Book Review - Tuesdays with Morrie

Mitch Albom's book, Tuesdays with Morrie, has been out since 1997. It's one of those books that I'd heard about over the years and put on my "must read" list. I finally read it yesterday. As expected, it is an introspective book and true story that causes you to evaluate life and death.

Mitch is a successful sportswriter who reconnects with an old college professor, Morris "Morrie" Schwartz, when he learns that Morrie has ALS, i.e., Lou Gehrig's disease. Mitch lives in Detroit. Morrie lives in Boston. But Mitch makes it a point to become a student once again under his favorite teacher. Mitch flies to Boston to meet regularly with Morrie on Tuesdays for their final class together and he learns about what matters most in life through a dying man.

It is a refreshing story - funny, sad, reflective, and inspirational. Morrie's wit and wisdom engages you and Mitch's writing style makes you feel like you are in the room with them.

A few quotes:

Morrie about regrets: "The culture doesn't encourage you to think about such things until you're about to die. We're so wrapped up in egotistical things, career, family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the radiator when it breaks - we're involved in trillions of little acts just to keep going. So we don't get into the habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, 'Is this all? Is this all I want? Is something missing?'"

Morrie about dying: "Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently."

"To know you're going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time - that's better. That way you can actually be more involved in your life while you're living."

Morrie about money and status: "If you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone."

Mitch wrote that Morrie was a "religious mutt." Morrie's insights came from his Jewish heritage, Christianity, and even some Eastern religions. While this book isn't from an absolute Christian point of view, it is definitely worth the read and its insights are valuable for us all.