tuesdays with Morrie: an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson

by Mitch Albom

Status

Available

Call number

378.12092

Collections

Publication

Publisher Unknown

Description

A sportswriter conveys the wisdom of his late mentor, professor Morrie Schwartz, recounting their weekly conversations as Schwartz lay dying. 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.… (more)

Original publication date

1997-09

ISBN

076790592X / 9780767905923

User reviews

LibraryThing member cyderry
Haven't had a book move me to tears in a long time, this one did.

This small little book is a marvelous testament to the human spirit. Here was a man, a philosophy professor, who was literally dying inch by inch in his body and yet his spirit was indomitable. As his life was shrinking away from ALS,
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Morrie spent his time explaining to his former student what was important in life and what wasn't. His teaching was spiritual yet realistic. Love, according to Morrie, was the most significant act and forgiveness of self - well, according to him " for all the mistakes you've made, for all the things you did you shouldn't have, for all the things you should have done, don't get stuck on your regrets."

The lesson he was teaching is one that is hard to learn, but definitely worthwhile to hear.

"The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week in his home by a window in his study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink flowers. The class met on Tuesdays, no books were required. The subject was the meaning of life. It was taught from experience. The teaching goes on."

I don't usually read books like this but I'm definitely glad I read this one. I learn a few important items.
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LibraryThing member bookwormteri
I feel like a complete jerk because I did not like this book. First of all, if you really care about someone, be there before their end of days. Don't suddenly realize that they are important to you as they die. It had some nice moments, but it was very predictable. Narcissistic, money hungry
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writer discovers the meaning of life through dying mentor.

Frankly, I was more moved by Marley and Me...does this mean that I don't have a soul?
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LibraryThing member MyriadBooks
God, I hate this book.

I only have it in my collection (actually I only have it at all) because it was given to me freely by my undergraduate university as an "This author is coming to visit, here, read his book" (this was back in 1999). The book was banal and touchy-feely, and very short, and even
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as it ended it never answered any of the few questions it raised for me, such as "Did Albom every work things out with his wife?" I went to the lecture because it was the first author lecture I'd had the opportunity to go to.

The lecture was worse. Albom didn't give a lecture at all, just read a chapter from his book. The first chapter, even, not even picking an excerpt like, "This is a favorite excerpt of mine, and here's why, and I'd like to read to you". Albom answered no questions and provided no information beyond what was found in the book. During the book signing, the single word I heard him say to any student was "Name?" (and I made a point of saying "Thank you for coming" to him as he signed my copy). Even taking into effect how hard book tours can be on an author, I think he could have taken the lecture and signing more professionally.

Sucks!
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LibraryThing member twig_tea
Sappy crap you already should know.
LibraryThing member xiaoshitou
Very touching and emotional. And i think i learned something about life from it. But the author sounded a little selfish to me.
LibraryThing member NielsenGW
Oi...platitudes galore. Albom's previous writing was in sports and it should have stayed there. Anyone trying to delve into this world of schlock is in for a letdown. Buyer beware.
LibraryThing member PublicChristian
My college students always said it was the most valuable text of the semester. I'd thought it would be too morbid for them, even the toughest guys admitted to tearing up at the end, but they loved it, and quoted it frequently through the semester.
LibraryThing member SallyApollon
I actually found this to be a bit predictable & repititious...or maybe I was contemptous of the author for not having respect for his elders int he first place.
LibraryThing member startwithgivens
It was a heart warming tale but I was honestly bored. I fell asleep with the book in my hand countless times and it took me the full lending period of this library book to read it (that never happens for me). I do not know if it just wasn't the right time in my life to read the book or what, but it
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definitely didn't speak to me as I had hoped and I do not plan to read it again.
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LibraryThing member KarenDuff
I absolutely loved this book, I fell in love with Morrie. I found it incredibly moving, especially the last few pages that deal with Mitch's last visit to Morrie and his death.
LibraryThing member PinkLadies
Sometimes it takes the wisdom of a dying man to jog us enough to realize that human relationships and health are more important than all the gadgets, modern conveniences, pressures to get ahead professionally and monetarily combined. This is just the main point that Morrie starts "teaching" Albom
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and getting through to someone who, like many of us from time to time, have gotten obsessed with the real trivialities of life. The only complaint I have about this book is that it wasn't longer. I wanted to take more time and savor the wisdom and sweetness of this old man, but, like his illness's swiftness, reading the book seemed to go by all too quickly.

