Rating: 
Summary: As is Einstein to Physics, Tolstoy is to Peace on Earth
Review: This book created Gandhi and also created Dr. King, by virtue of Dr. King's study and advancement of the work achieved by Gandhi. So, this book created both of history's brilliant, proven, unimaginably effective Generals of Nonviolent combat. What else is there to say about the importance, validity, and value of this book, to the reader, to human kind, and to the future?
Rating:
Summary: A Nice Utopia
Review: This is a special book. You only have to check amongst the ratings. They span from 1 star to five! Nobody that reads this book will remain untouched. You may hate it or you may love it. Black or white.
My personal feeling is that it would be nice to see the world assuming the main idea, that is, non resistance to evil. Can it be reallistically put into practice? Tostoy states undubitatively that it is, and that the time for doing it is coming. After 100 years of that prediction the world looks as miserable as ever. Were the non resistance to evil, in its pure form, to be spread and conciously practised, most of the basis of all societies should be teared down and rebuilt accordingly to the new ideals. This has social, political and economical consequences of difficult assimilation.
Anyway, and this is my personal perception of the matter, the essence of non resistance to evil is a wonderful idea, and further reflection has given me a new conception of the world, or at least, my ideal world. Tolstoy was really a strong character, that lived his last days under the doctrine preached in his book and upon which Gandhi founded his ideology. This ideas are good, and it does not hurt at least to know them in depth.
Rating: 
Summary: Tolstoy's Radical Pacifism: Two Cheers.
Review: This is an interesting book, which I bought on the strength of its author's name. It is almost a companion piece to "War and Peace," another pacifism book. The reviews so far extensively cover the content of the book. I will include some criticisms.1) We need to keep in mind the Russian word "Mir," as in the ex-space station. "Mir" can be translated as "peace" or "community." As Tolstoy explains the progression of society, he begins with the individual-animal, then the state-pagan, and finally the world (ch. IV). So "World Peace" can be translated as "World Community." This idea is an expression of the Russian language. 2) Tolstoy is an advocate of a radical pacifism to the point on non-intervention when others are being affected by evil (p. 33-34). In other words, America should not have stopped Hitler. That idea is worse than Nazism itself! 3) Tolstoy inadvertently makes the "Self Inclusion Fallacy," the technical name for when someone criticizes someone else for doing something that he himself is doing-in psychology it is called projection. The specific error he makes is that he relies on the Bible for his brand of pacifism, and criticizes others for going beyond the bounds of the Bible for their brand of pacifism (34). Well, Tolstoy's own argument is also not found in the Bible-if it was, why then write the book? It is the same mistake Martin Luther made: "Sola Scriptora" is itself unscriptural. 4) Tolstoy also makes the mistake of citing a few scriptures as the basis of his philosophy. He reduces the sixty-six books of the Bible to a few verses, and is therefore playing a one key piano. His philosophy is more like an elaborate slogan or bumper-sticker. Dr. Boyd K. Packer observed that any virtue pushed to an extreme becomes a vice. So, any truth pushed to an extreme becomes a lie. 5) C. S. Lewis warned about a hyphenated Christianity, called "Christianity And."(Screwtape Letters, ch. 25). Tolstoy advocates a "Christianity AND the Peace Movement." What happens is Christianity gets politicized and reinterpreted in terms of the minor suffix, and eventually the major prefix of Christianity is lost. Look at the Crusades; we can sin in the opposite direction. 6) Tolstoy's reliance on scriptures only works if you believe the Bible. 7) Honestly--who really IS for war? Just the bullies and the people of Evil. Possibly the arms makers. Maybe the generals and admirals. But out of normal people, who is for war? In light of the World Trade Center calamity, many people are for defense and justice. Tolstoy sees no distinction between defense, justice, and war. The book presupposes that there is an inclination for war among people. I concede that at the heart of every war is a philosophical question, but Tolstoy never discussed the drives or appetite for war in man. James 4:1. Read this book with M. Scott Peck's "People of the Lie," for another Christian's perpective on war, especially chapter 6: MYLAI: An Examination of Group Evil.
Rating:
Summary: Tolstoy's Radical Pacifism: Two Cheers.
