What Men Live By

Written by Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by Michael Beck

Following the story of a poor cobbler and a mysterious stranger rescued from the cold, What Men Live Byreveals the source of human kindness and of life itself.  As this stranger comes to live and work with the cobbler and his family, he learns the foundations of humanity and love.  As a witness to several different encounters with this family, he begins to understand that man’s very existence and continued survival depends on love.  Tolstoy brings the beauty of Christ’s wisdom and love to this simple story of generosity and good will.  This work inspires true reflection into love’s role in life and even more so into God’s role in the lives of all men.


This series, published by ONE audiobooks, seeks to produce Classic Christian titles read by well known and loved audiobook narrators.  ONE takes great care to cast these titles with readers who will provide an unmatched listening experience for these important works.

Michael Beck brings his passion to every performance and is considered to be one of the top audiobook narrators in the industry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Audiobooks
• Release date: Jun 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781646891887

Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian author of novels, short stories, novellas, plays, and philosophical essays. He was born into an aristocratic family and served as an officer in the Russian military during the Crimean War before embarking on a career as a writer and activist. Tolstoy’s experience in war, combined with his interpretation of the teachings of Jesus, led him to devote his life and work to the cause of pacifism. In addition to such fictional works as War and Peace (1869), Anna Karenina (1877), and The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1886), Tolstoy wrote The Kingdom of God is Within You (1893), a philosophical treatise on nonviolent resistance which had a profound impact on Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. He is regarded today not only as one of the greatest writers of all time, but as a gifted and passionate political figure and public intellectual whose work transcends Russian history and literature alike.

Reviews for What Men Live By

[Eleanor Carson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this audio book (published by One Audiobooks and narrated by Michael Beck). Soon after starting the book, both the narrator`s voice and all external evidence of the world around me vanished as I became completely immersed in this story. When I got home from my walk, I could not bear to stop listening until the story was done.

A poor shoemaker, Simon, finds a naked man, Michael, next to a church. At first, he runs from the man, but taking pity on him, he returns to the man, gives him a coat and boots to wear, and takes him home. At first, his wife, Matryona, rejects the man because they are too poor to care for him, but she also takes pity on him and accepts the man. The poor couple have faith that all will work out in the end. Michael stays with Simon and Matryona as an apprentice shoemaker. He is quiet and rarely smiles but he learns quickly and his work is good. It turns out that the three times he smiles have a significance that he explains to Simon before Michael finally leaves him.

The story starts out in a practical, step-by-step way, in which the motivations and actions of Simon and Matryona and some of their significant customers are explained. Subtle foreshadowing gives a hint that Michael is not an ordinary man and this is not an ordinary tale. The final chapter rushes by at breakneck speed while Michael explains the significance of his own existence and the reasons for his three smiles.

This story is heartwarming and touching. Highly recommended.