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The Five People You Meet in Heaven

(The Five People You Meet in Heaven #1)

Mitch Albom (Goodreads Author)

3.93 · Rating details · 551,477 ratings · 19,634 reviews

From the author of the phenomenal #1 New York Times bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, a novel that explores the unexpected connections of our lives, and the idea that heaven is more than a place; it's an answer.

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd ...more

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Paperback, First, 196 pages

Published September 23rd 2003 by Hyperion (first published September 1st 2003)

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Jul 27, 2007 AJ Griffin rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: drippy, sentimental pieces of shit who love lifetime tv movies

what providence: i just remembered this book after I read some holier-than-though pretentious bullshit Mitch Albom wrote about Harry Potter. Mr. Albom-Winfrey seems to think the mass marketing of Harry Potter has ruined the theoretical lives of such figures as Winnie the Pooh, Clifford, Curious George, etc., despite that his own shitty books have been thrust upon the world under the same kind of marketing blitz.

As if I weren't annoyed enough at his article, I was subsequently reminded of this ...more

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Oct 08, 2007 Fretty rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: novel

"Lost love is still love, Eddie. It just takes a different form, that's all. You can't hold their hand... You can't tousle their hair... But when those senses weaken another one comes to life... Memory... Memory becomes your partner. You hold it... you dance with it... Life has to end, Eddie... Love doesn't."

The book that taught me the idea of death, God and life's never ending unanswered questions.

I vaguely remember when exactly I read this but I remember I read this couple of months before I "Lost love is still love, Eddie. It just takes a different form, that's all. You can't hold their hand... You can't tousle their hair... But when those senses weaken another one comes to life... Memory... Memory becomes your partner. You hold it... you dance with it... Life has to end, Eddie... Love doesn't."

The book that taught me the idea of death, God and life's never ending unanswered questions.

I vaguely remember when exactly I read this but I remember I read this couple of months before I broke up with my current-boyfriend and it was around the end of the year. Maybe September-October to November. It is significant to know when I read because it is one of the reasons why this book just stays in my mind.

I pictured myself as Eddie. An old man with so many bruises (physically and emotionally) draging the last breath he had to carry before he died and saved a little girl's life. With a cause he died (which for me is amazing!) and the sky went darker like any scene we might see in movies or stories about the long tunnel after we are no longer connected to this life and earth (classic - but I kinda fond of this typical scene). Then he met the five people that bumped into his life for a second and even for a lifetime that he might didn't remember or know them before when he was alive. These five people were there to answer all of his unanswered questions about his life and why God had purposes with him in his life even when he thought that he had no value at all - This too amazes me still; have you EVER wondered why are you here on earth? why God made you so grand that He let you breath-eat-work-smoke-have sex-make decision-go crazy-fall in love-make mistakes-cheat-be bad-curse-etc? doesn't that make you feel so little to know that now?)

And the story evolved from there. And all the classic questions that I believe WE all are facing now are written so nicely by Albom. With jokes, with poems, with simple everyday words. Albom didn't preach within this book which I think it is the risk of writing such subject - and the fact that he didn't preach makes it universal for all races and religions to read. And be spiritually touched.

And so how does this effect on me with the broke-up? Highly emmense. I was angry all the time and didn't understand why I was treated so bad by a man and how I thought I have not a value to go on. Then a friend's death which rolled me back to the time I read this book in the first place reminds me of how life goes on (and how life NEEDS to go on). God has purposes with us, even if it means only to be a bell-boy of a grand hotel, or to be a mistress, or to be a virgin queen or to be an ordinary guy standing on the train station. Little things matter the most.

On the account of this book, I got to know that Albom had written another grand book about life-death-God previously before this book. I haven't read the previous one; Tuesday with Morrie (which led to a movie), so I am really looking forward to read it after reading this. I hope that book will be highly amazing and enlight me like Five People did. ...more

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Jul 08, 2009 Gunne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I don't understand the one star reviews for the book. Are these directed to the author, Mitch Albom, because he openly dissed the Harry Potter phenomena via a 594-word short story? Because as far as I can tell, The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a decent piece of literature that doesn't deserve the harsh punishment (presumably) directed to its writer. It's well-written, has a handful of good quotes, and is overall an inspiring and personal take on one's idea of the moment between death and ...more

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Dec 19, 2016 Charlotte May rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-recent, magical-realism, tear-jerker, favourites

Reread Feb 2019

No matter how many times I read this book, its effect on me remains the same. Heart breaking and heart warming in equal measure.

