Product Description

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 -, Morrie visited 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. This is a chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #254495 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
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? And 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. 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

M. Scott Peck
* "A beautifully written book of great clarity and wisdom that lovingly captures the simplicity beyond life."

Amy Tan, author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB
* "This is a true story that shines and leaves you forever warmed by its afterglow"

Customer Reviews

A Young Man's Fumbling Death Bed Learning
Professor Morrie Schwartz is the mentor we would all like to have. Often we fail to seek out such a mentor because we feel inadequate or not worthy enough. If so, you will identify with Mitch Albom who seeks out his teacher's wisdom for the final time in this book. His fumbling should reassure even the most inhibited person to reach out for this kind of connection. That's the hidden beauty of this book, as Professor Schwartz's goodness shines through the narrowness of Mr. Albom's life.

This wonderful book focuses on the meaning of life, from the perspective of a teacher (Morrie Schwartz) who is about to lose his life and his pupil, (Mitch Albom) who has lost his focus on what is important. They come together for 14 Tuesdays (just like they did while the author was a college student at Brandeis) before the professor passes away of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

This book is filed with the most beautiful sayings you can imagine. Here are a few examples: 'Giving to other people is what makes us feel alive.' 'Love each other or perish.' 'Everybody knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.' 'Learn to detach from experience.'

Many people would avoid a book on this subject, because they do not want to think about death. Although Morrie Schwartz is dying throughout this book, the subject is really about living rather than dying. Few will find the dying to be distressing, even though it is graphically and frequently addressed.

For those of us with many years to live, this book can be a wake-up call to start really living now -- in the ways we would if we were about to die, as well as to learn how to treat others while we still have them with us. For those who have but little time left, this book can be an inspiration for how to get the most out of the remaining time.

You will probably find it heart-warming (as I did) to find out that the advance on this book was paid in time to help defray some of Professor Schwartz's medical expenses.

May you find new meaning in your life from reading this wonderful book! Life is a teacher, and Morrie Schwartz's thoughts can be a text to help you understand the lessons. Live well and make your choices consciously!

Something and Nothing
Morrie Schwartz was clearly a fairly remarkable guy, and this book stands as a loving, if rather saccharine, tribute to him. And as a tribute it's fine, though I'm sure there was more depth to his character than this superficial 'nice guy' potrait allows.
And denying any level of complexity unfortunately contributes to this books rather trite and simplistic presentation of his 'message'. He's almost certainly right in his prescriptions for a fulfilling life, but there will people who whilst recognising the veracity of his message find themselves for any number of possibly complex and deep rooted reasons unable to readily put them into effect in their own life. I suspect Morrie himself would've appreciated that, sadly this book doesn't.

Not to be missed.
One of the most inspiring books I have ever read. This book is an experience, a journey, a gem. I would share this gift of enlightenment with everyone I care about. This is a book to be shared with special people. The experience of this story opens doors of acceptance, love, humility and the possibilities of changing what seems to be the most unchangable in ourselves, our lives, our relationships. Reading this book and absorbing its messages is a living and growing experience. You will read it. You will feel it. You will grow and change. You will laugh and cry. You will let go and you will hold on. And then you will read it again.