Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson

by Mitch Albom

book data

41,445 ratings, 3.90 average rating, 4,365 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		34%
4		34%
3		22%
2		7%
1		2%

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published

October 8th 2002 (first published 1997) by Broadway

binding

Paperback, 208 pages

isbn

076790592X (isbn13: 9780767905923)

description

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 u...more

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02/03/08

Jared Smith rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in November, 2004

Review inspired by Eddie Greenwell

Wisdom grows with age. But the development of wisdom also accelerates when mortality becomes clear. Mortality shined down on Morrie Schwartz, a happy not-quite-old man through a quick diagnosis of ALS – or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Morrie was a professor of sociology at Brandeis University; he dedicated his life to the study of individuals’ actions in their respective societies and together he and Mitch Albom wrote his final paper: a study of hi...more Review inspired by Eddie Greenwell

Wisdom grows with age. But the development of wisdom also accelerates when mortality becomes clear. Mortality shined down on Morrie Schwartz, a happy not-quite-old man through a quick diagnosis of ALS – or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Morrie was a professor of sociology at Brandeis University; he dedicated his life to the study of individuals’ actions in their respective societies and together he and Mitch Albom wrote his final paper: a study of his life in his society.

The framework for Albom and Morrie’s message of love and returning to what’s important is archetypal in world literature. The Bible, Koran and other religious books trumpet the theme that the relationships of familial love end up giving you ultimate joy in the end.

Literary fiction is a wonderful genre, but literary fiction shouldn’t tell the reader outright there is some lesson to be learned. It should be the same with non-fiction as well. In this story, the message is one of those direct, sappy ones: surround yourself with loved ones and know what is important, and don't get caught with money and business. We have heard that a million times! Worse, he doesn’t write it in a more creative way that we have heard it in the past.

The problem is that Tuesdays with Morrie seems like some kind of self help book. Albom needs to learn to give only the story and let the reader make of it what she wants. He shouldn’t preach to the reader, "I traded lots of dreams for a bigger paycheck" (p. 33). That is why his work comes across so sappy – one liners creep into the pages all over.

In comparing Tuesdays to Five People you Meet in Heaven, they make Albom look like a one-trick pony. Much of the content is the same. A character (Eddie in "Five People..." and Mitch in "Teusdays...") has a lesson he needs spelled out for them...and they cry...a lot. They don't just live the story, they take on the empty-headed-learning perspective. His characters don't bring much to the table, but seem naive and ignorant, without common sense. Along these lines, no character in good literature can just be told a lesson and then live it. For example, would A Christmas Carol really have been much of a story if the ghosts would have just sat down and talked to Ebenezer Scrooge—who is highly comparable to Mitch in this novel—and said "Hey, you work too much and you don't really enjoy life," and then Ebenezer just did it. No, Ebenezer had to live through the consequences of his lifestyle and then choose for himself. The best part of a great and lasting character, and the part that Albom severely misses out on, is the growing. A good character doesn't just get told and then accept. Albom's characters are spoon-fed quotes and lessons like children and the reader is supposed to buy it! Well, I don't. I need to learn human development, not be told how to develop.
To jazz Tuesdays up, give us more of Mitch's life as a reporter. Not just glimpses of and a complete summary (a literary no-no) of his life as a business man. Albom needs to take the time out to develop the friction between Mitch's life in Detroit and his life at Brandeis. The true beauty about this inherent conflict that most readers can identify with is that there is an allure to making all that money and living it up as a great sports writer as opposed to living with less money but happier. It is a more dynamic and relevant story and teaches more than Albom’s classroom environment.

Some of Morries lessons are inconsistent, and the reader must forget what Albom heralded at the beginning of the encounter. For example, Morrie was adamant at the beginning of the novel that he was not embarrassed about his humanity; he lived his own life without thinking about his stature, power or wealth. He claimed that one should never worry about what other people thought about him. Later in the book, after his ALS progressed, he complained about being embarrassed about how degenerate his body had become. He stopped letting visitors be with him much and identified that his biggest thorn was that the nurse had to help him with his intimate needs in the bathroom. These inconsistencies make the reader confused as to whether Morrie progressed and realized his humanity or truly lived out of the rat race.