"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves."

****************************************

Original review

This book led Mitch Albom to become one of my favourite authors.
It's such a wonderful idea, that when ...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy, literature, christian, contemporary, adult, 21th-century

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
The Five People You Meet In Heaven is a novel by Mitch Albom. It follows the life and death of a maintenance man named Eddie. Eddie is killed and sent to heaven, where he encounters five people who had a significant impact upon him while he was alive. It was published in 2003 by Hyperion and remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for 95 weeks.
عنوانها: پنج نفری که در بهشت به ملاقات شما میآیند؛در بهشت پنج نفر منتظر شما هستند؛ پنج وعده دیدار The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
The Five People You Meet In Heaven is a novel by Mitch Albom. It follows the life and death of a maintenance man named Eddie. Eddie is killed and sent to heaven, where he encounters five people who had a significant impact upon him while he was alive. It was published in 2003 by Hyperion and remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for 95 weeks.
عنوانها: پنج نفری که در بهشت به ملاقات شما میآیند؛در بهشت پنج نفر منتظر شما هستند؛ پنج وعده دیدار در بهشت؛ پنج نفری که در بهشت ملاقات میکنید؛ نویسنده: میج آلبوم؛ انتشاراتیها: کاروان، قطره، حافظ نوین، جیحون؛ البرز؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز دهم ماه نوامبر سال 2004 میلادی
عنوان: پنج نفری که در بهشت به ملاقات شما میآیند؛ نویسنده: میج آبوم؛ مترجم: مریم زوینی؛ شابک: 9644181131؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان امریکایی - سده 21 م
عنوان: در بهشت پنج نفر منتظر شما هستند؛ نویسنده: میج آلبوم؛ مترجم: پاملا یوخانیان؛ تهران، کاروان، 1384، چاپ دیگر: تهران، نشر قطره، 1389، در 176 ص؛ شابک: 9786001191824
عنوان: پنج وعده دیدار در بهشت، نویسنده: میج آلبوم؛ مترجم: الهه مرعشی، نشر حافظ نوین، اردیبهشت 1386 در 288 صفحه
عنوان: پنج نفری که در بهشت ملاقات میکنید، نویسنده: میج آلبوم؛ مترجم: مژگان حسن زاده، نشر جیحون، آبان 1388 در 160 صفحه
عنوان: پنج نفری که در بهشت ملاقات میکنید، نویسنده: میج آلبوم؛ مترجم: صدیقه ابراهیمی، نشر البرز، آبان 1389 در 212 صفحه
اخظار: اگر کتاب را نخوانده اید و میخواهید خود آن را داغ داغ بخوانید، نگارش این فراموشکار قسمتهایی از داستان را لو میدهد: پایانها خود سرآغازی دیگر هستند. هیچ داستانی تنها نمینشیند. گاه، داستانها در گوشه کنارها به هم برمیخورند، و گاهی اوقات، کاملا یکدیگر را میپوشانند، همانند سنگهای بستر یک رودخانه. «ادی» پیرمردی ست، که در یک شهربازی ساحلی، به نام: «روبی پیر»، کارش تعمیرکاری و نگهبانی ست، و در آغاز داستان، بر اثر افتادن یکی از وسایل بازی، در حالیکه کوشش برای نجات دخترکی داشته، کشته میشود. «ادی» پس از مرگ، به بهشت میرود، اما بهشت با آنچه در خیال او بوده، تفاوت دارد، در بهشت پنج تن در انتظار او هستند، تا رخدادهای زندگی او را برایش توضیح، و به او آرامش دهند. بهشت برای درک کردن زندگی خاکی است. در طول سالها شهربازی عوض شده، و «ادی» هم، از یک جوان سرحال و پرانرژی، پیرمردی دل شکسته است. او فکر میکند، زندگی و شغلش، سرشار از یکنواختی و بیهودگی شده است. در روز تولد هشتاد و سه سالگی «ادی» در سانحه ای غم انگیز، هنگام نجات دادن دختر کوچکی از سقوط از یک گردونه در شهربازی، میمیرد. در لحظه های آخر، او دو دست کوچک دخترک را، در دستانش احساس میکند، و بعد هیچ...؛ «ادی» در زندگی پس از مرگ، چشم باز میکند، و به دنبال پیدا کردن پاسخ این پرسش است، که آیا توانسته جان دخترک را، در لحظه ی آخر نجات دهد؟، او در آنجا با پنج تن دیدار میکند. پنج تنی که در زندگی زمینی اش، نقش بسیاری داشته اند. پنج نفری که یا از عزیزان، و نزدیکانش هستند، یا غریبه؛ اما به هر حال آنها، زندگی او را به شکلی تغییر داده اند. نخستین نفر، مردی ست با پوستی آبی رنگ. او در زندگی زمینی به خاطر هیبت عجیب، و پوست متفاوتی که داشته، به ناچار در یک سیرک کار میکرده، و برای مردمان نمایش بازی میکرده است. در آن زمان «ادی» هفت سال بیشتر نداشته...