HW 24 - Illness & Dying Book, Part 3

Title: tuesdays with Morrie

Author: Mitch Albom

Publisher: Doubleday

Year Published: 1997

Precis:

The book is a look at a guilt trip of one man for another through a sweet lense. Loved professor Morrie Schwartz has ALS, a terrible disease that leaves Morrie unable to move. As the disease slowly moves throughout his body, old students come to visit Morrie to visit him for one last time and pay respect to the man who enjoys the simple things in life.

The book follows Mitch Albom, a particular student of Morrie who is now an accomplished sports journalist. After hearing about Morrie's horrible disease, Mitch tells his story of his final visits with Morrie every tuesday where they discuss a certain topic and explore it. Mitch cares to Morrie's every move and learns a lot from his old professor, but both Morrie and Mitch learn from these visits that every day they are growing.

Quotes:

" 'We've got a form of brainwashing going on in our country,' Morrie sighed. 'Do you know how they brain-wash people? They repeat something over and over. And that's what we do in this country. Owning things is good. More money is good. More property is good. More commercialism is good. More is good. More is good. We repeat it-and have it repeated to us-over and over until nobody bothers to even think otherwise.' "

" ' Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness. I can tell you, as i'm sitting here dying, when you most need it, neither money nor power will give you the feeling you're looking for, no matter how much of then you have. ' "

" Now, i have heard people ask this of Janine for almost as long as i have known her. When people find out you sing for al living, they always say 'Sing something for us.' Shy about her talent, and a perfectionist about conditions, Janine never did. She would politely decline. Which is what i expected now. Which is when she began to sing: "

" 'You'll find a way back to your brother.' Morrie said

How do you know?

Morrie smiled. 'You found me, didn't you?' "

Final Thoughts:

After finishing the last 1/3rd of this book, i felt like i knew Morrie. Throughout most of the book i agreed with Morrie's ideas, and i felt the same way until Morrie discussed marriage (although that is unrelated). I felt myself cringing when Mitch visited Morrie for the last time. Mitch's writing made me feel like i was there, with him holding Morrie's hand. The whole experience felt very realistic, and gave me a better understanding of how i might experience the death of a close one. Although the ending was realistic, i'm not surprised. The book was based on a true story.