Imagine reading a book that incorporates life, death, and everything in between. A book that enlightens the readers to the possibility of a life guided by positivity and acceptance. This book is Tuesdays With Morrie written by Mitch Albom.
In Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch takes us on a journey of his meetings with his old professor who is on the brink of death. Mitch ultimately is lost in life and in his decisions, his old professor Morrie is able to take him on a path of self reflection. Each week that they meet, always on a Tuesday, they discuss a new topic, one encompassing an important aspect of a fulfilled life. Although never explicitly stated that there was an abrupt change in how Mitch lived his life following the fourteen meetings with Morrie, however I believe as a reader we slowly see him change, he begins to become more aware of himself and those around him, what they feel and how he can inflict happiness. The most blatant observation he made was in fact when his wife was with him and Morrie got her to sing, “I was amazed once again, at his ability to draw emotion from people who otherwise kept it locked away” (146). Later in this chapter Morrie stated “love each other or perish” (149), indicating not only the importance in a romantic relationship but also the importance in loving those around you in order to be full and complete. As the book wrapped up it turned more into a reflection of Mitch and the impact Morrie had upon him. He is continuously learning from him even after his passing. Which to me is a beautiful and healthy relationship with life.
This book is very unique in the way that it is written. It is written in the style of a classroom, Mitch Albom describes the conversations he had with his old professor as ones that would take place in a classroom, the teacher being Morrie, the student Mitch, the classroom being Morries house and death bed. This book is written beautifully, expressing the conversations that took place between the two but then adding periods for reflection on Mitch’s part in. In between each chapter there is a italicized portion, either a quote or a small anecdote, each contributing to the understanding of what Mitch was feeling. These italicized portions were important but very unique, they gave readers an in depth view as to what the author was feeling in that moment, week after week.
In thirteenth conversation they speak about the perfect day. I really found a pure appreciation for this chapter and Morris’s answer. He described his perfect day if he was healthy again, to Mitch it was the most simple version of a day and to Morrie it had him beaming. “It was so simple.[...] Then I realized this was the whole point” (176). Simplicity and minimalist lifestyles are appreciated but not often practiced. Looking at it from Morris’s perspective gives people the idea to look at if you lost everything would you wish for the stars or what would make you happy. In his twelfth visit they speak about forgiveness. Morrie says “forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others” (164). Now I think these are things we should do before we are on our deathbed and I think that is why Morrie spoke to Mitch about this. This goes under the idea of having regrets, if we harp on our regrets, things we missed or messed up then our life is steps away from being fulfilled, if we are able to feel the feeling and then move on we will live a life without regret and hopefully will have nothing to forgive ourselves for.
After completing this book, my main opinion is that this is a book that everyone should read, it is my new favorite book. I completed this book in a mere two hours and then read it again the same day. Here’s what I found so enduring about this book, it attacks the way in which our society’s run, it makes people uncomfortable and I think that is so vitally important. Now more than ever we cushion things to make it comfortable for what we want to hear, we want to hear it’s not that bad, and then we believe it. This book not only attacks the way our communities run but it attacks it in a positive and kind way, leaving room for the readers to adapt to change in small ways in order to change the way in which we think. We as a society are not apt to change, we do not like being criticized on the way we act or think, Morrie did not hope to expose this but to make the world a more positive and accepting place by going back to the basic human instincts and nature that will recenter who we are.
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