“Death ends a life, not a relationship.”

Catching up…

I am so long overdue in writing this review. I love this author, and I obviously loved this book. So did our Library Book discussion group when I facilitated this discussion years ago. Was there even a dry eye around the group? Get your Kleenex prepared.

What is it about Albom and his books that brings out the best emotions in his readers?

Writing this review now is rather poignant. Because to me in many ways it is a love story. A love story about living and dying. A recognition about the importance of a relationship between a student and his teacher. And, a recognition that this teacher who mattered and made a difference to him as his student. How would he share this love and appreciation for him, knowing that his beloved professor was now in his final stages of life?

As Mitch decides to spend Tuesdays with Morrie he learns more important life lessons. And, sometimes it is just having those moments he is spending with him on those Tuesdays.

Do we sometimes take for granted how much we can matter to another individual in those last days?

And yet, this book isn’t just about dying. It is about living. Morrie shares…

“The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”

This book reminds us about the simplicity of kindness. To slow down. Appreciate the others in our lives. That there is something to recognize about the simple things that may happen towards the end-of-life. What we can do for another person. People are worthy. Of our time. And our attention.

So is this book.

Tuesdays with Morrie is about death, but what we learn about is much more than the loss of dying but it is about love and friendship. Mitch Albom met with his dying mentor once a week and rediscovered in his last months a person he had lost contact with. This is a tale of life, even if we have to die.

For those dealing with any kind of loss, I recommend Tuesdays with Morrie, a story of someone that was able to deal relatively well with the devastation of ALS. When I read it, I had just lost my father from this terrible disease, and reading it was beautiful, comforting, and touching.

“The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”

“Be compassionate," Morrie whispered. And take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, this world would be so much better a place."
He took a breath, then added his mantra: "Love each other or die.”

Given the popularity of Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, I'm surprised I only just read it this week. It's been in my queue for years, but I never had a copy and for some reason, I just didn't buy it. Earlier this year, I found a copy on my apartment building's bookshelf, so I snatched it up and included it in my September TBR list. I enjoyed it a lot, but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Knowing how much you can take away from the messages, I ended up with 4.5 stars even though part of me thought it could have pushed the envelope a bit more. Then again, it is almost 15 years old and this type of literature has only become popular in recent years. For its time (minimal social media or digital blogs!), it was pretty motivating.

Rather than critique the book, I've decided to focus more on the messages within it. Life is short. You should remember the valuable things when you're in the latter stages approaching death. Perhaps if you develop a terminal illness, you've been given an opportunity to squeeze in as much as possible before you do actually pass on. It seems odd to phrase it in such a manner, but rather than just die unexpectedly, you have a rough time period in your head... you can try to achieve a few goals and make whatever changes you can before it's too late. Of course, a terminal illness comes with extraordinarily negative impacts, but I'd prefer to focus on the benefits you can reap from the messages in such a book.

It's not important how clean your house is, tho I often obsess over it. It doesn't matter if you traveled the world and saw amazing things when you don't have anyone you love by your side. And you're not gonna focus on the little things in those last few moments. So make the most of it... find people you care for and share your feelings. That's basically the gist of the autobiographical work on a very cursory level. Albom goes back and forth between his younger days with Morrie and his older days with Morrie, and as readers, we see the change in him across time.

I kinda feel like this was one big way to accomplish a goal, but we can also implement his ideas in smaller form across each day. That's where I found the greatest lessons in his words. I'm on a kick to read a few more of his books this fall, too.

I'm ashamed to own that I've read this. All I can say is: I did it for a good cause. That is, to promote reading in general (for a library talk).

Mawkishly sentimental (here I am, trying to wipe off the stale stench of yesterday's coffee mornings) and terribly trite.

Any person leaning to the left should, or would, recognise what Mitch is talking about. It isn't that Morrie is talking shit. He isn't. However, I think it's terribly ironic that such a venture (it screams "self-help" and "it will touch you!") has been undertaken by Mitch. I bet ol' Morrie is really angry now. It's like encouraging capitalism by using Marx.... The stuff in there, about wanting money etc, it's all in Marx....

