While happiness has been a fundamental human desire throughout history, the contemporary pursuit of happiness, shaped by consumerism, materialism, and digital media, can paradoxically undermine happiness. Individuals who fail to achieve happiness or experience dissatisfaction often seek support through counseling and therapeutic interventions. The primary aim of this study is to examine Tolstoy's short story Ilyas, which represents today's pursuit of happiness and emphasises true happiness, using the document analysis method. The story clearly presents a comparative perspective on Ilyas and his wife's outlook on happiness before old age, during their period of wealth, and after they lost all their possessions. The research uses content analysis to report the story's search for happiness, its consequences leading to unhappiness, and the location of true happiness. Excerpts from the story are included. In this context, Tolstoy and his wife's pursuit of happiness reflects today's materialistic and possession-oriented pursuits. The resulting excessive work and concern for increasing and protecting their possessions lead to numerous unhappiness-causing consequences. Findings show that the pursuit of materialistic and work-centered happiness leads to unhappiness through lack of quality time with loved ones, damaged relationships, fear, anxiety, fatigue, and disorganization. In the final chapters of the story, Tolstoy and his wife realize true happiness, finding it particularly in their satisfying close relationship, the prevailing peace of mind over anxiety, their greater avoidance of sin compared to their previous lives, their dedication to their inner world, and their religious and spiritual experiences. In addition, within the scope of the research objective, the opinions of psychological counselors were obtained. The psychological counselors think that the story titled Ilyas can be used as a bibliotherapy resource in relation to happiness. They also think that clients who read the story may realize that true happiness is fundamentally nourished not by material elements, but by spiritual and relational sources, processes of awareness and meaning-making, and the ability to manage life in a healthy manner. The study concludes that the story may serve as a bibliotherapy resource in psychological and spiritual counseling and be applied in empirical research on happiness within religious psychology, spiritual counseling, and psychological counseling.