Lives Wasted and Well-Lived: David Wolpe on The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Rabbi David Wolpe joins Russ Roberts to explore Tolstoy's novella 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich', using it as a lens to examine the lies we tell ourselves about death and the regrets of a life lived for external approval. Drawing on his own experiences at the bedsides of the dying, Wolpe discusses the universal longing for honesty and human touch at the end, and how facing mortality forces a clear-eyed look at what truly matters. The conversation yields practical advice on how to avoid Ivan's fate and ensure our days are not wasted.