Here's my tip: ditch the book and either meet Morrie (impossible) or read Marx or any other Marxist (recommended). Even Morrie's essays presumably, if available, would probably be a good read. It's Mitch that's the problem, the money-grubbing critter that he is.

PS as an aside it's sad to note how things that start off really radical get co-opted in the most tragi-comic ways possible...

This book was recommended to me by a British couple during a train journey. They told me that it was their favorite book.

The amount of bravery shown by Morrie during his final days was truly remarkable. This book tells us more about ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neuron disease. Morrie will teach us how to handle our emotions and how to detach from our feelings.

n  n    "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. Let it come in. We think we don't deserve love, we think if we let it in we'll become too soft. But a wise man named Levin said it right. He said, "Love is the only rational act." n  n

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تو یه سری از ریویو ها و کامنت ها میخوندم که دوستانی بودن که عقیده داشتن هرکی از این کتاب خوشش بیاد زرد پسند و عامه پسنده..و ستاره دادن به این کتاب برابره با تز روشن فکری برداشتن

I already know this will be a book I revisit. I picked it up at a local charity book fair. It’s nice to think that buying this book (which had a profoundly positive impact on me), had a positive impact on others too. I think Morrie would probably like that.

For those unfamiliar with this classic, it involves author, Mitch Albom, reuniting with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from ALS. During a series of Tuesday visits, they discuss all facets of life – their last thesis together.

“Morrie would walk that final bridge between life and death, and narrate the trip.”

I regularly had to pause reading. A particular sentence would hit a certain way, or cause me to reflect on life, my understanding of others and my place in the world. It packs a punch for a short book. The use of flashbacks to their time in college and Morrie’s earlier life, were effective at painting a picture of this remarkable man.

“Because I know my time is almost done, I am drawn to nature like I’m seeing it for the first time.”

Quotes like that made me think of my grandmother. After I kissed her forehead goodbye one last time, I was struck with the realisation she wouldn't get to see the sunshine tomorrow, or the kookaburras laughing in the trees, or the sprinkling of snow over the mountains outside her window – ever again.

“I came to love the way Morrie lit up when I entered the room. He did this for many people, I know, but it was his special talent to make each visitor feel that the smile was unique.”

It got me thinking of my dog too, now elderly and blind, who still possesses that same talent and instantly lights up, wags her tail and literally smiles when anyone enters the room.

The author, like many of us, had become consumed by the frenetic pace of life since last seeing Morrie upon graduation. He had turned into a jerk. So, it was touching to follow his transformation through the book too.

“Now, more than ever, material things held little or no significance. When people die, you always hear the expression ‘You can’t take it with you.’ Morrie seemed to know that a long time ago.”

Tuesdays with Morrie delivered great awareness for ALS and it made me better appreciate all that my body does for me. Through these series of visits, we come to know Morrie so intimately, that you feel he’s your friend too - so it really hurt when the inevitable happened. I felt like I was grieving also.

Tuesdays with Morrie makes you stop. It makes you more present. It makes you reassess your priorities in life and embrace life itself. It makes you take less for granted. It makes you wish everyone had a teacher like Morrie. And it makes you grateful that his wisdom was immortalised in this book.

“Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

““Death ends a life, not a relationship.”

The last recorded lines of Morrie by Mitch. I read this sentence again and again and again. It just got immersed with me, just the way this novel did. It makes you think about the lost ones who once were your lifeline. I just asked myself about the bond that I had with my NANI. Yes, she is gone, but the relationship still stays and always will. I never understood that even after five years without her, what is it that I still cling to her? This particular sentence gave me that clarity. Anyways, coming back to the novel.

Well, that's what this novel does to you. It opens the door, less visited by you. It gives you answers to all the unanswered questions that, once, you might have thought about, but after not reaching any conclusion, you left those questions there and then.