"Do the kinds of things that come from the heart. When you do, you won't be dissatisfied , you won't be envious, you won't be longing for somebody else's things. On the contrary, you'll be overwhelmed wih what comes back."

I first read this book a decade ago - it touched me then, and it still does.
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LibraryThing member jerseyjane
I hated this book!
LibraryThing member siafl
Rather than finding this one as life-changing as many people whom I've spoken to about this book find, I find it predictable, and frankly a little like reading a self-help soup soul type book. I don't want to take anything away from Professor Schwart's viewpoints on life, because I think the world
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can use a lot more of him. I find the writing of the book a little too direct and simple. Simplistic. A little too much like a thesis, but without the insight of research. I think anyone who has read enough good books would find this one lacking a bit. Off the top of my head, Siddhartha is a much more interesting example of a book that journeys along the same line. The Alchemist is perhaps another. This book is worth reading if you are missing something in life, and not all that if you are chasing after a book that exemplifies the art of writing.
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LibraryThing member trinibaby9
A beautiful beautiful book. I can't say enough about it. Hard to get through at times only because it is so emotional. There are so many lessons to be learned from this book. I would say this is a book for everyone there is something in it for all of us.
LibraryThing member bookus00
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
If you want a reminder of how important your time spent with friends can be, then this book will definitely be that for you. You will laugh & cry but it was one of the most inspirational books I have read. You can't help but like Morrie Schwartz with his common
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sense and wisdom : "Everyone knows they're going to die.. but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently." is so on target. Definitely a biography that is readable and memorable.
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LibraryThing member mfassold
This is one of my favorite books to give to students that mean a lot to me. I have been lucky enough to have students that I call player and they call me coach. This is a book that should be a litmus test for a person's soul. If the book does not move you then your soul is lost.
LibraryThing member hprather
One of my best reads in years. Why didn't I find this book sooner. Sure, I heard about it, but it was not until my wife read and fell in love with it did I remember it.

It is very difficult to walk away from this book and not feel a sense of priority with your life. I have, especially over the past
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3 years of my own life, begun to see how insane and out of wack our priorities are as a culture. This writing from Albom will serve as a constant reminder of what brings true meaning in our lives and help young and old either plan for or look back on the live to live or the life lived.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!
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LibraryThing member BookAddict
This book wasn't quite what I expected. It really was a tribute to Morris Schwartz, a professor at an American university who was a loving friend to his students. He was a nice man with good common sense. His philosophy was much like my own. I do think people who are concerned with striving for
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material goods or other meaningless distractions should read this book. I wouldn't say it held any new revelations or striking insights but I am glad I read it so that I could hold this nice man in my memory and in that help to keep his memory alive. A short read.
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LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
A simple little book, describing a positive philosophy towards life and death. I did find it a little bit overbearing, as each chapter really had the same message with a different example. Overall, it was much less glurgy than I had expected.
LibraryThing member ElTomaso
A sweet, short inspiring story about a young mans witness to an older mans passing, with the focus being on the spiritual quality of gratitude for the precious gift of life.
LibraryThing member kimbee
I don't like Albom's writing. I think his books go too fast. This book was ok though. Some leassons are worth remembering.
LibraryThing member Mendoza
OK - I rated it a 5 star. It is an inspriational read and truly eye opening in terms of looking at my own life and what I have down with it.

But beyond that, how depressing.
LibraryThing member TexasTam
You need a box of kleenex nearby with this book. Morrie should be an inspiration to us all on how to live the last days of your life.
LibraryThing member edie19
A great example of living and dying - lots of lessons to be learned here.
LibraryThing member dianemb
A wonderful story that grabs your heart about a man who wanted to live until he died and pass on what he'd learned in life.
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