The Three Questions

Sometimes the answers to our most profound questions can be found in children’s books.

I often find myself turning to this book, based on a story by Leo Tolstoy, when I’m feeling overwhelmed with the enormity of the world’s problems and my sense of inadequacy to do anything to help. The three timeless questions that are posed and answered in this book give me clarity and direction to keep moving forward, the best I can.

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book by an artist who loves Zen philosophy. I found the book’s message a powerful guide in my own life. Nikolai is a young boy with three important questions about how to be a good person: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? And What is the right thing to do? He gets confusing answers from his animal friends even the old turtle. But when he helps a mother panda in distress, his questions are answered by the wise turtle, and Nikolai realizes that his own thoughts… show more.