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Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last Great Lesson by Mitch Albom
Reviews of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last Great Lesson by Mitch Albom
Amazon.com
This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil
has
soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds
us
of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant
mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of us have
entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell
them
how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus,
we meet Morrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author
describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and
Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morrie's
final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed,
this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly
and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom
for telling this universally touching story with such grace and humility.
--Gail Hudson
Amazon.com
No one but Mitch Albom could have read Tuesdays with Morrie so
effectively. As the author of this inspirational true story, Albom uses
verbal inflection in exactly the right places to evoke humor, empathy,
and
emotion. It's an honest reading, and the underlying timbre of private
memory pushes it past mere recitation to pure storytelling.
The titular Morrie was Morrie Schwartz, Albom's university professor 20
years before the events being narrated. An accidental viewing of an
interview with Morrie on Nightline led Albom to become reunited with
his old teacher, friend, and "coach" at a time when Albom, a successful
sportswriter, was struggling to define dissatisfactions with his own life
and
career. Morrie, on the other hand, after a rich life filled with friends,
family, teaching, and music, was dying from Lou Gehrig's disease, a
crippling illness that diminished his activities daily. Albom was one of
hundreds of former students and acquaintances who traveled great
distances to visit Morrie in the final months of his life.
The 14 Tuesday visits that followed their reunion took Albom--and will
take listeners with him--on a journey of reawakening to life's best
rewards. The story is told in a journalistic style that never crosses into
pathos. That a professional writer can write well is not surprising, but
Albom also reads well, with clear enunciation and a talent for mimicry.
Another reader might have interpreted the professor's aphorisms as droll
humor or wrung a wrong note at an inappropriate moment, making the
story a maudlin tearjerker; instead it is read for what it is, a tribute
to a
remarkable teacher. (Running time: four hours, three cassettes) --Brenda
Pittsley --This text refers to the audio cassette edition of this title
The New York Times Book Review, Alain de Botton
Despite the obvious charm and good nature of both author and subject,
in the end, the exhortations fall flat. Just as a well-meaning statement
like
"We should all live in peace" doesn't help avert wars, Tuesdays with
Morrie finally fails to enlighten.
From Kirkus Reviews , July 1, 1997
Award-winning sportswriter Albom was a student at Brandeis University,
some two decades ago, of sociologist Morrie Schwartz. Here Albom
recounts how, recently, as the old man was dying, he renewed his warm
relationship with his revered mentor. This is the vivid record of the
teacher's battle with muscle- wasting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or
Lou Gehrig's disease. The dying man, largely because of his life-affirming
attitude toward his death-dealing illness, became a sort of thanatopic
guru, and was the subject of three Ted Koppel interviews on Nightline.
That was how the author first learned of Morrie's condition. Albom well
fulfilled the age-old obligation to visit the sick. He calls his weekly
visits to
his teacher his last class, and the present book a term paper. The subject:
The Meaning of Life. Unfortunately, but surely not surprisingly, those
relying on this text will not actually learn The Meaning of Life here.
Albom does not present a full transcript of the regular Tuesday talks.
Rather, he expands a little on the professor's aphorisms, which are, to
be
sure, unassailable. ``Love is the only rational act,'' Morrie said. ``Love
each other or perish,'' he warned, quoting Auden. Albom learned well the
teaching that ``death ends a life, not a relationship.'' The love between
the
old man and the younger one is manifest. This book, small and easily
digested, stopping just short of the maudlin and the mawkish, is on the
whole sincere, sentimental, and skillful. (The substantial costs of Morrie's
last illness, Albom tells us, were partly defrayed by the publisher's
advance). Place it under the heading ``Inspirational.'' ``Death,'' said
Morrie, ``is as natural as life. It's part of the deal we made.'' If that
is so
(and it's not a notion quickly gainsaid), this book could well have been
called ``The Art of the Deal.'' -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates,
LP. All rights reserved.
Book Description of
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last Great
Lesson by Mitch Albom
Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone
older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and
searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you
sound advice to help you make your way through it.
For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college
professor from nearly twenty years ago.
Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way,
and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn't you like
to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you,
receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you
were younger?
Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last
months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with
Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college.
Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in
how to
live.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together,
through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.
Synopsis
of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last Great
Lesson by Mitch Albom
A Detroit sportswriter conveys the wisdom and life lessons of his late
mentor, professor Morrie Schwartz--whose appearances on ABC-TV's
Nightline drew a flood of response--recounting their weekly
conversations as Schwartz lay dying. Tour."
Synopsis
of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last Great
Lesson by Mitch Albom
Featured on "Oprah" on October 9. Maybe it was a grandparent or a
teacher. Someone older who understood you when you were young and
searching, who helped you see the world as a more profound place, and
gave you advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch
Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from
nearly 20 years ago. The two lost touch. When he rediscovered Morrie
in the last months of the older man's life, Mitch visited Morrie ever
Tuesday, just like in the old days. This is the magical chronicle of their
time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift to the
world. November 1997 publication date. 3 cassettes. . --This text refers
to the audio cassette edition of this title
From the Publisher
of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last
Great
Lesson by Mitch Albom
"This is a sweet book of a man's love for his mentor. It has a stubborn
honesty that nourishes the living."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John
"A deeply moving account of courage and wisdom, shared by an
inveterate mentor looking into the multitextured face of his own death.
There is much to be learned by sitting in on this final class."
--Jon Kabat-Zinn, coauthor of Everyday Blessings and Wherever You
Go, There You Are
"All of the saints and Buddhas have taught us that wisdom and
compassion are one. Now along comes Morrie, who makes it perfectly
plain. His living and dying show us the way."
--Joanna Bull, Founder and Executive Director of Gilda's Club
From the Back Cover
of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and the Last
Great
Lesson by Mitch Albom
"This is a sweet book of a man's love for his mentor. It has a stubborn
honesty that nourishes the living."
--Robert Bly, author of Iron John
"A deeply moving account of courage and wisdom, shared by an
inveterate mentor looking into the multitextured face of his own death.
There is much to be learned by sitting in on this final class."
--Jon Kabat-Zinn, coauthor of Everyday Blessings and Wherever You
Go, There You Are
"All of the saints and Buddhas have taught us that wisdom and
compassion are one. Now along comes Morrie, who makes it perfectly
plain. His living and dying show us the way."
--Joanna Bull, Founder and Executive Director of Gilda's Club
About the Author
Mitch Albom writes for the Detroit Free Press, and has been voted
America's No. 1 sports columnist ten times by the Associated Press
Sports Editors. Albom, a former professional musician, hosts a daily
radio show on WJR in Detroit and appears regularly on ESPN's "The
Sports Reporters." He is the author of Bo and Fab Five, both national
bestsellers, and has also published four collections of his columns. He
lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
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