological toll of sudden disillusionment and the arduous quest for enduring purpose when standard worldly ambitions ultimately fail to satisfy the human soul, making it a recurring cautionary tale in Peterson's psychological and philosophical explorations.
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Jordan Peterson I remember reading the the autobiography of Leo Toltoy called Confessions. 2
“I remember reading the the autobiography of Leo Toltoy called Confessions.”
“and you know, at the end of Tolstoy's Confessions, I don't know if you ever read that, but it's it details something very much like what you described happening to you. So Tolstoy became suicidally desperate at the height of his fame and earthly material success.”