Tuesdays With Morrie
Mitch Albom
1997
Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group; Random House Inc.
Precis of Tuesdays With Morrie
Mitch Albom was a student to Morrie Schwartz at Brandeis University. While Mitch promised to stay in contact after graduation, he did not. That all changed when Mitch turned on the TV to a Nightline news special on Morrie nearly 20 years later. It had been discovered that Morrie had ALS. Albom went to visit Morrie and talk to him about Morrie's philosophy on life and death. The visits became more frequent, and on Tuesdays. Mitch decided to audio record Morrie's "last lessons on life" the topics including, death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and a meaningful life.
Throughout the interviews, Morrie becomes weaker and weaker; and more and more dependent on the people around him to help him live. The experience of dying puts a strain on Morrie's emotions, but he still believes that death is an important part of living. Death is an inevitable part of life; and so many forget that. Through their discussions, they discover that society has the greatest effect on normal practices (like marriage, or wiping your own butt). "In business, people negotiate to win. They negotiate to get what they want. Maybe you're too used to that. Love is different. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else's situation as you are about your own". Morrie's final course taught the lesson of how to live life and how to treat the people within it.
Throughout the interviews, Morrie becomes weaker and weaker; and more and more dependent on the people around him to help him live. The experience of dying puts a strain on Morrie's emotions, but he still believes that death is an important part of living. Death is an inevitable part of life; and so many forget that. Through their discussions, they discover that society has the greatest effect on normal practices (like marriage, or wiping your own butt). "In business, people negotiate to win. They negotiate to get what they want. Maybe you're too used to that. Love is different. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else's situation as you are about your own". Morrie's final course taught the lesson of how to live life and how to treat the people within it.
Gems of Tuesdays With Morrie
"Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live" (82). <---not from end of book.
This is quite possibly the most important lesson in the entire book. I actually have found that I see this quote, if not repeated in new words, explained in further detail on almost each page. The entire book is Morrie explaining that death is essential to life. Death happens to everyone; we're so caught up in not dying that we lose the greater picture of life and die unhappily.
"Make peace with living" (173).
This is what I think really sums up the main point of this book; be comfortable with what/who you are, and accept the fate that is death.
"Death ends a life, not a relationship" (174).
There is a separation between life and the relationships between different lives. This links to the idea that memories live on when people don't.
This is quite possibly the most important lesson in the entire book. I actually have found that I see this quote, if not repeated in new words, explained in further detail on almost each page. The entire book is Morrie explaining that death is essential to life. Death happens to everyone; we're so caught up in not dying that we lose the greater picture of life and die unhappily.
"Make peace with living" (173).
This is what I think really sums up the main point of this book; be comfortable with what/who you are, and accept the fate that is death.
"Death ends a life, not a relationship" (174).
There is a separation between life and the relationships between different lives. This links to the idea that memories live on when people don't.
Response to Tuesdays With Morrie
I've read this book twice now, and I'd read it again. I enjoy the style of writing; not so complicated that I'm checking the dictionary constantly, but still generous in sensory detail. For such a sad topic, this was quite a lively book; somewhat in the style of Morrie himself. I haven't necessarily made new conclusions for myself, but I've opened my eyes to the effect that society has on death; they tell us to fear it and that it's a horrible thing. But death, i found in Morrie's case, was beautiful. Because he accepted that it's a part of life.
I've read this book twice now, and I'd read it again. I enjoy the style of writing; not so complicated that I'm checking the dictionary constantly, but still generous in sensory detail. For such a sad topic, this was quite a lively book; somewhat in the style of Morrie himself. I haven't necessarily made new conclusions for myself, but I've opened my eyes to the effect that society has on death; they tell us to fear it and that it's a horrible thing. But death, i found in Morrie's case, was beautiful. Because he accepted that it's a part of life.
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