؛ یک روز که «ادی» و برادرش، درحال بازی با توپ بیسبال بودند، توپ از دست «ادی» رها میشود، و جلوی ماشین مرد پوست آبی میافتد. «ادی» با شتاب به میان خیابان میپرد، تا توپ را بردارد. مرد پشت فرمان، با دیدن پسرکی، که شتابان به خیابان دویده، میترسد و ترمز میکند. «ادی» توپ را برمیدارد، و میرود. اما مرد شوک زده در خیابانهای خیس از باران صبحگاهی، همچنان میراند. ضربان قلبش بالا میرود. کنترلش را از دست میدهد، و ناخواسته به ماشین دیگری میزند. و بعد همانجا پشت فرمان سکته میکند، و میمیرد...؛ «ادی» ناباورانه به مردی نگاه میکند، که او ناخواسته موجب مرگش شده است. «ادی» شرمسار است، و فکر میکند علت حضورش در آنجا، مجازاتش از روی عدالت است. اما مرد پوست آبی به او میگوید، که در زندگی زمینی، همه ی انسانها، خواسته و ناخواسته، روی زندگی هم تاثیر میگذارند، و بهشت در واقع مکانی برای فهم همین روابط و چرایی رخدادهاست. نفر دوم: که «ادی» با او ملاقات میکند، کاپیتان؛ افسر مافوقش در خدمت سربازی و در جنگ فیلیپین است. آنها باهم در آنجا جنگیده بودند، اسیر شده بودند، فرار کرده بودند، و از هم جدا شده بودند، و «ادی»، دیگر هرگز او را ندیده بود. فقط شنیده بود که او در جنگ مرده است. «ادی» به یاد میآورد، که در فرار از زندان دشمن، کلبه های چوبی ای را، که با همرزمانش در آنها زندانی شده بودند، به آتش کشیدند. اما در آخرین لحظه ی فرار، «ادی» سایه ی کودکی را در دل آتشی که به طویله افتاده بود، میبیند، و میخواهد، که برای نجات جان کودک برود. اما دوستانش مانع او میشوند، و در بحبوحه ی کشمکش و تقلای «ادی» برای رفتن به دل آتش، تیری به پای او شلیک میشود. «ادی» را بیهوش از مهلکه فراری میدهند، اما بر اثر شلیک آن تیر، پای «ادی» برای همیشه لنگ میشود. اتفاقی که مسیر زندگی آینده او را برای همیشه دستخوش تغییر قرار میدهد. حالا «ادی» میفهمد، کسی که به پای او شلیک کرده، دشمن نبوده، و این کاپیتان بوده، که برای نجات جان او، و جلوگیری از جا ماندن «ادی»، به پایش شلیک کرده. «ادی» سرشار از خشم و نفرت، با کاپیتان گلاویز میشود، اما کاپیتان به او میگوید، که پایش را از او گرفته تا جانش را نجات بدهد. و «ادی» تازه میفهمد، که در واقع کاپیتان پس از نجات جان او، و دیگر افراد خویش از مهلکه، روی مین میرود، و بدن هزار تکه اش در همان صحرا بر جای میماند... نفر سوم: پدرش است. پدری که از کودکی همواره او را نادیده گرفته، به او محبت نکرده، بیشتر اوقات آزارش داده و تحقیرش کرده بود. پس از بازگشت «ادی» از جنگ، و جریان معلولیتش، در حالی که روحیه ی «ادی» به شدت خراب و ویران بوده، اذیت و آزارهای پدر بیشتر میشود، و مدام از او میخواهد تا دنبال کاری برود، و بیهوده روی تخت نیفتد. همین فشارهای پدر هم باعث میشود «ادی» به تعمیرکاری ماشینهای «روبی پیر» روی بیاورد. جایی که یک عمر پدرش و بعد خود «ادی»، تا هشتاد و سه سالگی در آن کار کردند. اینک «ادی» درمییابد که درواقع تحقیرها و فشارهای پدر، باعث شده، تا او خود را از لاک حقارت، و از کارافتادگی پس از معلولیت بیرون بکشد. چهارمین نفر: همسر «ادی»، «مارگریت» است. آنها با عشق ازدواج میکنند، اما هرگز صاحب فرزندی نمیشوند. و سرانجام «مارگریت» در سن چهل و هفت سالگی بر اثر تومور مغزی میمیرد، و «ادی» را برای همیشه تنها میگذارد. و حالا «ادی» در جهان پس از مرگ، با دیدن «مارگریت» عشق سوزانی را که نسبت به او داشته، در خود زنده میبیند، و میفهمد که چقدر دلش برای او تنگ شده بود. و همچنین درمییابد اگرچه پدرش و جنگ، در ظاهر به روح او آسیب رسانده بودند، اما این عشق «مارگریت» بوده که او را روی پا نگه داشته است... و بالاخره نفر پنجم ادی، دختر بچه ی کوچکی به نام «تالا» است. نخست «ادی» فکر میکند همان دخترکی است که او نتوانسته در «روبی پیر» نجاتش بدهد، و فکر میکند مرگش هم مثل زندگی و کارش، به بیهودگی گذشته است. اما بعد میفهمد این همان کودکی است که در جنگ فیلیپین درون طویله ای که او آتش زده، گیر کرده و سوخته است. «تالا» به «ادی» میفهماند همه ی زندگی و عمرش، با کار و وظیفه ای که در روبی پیر به عنوان تعمیرکار وسایل بازی برای نجات جان بچه ها انجام داده؛ در واقع جبران مرگ او را کرده است. «ادی» از «تالا» در مورد دخترک شهربازی میپرسد، و میفهمد که جان او را نجات داده است. در واقع دو دست کوچکی که «ادی» در آخرین لحظه ی عمرش لمس کرده، دستهای «تالا» بوده، که او را تا بهشت بالا کشیده است...؛ ا. شربیانی ...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Jamie rated it did not like it