If Albom has grown as an author, it is simply to write in such a sappy dramatic way that the general public eats it up, but does not digest. As he says in Tuesdays: "Yet they gave up days and weeks of their lives, addicted to someone else's drama" (42). Perhaps he should spend some time reading Hemmingway before his next novel, and really dig into the characters and conflicts.

The criticality of this novel stems from Albom’s desire that his audience think about and learn from the piece. It was too sappy to be taken seriously and truly learn from.

(less)

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12/16/07

Trevor rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in January, 2007

To say I read this book is not quite true. I read about two chapters. The two things that happened to stop me reading were:

1. When Morrie decided to have his wake before he died so he could hear all the nice things people were going to say about him. I'm Irish, at a wake you do not get the right of reply! It is the law. It just reminded me of that ruler from one of those Soviet Asian Republics that end in -stan who faked his own death and funeral so he could hear what people would ...more

Like this review? yes (26 people liked it)

32 comments

11/16/07

Kelly rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Ugh, it was like stapling together eighty greeting cards and reading them straight through. Hate.

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

7 comments

08/01/07

Lorraine rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

bookshelves: odiousbooks

recommends it for: total idiots

I'm ashamed to own that I've read this. All I can say is: I did it for a good cause. That is, to promote reading in general (for a library talk).

Mawkishly sentimental (here I am, trying to wipe off the stale stench of yesterday's coffee mornings) and terribly trite.

Any person leaning to the left should, or would, recognise what Mitch is talking about. It isn't that Morrie is talking shit. He isn't. However, I think it's terribly ironic that such a venture (it screams "...more

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

3 comments

06/28/07

Huntie rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in June, 2007

recommends it for: anyone really

So I read this book during the week that I was sick with the end-of-semester plague. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I went into reading it thinking that it would either be complete sentimental crappy pap or that it would be amazing. It was neither extreme, rather, it was just a nice little read.

The book is about a college professor (Morrie) that the author (Mitch ALbom) had while at Brandeis University. This prof. had a profound impact on Albom while he was a st...more So I read this book during the week that I was sick with the end-of-semester plague. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I went into reading it thinking that it would either be complete sentimental crappy pap or that it would be amazing. It was neither extreme, rather, it was just a nice little read.

The book is about a college professor (Morrie) that the author (Mitch ALbom) had while at Brandeis University. This prof. had a profound impact on Albom while he was a student, but as happens when people graduate ALbom lost touch with Morrie. Through a well-timed coincidence, Albom happened to see Morrie interviewed on a newsmagazine show and discovered that the man who'd had such a profound impact on his life was now in the grips of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and wouldn't be on this plane much longer. As luck would have it, the newspaper Albom was working at during this time was having a writers' strike, so Albom was able to go and spend every Tuesday for several months with his old professor. Albom made a list of things that his generation was "hung up" on, and he and Morrie had long conversations (recorded by Albom) about each topic.

What struck a chord with me was the underlying message of how we need to look out for each other and show each other more love and compassion. It's funny because this is something that I really think most of us know, but most of us also rarely take the time to really consider how we're treating the people we encounter while we move about our lives. The other message I came away with (I hate using the word message because it implies the book is something it's not)was that if there's someone in your life who has made a big difference in some capacity, tell them how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you because they will not be around forever. This rang especially true for me because I lost my grandpa last summer and I was lucky enough to be able to tell him how much he meant to me, but others may not have that chance.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you are looking for an inspiring, quick read (I read this in one day). You'll be happy yuo gave it a chance.(less)

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05/29/07

Eileen rated it:

(review of isbn 0385484518)

bookshelves: dissapointed

Read in January, 2001

recommends it for: No one

When this book is mentioned in casual conversation, everyone starts to gush about it. I have only met one other person who did not enjoy it. It is highly overrated. If it was a novel I would have enjoyed it a lot more. A middle aged man needed a subject to write about, he finds out his old teacher (who was pretty cool in college) is dying. He meets up with him, tries to form a relationship with him while recording his last "wise words" before his death. I don't want to bash Mitch Album...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

19 comments

10/28/08

Jessie rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: Anyone in grade 9 and above.