Review: This is an interesting book, which I bought on the strength of its author's name. It is almost a companion piece to "War and Peace," another pacifism book. The reviews so far extensively cover the content of the book. I will include some criticisms. 1) We need to keep in mind the Russian word "Mir," as in the ex-space station. "Mir" can be translated as "peace" or "community." As Tolstoy explains the progression of society, he begins with the individual-animal, then the state-pagan, and finally the world (ch. IV). So "World Peace" can be translated as "World Community." This idea is an expression of the Russian language. 2) Tolstoy is an advocate of a radical pacifism to the point on non-intervention when others are being affected by evil (p. 33-34). In other words, America should not have stopped Hitler. That idea is worse than Nazism itself! 3) Tolstoy inadvertently makes the "Self Inclusion Fallacy," the technical name for when someone criticizes someone else for doing something that he himself is doing-in psychology it is called projection. The specific error he makes is that he relies on the Bible for his brand of pacifism, and criticizes others for going beyond the bounds of the Bible for their brand of pacifism (34). Well, Tolstoy's own argument is also not found in the Bible-if it was, why then write the book? It is the same mistake Martin Luther made: "Sola Scriptora" is itself unscriptural. 4) Tolstoy also makes the mistake of citing a few scriptures as the basis of his philosophy. He reduces the sixty-six books of the Bible to a few verses, and is therefore playing a one key piano. His philosophy is more like an elaborate slogan or bumper-sticker. Dr. Boyd K. Packer observed that any virtue pushed to an extreme becomes a vice. So, any truth pushed to an extreme becomes a lie. 5) C. S. Lewis warned about a hyphenated Christianity, called "Christianity And."(Screwtape Letters, ch. 25). Tolstoy advocates a "Christianity AND the Peace Movement." What happens is Christianity gets politicized and reinterpreted in terms of the minor suffix, and eventually the major prefix of Christianity is lost. Look at the Crusades; we can sin in the opposite direction. 6) Tolstoy's reliance on scriptures only works if you believe the Bible. 7) Honestly--who really IS for war? Just the bullies and the people of Evil. Possibly the arms makers. Maybe the generals and admirals. But out of normal people, who is for war? In light of the World Trade Center calamity, many people are for defense and justice. Tolstoy sees no distinction between defense, justice, and war. The book presupposes that there is an inclination for war among people. I concede that at the heart of every war is a philosophical question, but Tolstoy never discussed the drives or appetite for war in man. James 4:1. Read this book with M. Scott Peck's "People of the Lie," for another Christian's perpective on war, especially chapter 6: MYLAI: An Examination of Group Evil.
Rating: 
Summary: A book which influenced Mahatma Gandhi
Review: This is one of the two books which influenced the greatest thinker of this century Mahatma Gandhi. Mr.manindar singh, if you want to buy this book, i think amazon.com has international delivery also. check it out
Rating:
Summary: From Ghandi to YOU
Review: This is the book which sparked the spiritual revolution in Ghandi, and helped make him the unbelieveable man he was. Ghandi raved about this book in his autobiography, and I couldn't agree more. This could quite possibly be the best book I have ever read. However, two years ago I wouldn't have gotten all that I have out of it. It came in the perfect time of my spiritual awakening. By the very Truth of you reading what I am saying I would suggest you get this book RIGHT NOW! You are ready to hear what he has to say, and it will make you a better person and thus making our world better. Tolstoy is a remarkable spiritual revolutionist, and he will open your eyes to the works of others that have been suppressed throughout time. Good luck to you and take care out there!
Rating:
Summary: From Ghandi to YOU
Review: This is the book which sparked the spiritual revolution in Ghandi, and helped make him the unbelieveable man he was. Ghandi raved about this book in his autobiography, and I couldn't agree more. This could quite possibly be the best book I have ever read. However, two years ago I wouldn't have gotten all that I have out of it. It came in the perfect time of my spiritual awakening. By the very Truth of you reading what I am saying I would suggest you get this book RIGHT NOW! You are ready to hear what he has to say, and it will make you a better person and thus making our world better. Tolstoy is a remarkable spiritual revolutionist, and he will open your eyes to the works of others that have been suppressed throughout time. Good luck to you and take care out there!
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