One of the great things about checking out audiobooks from the public library is that I can take a chance on something I normally wouldn't buy, and I end up loving it. And then, of course, there are the times I take a chance on something I wouldn't normally like and end up really hating it as predicted. See if you can guess which is the case here by the end of this post.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is about Eddie, an amusement park maintenance guy who dies and goes to heaven. Spoiler One of the great things about checking out audiobooks from the public library is that I can take a chance on something I normally wouldn't buy, and I end up loving it. And then, of course, there are the times I take a chance on something I wouldn't normally like and end up really hating it as predicted. See if you can guess which is the case here by the end of this post.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is about Eddie, an amusement park maintenance guy who dies and goes to heaven. Spoiler alert, I guess, though you could probably figure that out from the title. From there he meets five people whose lives touched his and learns why he was such a unique and special little snowflake while on Earth. The book's main shortcoming is that I only get to enjoy seeing something kill Eddie on one occasion. And that was over within the first few pages.

Seriously, this thing is so ham-fisted in its moralizing, so infused with cliches, so sentimental, and so naked in its attempts to manipulate emotions that I only finished it because it was blessedly short. The worst part about this last point is that the audiobook brings up violins --VIOLINS!-- in the background at the most supposedly sentimental parts. Which is to say, constantly.

Oh, and Albom apparently never heard of the "show, don't tell" rule when it comes to establishing character and showing reactions. I guess everyone in Heaven describes their mental processes in flagrant detail. There's also the issue of proclamations that sound wise at first, but crumble under any amount of thought. For example, there's a line to the effect of "Sometimes, when you sacrifice something you don't lose it. You just give it to someone else." Now, I haven't a dictionary in front of me to help me through this moral morass, but I fail to see the difference off the top of my head.

At any rate, I certainly wouldn't recommend this. If you really want to read a good book about the afterlife, pick up Dante's The Divine Comedy, read the first few pages, then throw it down in frustration and decide that there's no good middle ground. ...more

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Aug 10, 2018 Fergus rated it it was amazing

WHAT! Yet another sentimental old-timer gives this piece of jellied sugar syrup FIVE STARS? Y'er darned tootin', kid!