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom was an inspiring book that I think anyone from any grade in high school is capable of reading. The way that the book was organized was an easy to follow format and was the best way that the book could have possibly been organized. I kept you focused on each individual lesson, and made sure you understood each one. The over all writing of the book was completely well written. Mitch Albom used strong words where necessary, which made you visualize the setting an...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

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10/08/08

Julia Attard rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Tuesdays with Morrie
by: Mitch Albom
Narrative

The orginization of this book was thought through very well. It's orginized by the days that Mitch visited Morrie, which was tuesdays. Every tuesday a lesson was taught and learned and I thought this was tought through well.The foreshadowing of this book was also good. It gave little hints about Morrie's future but didn't immediately give it away. I thought the quality of the writing was in great form. It really showed how dee...more

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06/22/07

Khalid rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275639)

bookshelves: already-read

Read in August, 2004

Tuesdays with Morrie is a real story that occurred to [Mitch Albom] himself. Morrie Schwartz, a professor Mitch has been taught by during his university years, gets ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – a disease), which results in Mitch remembering his old professor and deciding to visit him. This book talks about the journey Morrie had to take towards his death, and the way it affects Mitch, along with the memories it raises. By the end of the book, I had some tears in my eyes; it was touchin...more Tuesdays with Morrie is a real story that occurred to [Mitch Albom] himself. Morrie Schwartz, a professor Mitch has been taught by during his university years, gets ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – a disease), which results in Mitch remembering his old professor and deciding to visit him. This book talks about the journey Morrie had to take towards his death, and the way it affects Mitch, along with the memories it raises. By the end of the book, I had some tears in my eyes; it was touching.

Having read two of Mitch Album's books by now, I can say that I do not like his style of writing. The way he tries to jump from the past to the present and the other way around is just not good, and his use of the present tense is way too overdone. I do believe, however, that the contents of his books are worth reading something not all that well-written.

Morrie was a wise guy; I admit. Yet, not everything he said I agree with or approve of. He tried to sound above-it-all, but that did not work all the time. One instance that really annoyed me – and is the reason why I am writing this paragraph anyway – is when he started talking about aging. Aging, he says, is something we should be looking for. Oh yeah? That's what I call sour grapes, dear Morrie. If you're interested in his reasons, you can always go read the book. I do not want to spoil too much of the book's contents.

Do you fear death?

I guess I do, somehow. I feel I have not done enough – if any – good in this world to not be afraid of what's coming next. To be honest, I'm not just afraid of death itself; I'm afraid of aging before it and becoming helpless; I'm afraid of potential pain that could come just before I have my last breath; I'm definitely afraid of what happens beyond death, when I'm left to be judged for the good and the bad I have done; when all I have left is the forgiveness of God, and his mercy.

Morrie thinks it's lucky to die slowly; you get enough time to correct what you want corrected, he believes. That's a lovely way to think of it; none of us would want to die suddenly with things needing to be finished or corrected. Nonetheless, is it really lucky to see yourself decay and get weaker day by day, there is nothing more dreadful than slow increasing pain that has no end but death.

When I was a kid, I always wanted to write this story about the guy who gets told he has x days to live; after which he'd die. Tuesdays with Morrie is just that very same story, but it is too different than what I had in mind; it's nowhere like the one I would have written.

In my story, the dead guy would do everything he wants to do, he'd entertain himself, and do all the good things he would miss when dead. He'd go look at the world, and try all the interesting things out there; he'd simply do one thing: Be selfish in his last few days. Morrie's is just the opposite, and it happens to be a really story. So afterall, I will never write my story, Morrie's story is way more impressive.(less)

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10/13/08

Kevin Lechner rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Kevin by: teacher
recommends it for: Anyone

The novel Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a must read. This book is amazing from start to finish. I loved how he used foreshadowing to make the reader knew what he meant. This book had many themes for all the thematic statements (Loss, Physical Affection, Greed, compassion, and Modesty). For example, you get stronger from every loss. Mitch lost his friend Morrie and he went on to write a book about him.

The quality of this story was outstanding. At parts it was very emotionab...more

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02/22/08

Amy rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in January, 2003

I first read this one for a wellness class in college. I liked the book so much that I read it within a couple days of buying it. It is a book telling of the conversations the writer had with a previous professor, Morrie, as Morrie is dying of a terminal illness. Morrie offers his insights about life. He does this without being sad and depressing. it is great read!

