The second work in this volume is "The Gospel in Brief." Tolstoy had come to the conclusion that history and the church had muddled the story and lessons of Jesus, so he made a new translation based on the most ancient texts that he could find. In this translation, he leaves out all miracles and it ends with Jesus dying. In so doing, Tolstoy brings to light the simple teachings without all the usual trappings of smoke and mirrors that Christianity has used to brainwash the masses. The teachings, by themselves, of course, come through as fresh as ever ... Love and Kindness.

In 1879 Leo Tolstoy reached a state of spiritual crisis, believing that he had accomplished nothing, and that his life was meaningless. This account of an individual's struggle for faith relates this spiritual crisis, posing questions about the meaning of life and death.