I'm glad you found thoughtful. What if Tolstoy had focused on business as he entered his 40s? My reading of his death is he couldn't stand a minute more to listen to his wife and family's bickering over his money so took a walk in his bare feet.

One of the most influential books in my life (which I read in my 40s) have been his "Confessions" (he was 52) and "Gospels in Brief" (55) (btw I'm not remotely religious, then or now). Of course, Tolstoy isn't religious either.

I had bought some old book of his compiled spiritual writing at some point and put it on my bookshelf where it lay for years. I was in my late 30s or early 40s, waiting for something with the kids, walked over to my bookcase, and figured I'd read a few pages just for laughs. (because I'm not fan of religious stuff).

The book wasn't anything like I expected.

I was already thinking about a lot of the stuff he wrote about. But I couldn't see it clearly. Tolstoy supplied the flashlight.

I wish I could remember who I lent my copy to. It's $60 used, hard to find. Paperback versions of incompletel. Other translations aren't as good as Maude's IMHO. https://www.amazon.com/Leo-Tolstoy-Confession-Believe-Classics/dp/0192502298/ref=sr_1_29?crid=1IXDHIG09UMWS&keywords=Aylmer+Maude&qid=1655172399&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A2656020011&rnid=618072011&s=books&sprefix=aylmer+maude%2Cstripbooks%2C53&sr=1-29