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

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02/28/08

Carolanne rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275639)

bookshelves: books-that-will-never-be-finshed

Read in March, 2008

This is what I get when I take book recommendations from people who list their favorite reading materials as People Magazine and the Inquirer. Never again! If American Idol is your favorite t.v. show, you are NOT allowed to tell me what you think I would enjoy reading. If you know who is dating who on Desperate Housewives, your opinion is DEAD to me!

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04/10/08

Michelle rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in April, 2008

This book was very enlightening. I enjoyed Morrie's perspectives on life and death. I hope that I can take a little bit of his attitude and apply it in my own life. This was a quick read and so worth my time. I was very touched.

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10/19/08

Max rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Max by: This book was recomended to me by the school LHS
recommends it for: teenagers ages 14 and up.

Tuesdays with Morrie was written by Mitch Album. The book is about his past experience with a dying man named Morrie. Tuesdays with Morrie would be located in the the nonfiction section, because this is a true story. The book is organized by every tuesday. Every tuedays Mitch and Morrie meet to discuss life delemas, and solutions. The Book also has plenty of flashbacks, along with quotes, and short poems. After reading this book i could understand that the author had tried really hard to det...more

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10/16/08

Brandy rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Brandy by: i had to read it for Lit. class
recommends it for: ummm, i dont know

Tuesdays With Morrie is by Mitch Album. Well, Morrie is an old dude as i'm sure you can tell, who is suffering from ASL or is it ALS? I can't remember, but it's one of those two and he's losing the use of his limbs. One of his old Students, Mitch Albom, hasn't seen him in 16 years and started to go see him every Tuesday when he learned he was dying. At the end of the book, Morrie dies, but lives on trough Mitch, because Morrie had tought him about all of life's greatest leasons. One of themes pr...more

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10/11/08

Ashley Wagner rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

bookshelves: currently-reading

The non-fiction novel "Tuesdays with Morrie" written my Mitch Albom is a wonderfully written story of a student and his professor.It taught many lesson as well as filling you with all sorts of emotions. The flashbacks that where described in the story really gave you a feel of how Mitch changed throught the story and ways that Morrie changed him telling him to live life to the fulleset, live every day as if were your last, and to except death everyone has to face it. The story was main...more

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10/09/08

Brendan Gordon rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

Read in January, 2009

recommended to Brendan by: My english teacher
recommends it for: My aunt Sue with Ovarian Cancer

"Tuesdays with Morrie," by Mitch Albon, nonfiction is a geat book and i would recamend it to any one going through hard times. If i had to grade it I would give it a eigth out of ten. That would be the grade i would give because it givves a great incite to the experiences of dieing, but I preasonaly like action packed books. For me i think the theme would be that deaths around you can really bring friends or anyother people together in strong ways. I really liked how Morrie new the was...more

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08/31/08

Bob rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

I completely ready this on the airplane (outgoing trip) on our recent vacation to Hawaii. Obviously, it is a relatively fast read. The main character is in the last stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and dies after 14 visits (on Tuesdays) with the author.

It is admirable to openly confront the final stages of life. However, this book - despite glowing reviews, didn't wow me. The most important point I got, and keep coming back to is: "aging is fine, because you keep getting...more

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05/27/08

Tanya rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

bookshelves: non-fiction

This is a biography about journalist Mitch Albom’s experience interviewing his professor from 20 years earlier over a period of 14 weeks. The 14 Tuesday meetings between Mitch and Morrie Shwartz are Morrie’s last as he continues his fight against ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, AKA Lou Gehrig’s disease). Morrie shares his insights into living meaningful life, and brings dignity to the process of dying, which afflicted him, and afflicts many with great suffering, but also brings grea...more

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02/23/08

Lindsay rated it:

(review of isbn 0751529818)

recommends it for: people who want to be remembered.

My high school Wind Ensemble director, Mr. Jones, made us all read this book. It was an assignment he paired with our performance of some elegy or another; it seems like we played a lot of elegies that year. I wonder if he had something going on in his personal life. He was definitely on a death kick.

Every week, we would gather together in the theater (not the band room, mind you) and discuss the latest installment of Tuesdays with Morrie while sitting in a circle. We had some dumb...more