ادی یک عمر زندگی را با حس پوچی و بیهودگی پشت سر گذاشته و فکر می‌کرده که هیچ‌کار مهمی در زندگی نکرده و زندگی را تکراری و بیهوده گذرونده. (خب من چون این تفکر را پشت سر گذاشتم، و باور دارم یه زندگی معمولی و تکراری هم می‌تونه خیلی مثبت و ارزشمند باشه، یه مقدار این حس‌های ادی رو اعصابم بود و دلم میخواست کتاب را پرت کنم اونور) ولی در آخر کتاب می‌خواد ثابت کنه این زندگی بیهوده و بی‌ثمر نبوده و همون زندگی تکراری و معمولی هم روی زندگی دیگران تاثیرات مثبت و منفی داره. همه زندگی‌ها روی هم تاثیرگذاره. و این یه واقعیته. و همین واقعیت باعث شد که من این کتاب خیالپردازانه (کلا من زیاد با کتابهاب خیال‌پردازانه حال نمی‌کنم) را دوست داشته باشم.
البته با یه جاهاییش مشکل داشتم. مثلا به اصرار روبی که کاش اون شهربازی ساخته نشده بود. این به نظرم مسخره بود.


- ما همه به هم وصلیم. نمی‌توانی یک زندگی را از زندگی دیگر جدا کنی، همان طور که نمی‌توانی نسیمی را از باد جدا کنی.

- جوان‌ها به جنگ می‌روند. گاهی به اجبار، گاهی به میل خود. همیشه، احساس می‌کنند وظیفه‌شان است. این موضوع از داستان‌های غم انگیز و چند لایه‌ی زندگی می‌آید. قرن‌ها، بشر شجاعت را با برداشتن سلاح، و بزدلی را با زمین گذاشتن سلاح یکی گرفته است.

- در جنگ یاد گرفت گاهی می‌شود غر بزنی، و لحظه‌ای بعد صدای فش و دوستت ناگهان می‌افتد و دیگر گرسنگی او مسأله‌ای نیست.

- کاپیتان همیشه قول می‌داد: «کسی را پشت سر جا نمی‌گذارم». تحت هر شرایطی، مردها از این حرف تسلی می‌یافتند.

- جنگ می‌توانست مثل آهن ربا مردها را به هم نزدیک کند و یا مثل آهن ربا آن‌ها را از هم براند. چیزهایی که دیدند، کارهایی که کردند، گاهی فقط می‌خواستند فراموش کنند.

- آدم در یک جنگ بزرگ، دنبال چیز کوچکی‌ست که به آن اعتقاد پیدا کند. وقتی آن را پیدا کرد، نگهش می‌دارد. مثل سربازی که در یک سنگر موقت، صلیبش را موقع دعا محکم می‌گیرد.

- گاهی وقتی چیز گرانبهایی را قربانی می‌کنی، واقعا آن را از دست نمی‌دهی. فقط آن را به کس دیگری می‌بخشی.

- آنچه قبل از تولد تو اتفاق می‌افتد، بر تو اثر می‌گذارد، همینطور مردم قبل از تو هم بر روی زندگی تو اثر می‌گذارند.

Strangely, obliquely, like The Alchemist because this inspires strong emotions - most people will either like it alot and find inspiration and meaning, or loathe it entirely and dismiss it as drivel.

Similar in tone and emotion with his novel Tuesdays with Morrie. I think that the greatest achievement of this story is the dreamlike, subconscious mood and setting the author creates. He can get a bit syrupy, but not too bad to make this contextually a problem.

Albom raises some interesting, thought provoking questions and leaves some unanswered, which makes for a better read, especially considering the subject.

As usual, I find myself on neither extreme, neither loving or hating it - finding some worth but also dismissing the buckets of smarmy cotton candy.

How in the history of time was this book on the Bestseller list for over ninety weeks?

I read this book in 2008 and I adored it.... it made me think, I mean really think... It stirred many emotions in me at the time, beautifully written and something I'd like to believe in!