Take away the fancy Amazon gift wrap with its shiny veneer and the Good Housekeeping seal of approval (from the folks in the seniors' homes of course), and you have… WHAT?

A story of a broken old man who's had an excruciatingly hard life.

And YES - in the Real World people's hard lives CAN break them.

COMPLETELY.

TOTALLY.

UTTERLY.

Their hard lives can:

Wipe the floor with them.

Grind ...more

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Jul 22, 2007 Ben rated it did not like it

Shelves: religion-spirituality

My face tightens into a mean spirited frown, I grind my teeth, my head starts to burn, I clench my fists, I begin to tremble; there is a tightness in my stomach. I rip the telephone off the wall and throw it out my nine-story window onto the street; I let out a barbaric, guttural, king-of-the-jungle, ape-like scream. I feel my pulse beating in my neck, a blood vessel snaps in the back of my head. I flip over my couch, CRASH! I kick a hole in the middle of my T.V. I like that my shin is cut, ...more

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Jan 29, 2018 James rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1-fiction

I enjoyed this book. It had a great voice, interesting characters and good messages. I liked how each of the 5 people were connected in different ways, some surprise. The style grabs you. I thought it was a good intro to learn more about how this author writes. Spiritual without getting too religious. Witty and charismatic on some levels. Endearing to see how you watch other people live, as well as guess what happens when you die. I will definitely read more from the author.

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Jul 18, 2011 Lyn rated it liked it

Strangely, obliquely, like The Alchemist because this inspires strong emotions - most people will either like it alot and find inspiration and meaning, or loathe it entirely and dismiss it as drivel.

Similar in tone and emotion with his novel Tuesdays with Morrie. I think that the greatest achievement of this story is the dreamlike, subconscious mood and setting the author creates. He can get a bit syrupy, but not too bad to make this contextually a problem.

Albom raises some interesting, thought ...more

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Apr 14, 2007 Claire rated it it was ok

I never had any desire to read this book (or Tuesdays with Morrie for that matter), but a girl in my LSAT class gave it to me to read, so I felt like I had to read it.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is an incredibly quick read. It has small pages with big font and the content is not at all challenging. You could easily read this book in a weekend. That said, I don't know if you would want to. While the book was mildly entertaining and held my interest (I kept wanting to know who Eddie would ...more

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Nov 04, 2008 Joelle rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: quarter1

Joelle Huertas
904 W.A.
Book Review On The Five People You Meet In Heaven

The Five People You Meet In Heaven
By Mitch Albom
208pp Passaic, New Jersey
ISBN-13: 9781401308582
Hyperion $10.80

This book was so amazing that it remained on the New York Best Seller List for 95 weeks. If the book wasn’t that marvelous why would it have remained there? Mitch Albom’s book The Five People You Meet In Heaven is an extraordinary book. You might think it’s a religious book because the title itself, but it isn’t. Joelle Huertas
904 W.A.
Book Review On The Five People You Meet In Heaven

The Five People You Meet In Heaven
By Mitch Albom
208pp Passaic, New Jersey
ISBN-13: 9781401308582
Hyperion $10.80

