Synopsis – Tuesdays With Morrie

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, and 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. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing he was dying of ALS – or motor neurone disease – Mitch visited Morrie 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.

My Rating

My Review

We live in a time and age where we measure our life’s importance and meaning with indicators such as money, fame or prestige. In a world where most of the people are as if running on auto-pilot, Morrie has a simple but profound message to give – “once you learn how to die, you learn how to live“.

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning

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This is a simple, compact book; one that I could read in a day or two. However, I lingered; reading this book felt like a giant hug, or a chat with a best friend. The lessons given by Morrie are not the ones we are unaware of, which in fact makes this book even more important – all of us need a book that serves to remind us what the truly important things in life are. At the same time, it does not sound preachy, but is rather told with utmost humility and acceptance. Morrie admits to crying about his situation, but only allowing himself a few moments each day to lament. Then he turns his attention to the people and activities he loved most, often giving comfort to those who visited him rather than receiving it. He accepts death as the “greatest unifier”, becoming more attuned to the death and suffering in the world.

In Morrie’s own words “ALS is like a lit candle: it melts your nerves and leaves your body a pile of wax.”. As his condition worsened, Morrie needed assistance for even the most basic of bodily functions such as relieving himself. Witnessing Morrie’s acceptance and optimism in a condition that would make most people question life and god exemplifies his message “Dying is only one thing to be sad over, Mitch. Living unhappily is something else.”

The lessons given by Morrie are thought-provoking and impactful; in such a light-hearted manner and just a few words, he gives pearls of wisdom. Albom’s writing made Morrie’s character come to life. Throughout the book, I could imagine a charming, wise, radiant albeit ill Morrie. Each lesson made me realize that we make life much more complicated than it is supposed to be, and that most decisions would be simple enough only if we remembered what the really important things were.

This book is a absolutely must addition to your personal library. It is a book you can count on coming back to again and again. Definitely Recommended.