My friend first gave me this book in 2007. My Dad had terminal cancer at the time, and she thought this book might help me to come to terms with it. Much as I wanted to read it, however, I just couldn’t. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t brave enough. Until now — fourteen years later.

This book is a beautiful tribute to Morrie Schwartz, the then thirty-something Mitch Albom’s college professor. Through this book, we see the love and respect that Albom held for his tutor. We also see the inspirational man that Morrie was. Not only through his illness and death, but through his whole life, through every lesson he ever taught.

Morrie was always a bit of a maverick. He believed in teaching people to think for themselves and to live their lives the best ways they could. He always thought that love and family was far more important money and status. A life well lived was not one where you had a faster car than your neighbours or a better job than your siblings. A life well lived was one where people wanted to spend time with you and love you, a life where you were surrounded with your loved ones. Nothing else matters, he said, when you come to the end of your life.

The premise for this book, which is non-fiction, is that Mitch Albom sees his old college professor being interviewed on the TV show Nightline one night. The old man discusses living with ALS. He is clear about the amount of time he has left to live, and he has made his peace with it. He is funny, thoughtful, and insightful, just as he was throughout Mitch’s time in college. Mitch Albom is compelled to visit Morrie, and Morrie asks that he bring a tape recorder to record their meeting. They meet on a Tuesday and agree to meet every Tuesday until Morrie passes away. In their sessions, Morrie imparts his many wisdoms, which Mitch tells the readers. But, also, Mitch tells us about the progression of Morrie’s ALS in graphic detail.

It is hard to read. It brought tears to my eyes on occasion. It brought back memories of my father. But it was also compelling and uplifting. Morrie was an incredible man who had huge amounts of grace. It is a story about friendship, family, and love. The only things we can use to judge a person’s true character and worth.

If I’m completely honest, there were a few times in the latter half of the book where I found it a bit too much. Not the illness and death, but the heaping praise on Morrie. Sometimes, it was a bit too saccharin. Only very occasionally, though. On the whole, I think this is a fantastic book.

It is a good book to help people come to terms with a terminal illness, whether it is their own or a loved one's. It is good for helping people to appreciate what they have in life. It is uplifting and positive.

Morrie. He is a star.

The graphic descriptions of ALS. It felt a little claustrophobic at times. I guess, that's the point, though. There were also times when Mithc Albom's praise of Morrie got a little too much. It felt like he was saying this man was the only person to ever understand the importance of love and family. There were definitely some rose-coloured glasses being worn at times.

Give my hubby and my dog big cuddles.

Sad. Nostalgic (I know; weird, right?). Claustrophobic. Uplifted. Positive. Warm.

I really like Mitch Albom. I've read a number of his books now, and I like his easy style.

It makes you appreciate life.

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Created Oct 13, 2021 at 5:19am • Submit your own review...