This book was so amazing that it remained on the New York Best Seller List for 95 weeks. If the book wasn’t that marvelous why would it have remained there? Mitch Albom’s book The Five People You Meet In Heaven is an extraordinary book. You might think it’s a religious book because the title itself, but it isn’t. It is a captivating book that deals with fait, death, and how everything you do affects someone else. I found myself comparing little choices or decisions I made to the ones Eddie, the main character made. I’m not into books about heaven or death but I found myself loving every minute of it. I found myself gasping, crying, and laughing with the characters because of the way Mitch Albom portrays Eddie is so moving. If you want a good fiction book, this is a MUST read!
Eddie is a character who is alone in life, no family, no friends, just his job at the amusement park as janitor. It breaks your heart how alone he is. It’s so poignant the way it is written that it makes you want to befriend the aged lonely man.
The way the book starts is like the saying the end is only a new beginning. The beginning is the tragic, horrifying death of Eddie, and the death, or end, is only the beginning to his afterlife and the entry to heaven. The book puts such new perspectives on life to you and gives you knowledge of how to live life to the fullest.
So many quotes can apply to your life, or help you out. For example Ruby, one of the five people Eddie meets in heaven, says to Eddie “Holding anger is a poison...It eats you from inside...We think that by hating someone we hurt them...But hatred is a curved blade...and the harm we do to others...we also do to ourselves...” I personally love that quote because it help me let go of things because I was filled with anger. I learned to let go, appreciate what you have and to have faith. The book is like having a mentor or role model who teaches you how to deal.
While reading the book you find yourself astound on how every little thing one does can alter someone’s life. Take Eddie for example. He is playing ball in the street, when the blue man is in a car. Eddie drops the ball, and chases it into the street where the blue man suddenly has a heart attack due to the scare he is facing of hitting this little boy in the street.
Eddie goes through so much in the book. With deaths of every one he loves, to his own death in the very first chapter. He has to learn to accept death, fait, letting go, there are no random acts in life, and that love always wins! The way he learns is so amazing because he is so realistic, he’s a kind, old, and he would sacrifice himself for others. The way Albom shows this it makes you feel like you know him, to me I felt as if he was my grandfather.
Essentially this book is a must read whether you believe in heaven or not. I guarantee you will be moved by this book. There is even a movie too! One thing you will wonder after you finish reading this book is who will be your five people you meet in heaven?

...more

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Sep 09, 2008 Kellie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2006-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. SPOLIER ALERT!!! DO NOT READ ANY FARTHER IF YOU HAVENT READ YET!!! What an incredible book this was. This was about a man who dies. He dies trying to save a little girl at the amusement park he worked as a maintenance man. After he dies, he meets 5 people who actually show him his life had meaning. Eddie, didn’t believe he was worth anything. He thought his life meant nothing. He first meets a man he accidently helped die after the man almost kills him with a car. The second one he meets is his ...more

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Feb 07, 2017 Phrynne rated it liked it

This was okay but not as good as either The First Phone Call from Heaven or The Time Keeper. It was a pleasant enough story but it failed to really engross me in the various happenings.
Partly I think I found it an extremely weird idea of what Heaven might be like. The five people seemed a strange collection to me and I could understand if Eddie felt a bit miffed by who he got! I must admit I started thinking who I might want for my five people .........
Putting any criticism aside I read the book ...more

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Mar 02, 2014 Paul rated it it was ok

Shelves: general-novels

Not at all my normal fare, but it was a last thing at night read. I am a sceptic, so again this would not be a book that would attract me; it’s not that I like the idea of the cessation of existence at death, but I think that’s what happens. So how come I read this? Occasionally I buy books at auction because they can be very cheap; this came with assorted others, so ended up on the shelves.
It’s very brief and could easily be read in one sitting and is about a fairground worker called Eddie. It Not at all my normal fare, but it was a last thing at night read. I am a sceptic, so again this would not be a book that would attract me; it’s not that I like the idea of the cessation of existence at death, but I think that’s what happens. So how come I read this? Occasionally I buy books at auction because they can be very cheap; this came with assorted others, so ended up on the shelves.
It’s very brief and could easily be read in one sitting and is about a fairground worker called Eddie. It isn’t much of a spoiler to say that Eddie dies at the beginning of the book. He then meets five people all linked to his life in some way who help him make sense of it all.
Albom is an interesting character; I knew little about him prior to this, apart from the fact he has spent years grumbling about the Harry Potter books and films because he felt they made children stop reading other children’s classics. And here’s me thinking Harry Potter was just another English middle class, public school story! He has a column in the Detroit Free Press where he rants a bit about modern life (he also crosses picket lines, but that is a different story!)
Back to the book; the reviews are mixed and it appears to be loved and hated (possibly by Harry Potter fans!) in equal measure. I can understand why; there is a lot of sentimentality and cliché (all endings are also beginnings; holding anger is a poison) and Albom has a habit of explaining thought processes and ideas in great detail which can irritate. There’s not a great deal to say about it; some people will love it and will find it comforting (most people want to believe everything will be ok in the end and we will see our loved ones again) and others will find it sentimental and irritating. Atheists probably shouldn’t read books about heaven!
Anyway I’ve also heard it said that heaven is whatever you conceive it to be. Therefore here is mine. Heaven is a library with all the books ever published. Everyone subscribing to this heaven has their own personal space. Mine would have an open fire, be lined with books (of course), have a good armchair and there would be excellent food available at all times. There would be communal spaces to talk about books, watch film or TV if you wished and first class coffee. There would be a few other tweaks, but that is the essence. ...more

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Jul 09, 2019 Johann (jobis89) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.”