“Ted, this disease is knocking at my spirit. But it will not get my spirit. It will get my body. It will not get my spirit.”

Tell me, you don't get shivers or chills after reading these lines—the lines said by a person on his deathbed. And not just this, there were many lessons like- “ Don't let go too soon, but don't hang on too long.” It is something that will stay with me always.

Overall, this novel will give your life true meaning. Only if you don't simply read it for the sake of reading; instead, you genuinely want to absorb it. Mitch, in his conclusion, wrote that a dying person fears the most about being forgotten. Well, I hope the people who have read this book can never forget Morrie.

If I had to pick just one book as my all-time favorite, Tuesdays with Morrie would definitely be at the top. Every time I read it again, I’m reminded of someone I’ve lost - most recently, my mom.

I love this book so much that I got both the English and Chinese versions. When I found out there’s now a Malay version, I had to add it to my collection too. Even though the story is the same, experiencing it in different languages gives it a whole new vibe - it's pretty amazing.

I can still remember those quirky “course requirements” mentioned at the start - no textbooks, classes held in the professor’s study, the subject being the meaning of life, no exams, and extra credit for a post-class hug or a kiss on the forehead.

What an unforgettable course that was! Imagine a wise old man spending his final 14 weeks sharing his secrets about life. There’s nothing more touching than watching someone face death so peacefully, lying in bed and calmly explaining how to live happily, embracing both life and death.

Albom’s writing flows so effortlessly that once I started reading, the rest of the world just faded away, leaving me deep in thought about time, space, life, and death. Those 14 weeks might seem long to some, but his words made me want to soak up every bit of wisdom - even though I secretly dreaded reaching the end. I almost thought about stopping halfway through, just to hold onto that feeling a bit longer. His humor always made me smile, and his words could easily bring me to tears. But that was exactly the point - he wanted us to fully feel every emotion. Once you’ve truly felt sadness, your tears have done their job.

The book dives into life’s biggest questions: death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and what it really means to live a meaningful life. These are the questions many of us avoid - either because they’re too heavy or we’re just scared to face them. They’re the very questions that start haunting us as we get closer to life’s end.

This book speaks to everyone. It’s for young people who might feel empty after a hectic life, for those in midlife who need a reminder that it’s never too late to change, and for older folks, helping them cherish every moment and face the end with the same calm as Morrie.

Sure, 1 book might not cover every deep topic perfectly, but if it makes you stop and think, then it’s a keeper. I’m pretty sure that’s what Professor Morrie would have said too.

“Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life?”

Yeah. It’s all about giving your heart to others, investing in your community, and creating something that truly matters.

Those simple words hold the key to life’s mysteries. Life is both ordinary and extraordinary - just like Professor Morrie, who was fragile yet incredibly wise and powerful.

I just love this book so much.

P/S: And I miss you so much, Mom.

5 / 5 stars

Creo que este libro es de esos libros que diría que es de obligada lectura, una verdadera joya, es una lectura amable, delicada, arrebatadora y conmovedora.

No suelo recomendar libros pero este le recomiendo totalmente ..

No saldréis igual de este libro ..

اولین کتابی هستش که دارم حرص میخورم از خریدن وخوندنش

این کتاب از اون کتابایی بود که چند بار اشکمو. دراورد نه به خاطر اینکه داستانش غمگین بود بلکه داستان سراسر امید بود
امید به زندگی
گریه من به خاطر یادآوری یکی از مهم ترین آدم های زندگیمه ،پدر بزرگم
من پدر بزرگم رو تو موری دیدم
کاملا شبیه به هم بودن حتی بیماریشون!
و خیلی خوشحالم و احساس خوش شانسی میکنم که آدمی مثل موری تو زندگیم بوده و خیلی چیزا رو ازش یاد گرفتم
به قول موری :مرگ پایان زندگیه نه پایان رابطه ها