Book
Review
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man and Life's Greatest
Lesson,
by Mitch Albom
(Doubleday, September 1997)
If only we all lived our lives
seeking the good in everyone and learning simple morals from
everyday occurrences, wouldn't this world be a better place?
As I read through the book Tuesdays
with Morrie, it made me realize how I take everything for
granted - my husband, kids, parents, friends, job and good
health. It's good to be reminded that nothing is
constant. Everything changes and nothing lasts forever.
The story is told by Mitch Albom,
a well known sports writer who was also a former
student of Morrie Schwartz. Morrie had been his college professor many years
prior. After not keeping in touch with his old friend and
professor for several years, he viewed Ted Koppel's interview of
Morrie on Nightline and discovered that Morrie was dying of Lou Gehrig's Disease, a "brutal, unforgiving illness of
the neurological system."
Albom cleverly arranges the
chapters of the book as if it were a class. He begins with
"The Curriculum" and "The Syllabus," stating:
The last class of my old
professor's life took place once a week in his house...The class met
on Tuesdays...The subject was "The Meaning of Life"...No grades
were given...No books were required.
Each chapter of the book is a
"class" or visit with Morrie. With each visit, Morrie
is delighted to see Albom and to give him the "lessons of his
life" so that others may benefit from them.
As Albom watches Morrie's health
deteriorate, he becomes more emotionally drawn to Morrie.
Albom begins to discover that his personal priorities are beginning
to change. Albom titles his final chapter
"Graduation." This chapter completes the class and
includes the sad death of Morrie.
This book is entertaining in form
and content and it leaves you with a good feeling about "The
Meaning of Life." It may be the most educational class
you will ever take.
To purchase this book at Amazon,
click here: Tuesdays with
Morrie: An Old Man, a...
Patty W.
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