My face tightens into a mean spirited frown, I grind my teeth, my head starts to burn, I clench my fists, I begin to tremble; there is a tightness in my stomach. I rip the telephone off the wall and throw it out my nine-story window onto the street; I let out a barbaric, guttural, king-of-the-jungle, ape-like scream. I feel my pulse beating in my neck, a blood vessel snaps in the back of my head. I flip over my couch, CRASH! I kick a hole in the middle of my T.V. I like that my shin is cut, bleeding, and burning. I toss off my clothes, throwing my left shoe through the shattered window. I stomp my bare ass out of my apartment. I do not lock the door, I have no sense of time, I am not coming back. I know I am hideous looking, but I do not care; I’m naked and full of hate. Fuck the goddamn elevator, I’m taking the stairs. On the fourth floor a woman shrieks and covers her child’s eyes. I keep trucking. I am a man on a mission. I make my way out the building’s front door, a cool breeze almost makes me feel less murderous. Out of hate for such a thought I bite my tongue, making it bleed. It doesn’t bleed enough. I begin to run down the street as fast as I can, screaming at the top of my lungs for the homeless man to stab me. He doesn’t. The lake, the lake, I will jump in the lake and fight a swan! I run to the lake and dive in, scraping my head and arms. The lake is not deep; I stand up. I am covered in mud and Chordata feces. I decide to drown myself. Head deep, slipping away, I am pulled up. It is a police officer. This book was on the NY Times best seller list for 95 straight weeks and I have failed.

Oh gosh. I don't think this was the book for me. After reading and loving Albom's book, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, I was really looking forward to reading this novel.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven was written from the inspiration of Albom's uncle, Edward Beitchman. While in hospital, Edward saw the souls of his departed loved ones sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting for him to join them. This story is an embellishment of what Heaven may be like, based on that experience.

The main character, Eddie, dies at the beginning of the story, where he is then taken to heaven. There, he meets five people who directly and indirectly influenced his life on Earth.

...that is what Heaven is for. For understanding your life on earth.
But they all crossed your path before they died. And they altered it forever.

By the end of Eddie's journey ,in heaven, he finds his own peace, which is something he struggled with during his life on Earth.

*I know my opinion is in the minority, but I found this story very boring.*

Eddie was a veteran soldier who works in the maintenance at the carnival, making sure the rides are safe and in good condition. For years, his life was a routine and it's almost boring. On his 83rd birthday, an accident happened as he attempts to save girl falling from the roller coaster which took his life. Then he wakes up in heaven where his new journey begins. He meets five people that became part of his life. Some are related to him and some he barely knew until he was enlightened by their connection to him.

Mitch Albom writes great inspirational stories and always leaves his readers with life lessons. Five People You Meet in Heaven was an easy yet slightly emotional read. My tears welled up when Eddie met the last three persons in this book where he learned about forgiveness, long lasting love and peace. Overall, I really enjoyed this one but it's not my favorite (I still love his other book: For One More Day)

I enjoyed this book. It had a great voice, interesting characters and good messages. I liked how each of the 5 people were connected in different ways, some surprise. The style grabs you. I thought it was a good intro to learn more about how this author writes. Spiritual without getting too religious. Witty and charismatic on some levels. Endearing to see how you watch other people live, as well as guess what happens when you die. I will definitely read more from the author.

This was okay but not as good as either The First Phone Call from Heaven or The Time Keeper. It was a pleasant enough story but it failed to really engross me in the various happenings.
Partly I think I found it an extremely weird idea of what Heaven might be like. The five people seemed a strange collection to me and I could understand if Eddie felt a bit miffed by who he got! I must admit I started thinking who I might want for my five people .........
Putting any criticism aside I read the book straight through and enjoyed it enough not to put it down for other activities!

I get why old religious women might like this book, but it wasn't for me.

Listened on audio. Did not enjoy

I don't understand the one star reviews for the book. Are these directed to the author, Mitch Albom, because he openly dissed the Harry Potter phenomena via a 594-word short story? Because as far as I can tell, The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a decent piece of literature that doesn't deserve the harsh punishment (presumably) directed to its writer. It's well-written, has a handful of good quotes, and is overall an inspiring and personal take on one's idea of the moment between death and the afterlife. I rather enjoyed it. Mitch Albom has a gift of words, and to give a biased rating is to behave no better than the author itself - to dislike something not based on its own merits, but because of its reputation. I have equal love for the Harry Potter books and for The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and am proud to say neither HP's popularity nor Albom's notoriety had a say in how I felt for them.

I highly recommend this book, particularly if you're one into bittersweet life lessons and notions of death. Some have accused the book for being both preachy and boring, but I don't find that the case.