A maintenance man called Eddie dies and is sent to heaven, where he encounters five people - some known to him and some not - who each teach him a lesson.

If heaven truly exists, I sure hope it’s exactly like this! What sounds better than meeting up with loved ones who have gone before and have them explain to you the meaning of your life?

Religion and whether or not you believe in heaven or the afterlife is obviously a very ...more

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Oct 07, 2014 Jonathan Ashleigh rated it it was ok

I get why old religious women might like this book, but it wasn't for me.

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Jun 11, 2019 Erin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, movie, june-2019, golden-girls-read-a-thon, buzzword-read-a-thon, best-of-2019

Buzzword A Thon
Golden Girls Read A Thon: Read a book under 200 pages

This is my 5th time reading this book. I can't explain why I love this book so much. I usually hate, Hate, HATE cheesy heartwarming stories like this.

And yet The Five People You Meet In Heaven just touches me on an emotional level.

Eddie is a grizzled old war veteran and widower, has spent the last 50 years working a job he hates at an amusement park and just feeling like his life has no meaning. Then on his 83rd birthday Eddie ...more

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Mar 31, 2008 Rachel rated it did not like it

This is just the most awful book I have ever read. I hate this book!

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Jan 07, 2014 Liz Janet rated it did not like it

Extreme simplification, ridiculous writing style, nonsense. Honestly, whatever this author was trying to do, whether making me cry tears of blood, philosophy over the meaning of life, or discover my connection with those around me, but he failed miserably at all of them.

How on the history of time was this book on the Bestseller list for over ninety weeks?

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Nov 14, 2010 Mikha ϟ rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 28, 2017 Maria Gad rated it really liked it

Shelves: psychology, spiritual, american-lit, fantasy

" Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory, Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it"
THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN tells the story of Eddie, the head of maintenance department at a well-known amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, Eddie had a severe accident. Along with ...more

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Jun 09, 2016 Rachel Maniacup rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone!

Recommended to Rachel by: Aj the Ravenous Reader

Shelves: inspiring

Review to follow..

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Dec 23, 2011 Shovelmonkey1 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: people waiting for christmas

Recommended to Shovelmonkey1 by: sheer profusion in local charity shops

Shelves: travel-books, bookcrossing-books, read-in-2011

I read this at Christmas but frankly after eating too many roasted vegetables, drinking too much merlot and making myself a comfortable nest out of discarded wrapping paper, I was disinclined to write a review. It's now six months later and I think I've finally worked off the last roasted potato so this seems like a timely juncture to write a review of The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Eddie works at the amusement park on the Ruby Pier. He's 83 and probably due for retirement. On his birthday, I read this at Christmas but frankly after eating too many roasted vegetables, drinking too much merlot and making myself a comfortable nest out of discarded wrapping paper, I was disinclined to write a review. It's now six months later and I think I've finally worked off the last roasted potato so this seems like a timely juncture to write a review of The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Eddie works at the amusement park on the Ruby Pier. He's 83 and probably due for retirement. On his birthday, our ever benevolent Lord / Fate decides that it's time for Eddie to take permanent retirement and so he is killed off in a freak fairground accident. Eddie's life force is not wasted though, as he spends his last moments attempting to rescue a little girl. And that is most definitely not a spoiler! Come on people, the books is called The Five People You Meet in Heaven which kind of presupposes that the protagonist is going to mostly be dead for a large part of the book. Really, it's not like heaven is the kind of place you go on a day trip unless you're Sam and Dean Winchester in an episode of Supernatural.

So Eddie is now Deaddie and can get on with meeting his five people. I'm not sure why the number five was chosen for this novel... convention has it that six is the magic number in this kind of life-algorithm with the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon having been scientifically proven. Perhaps the sixth person that Eddie was fated to meet was Kevin Bacon... we'll never know.

All five people have come into and out of Eddie's life during formative moments and have been affected by the very act of their meeting. None of the people might have struck Eddie as being particularly significant at the time and perhaps the events did not stand out as times which altered the direction of his existence but ultimately they've all led him to stand beneath that toppling ride car at the age of 83 thereby allowing him to save the life of a child. If I were a deeper thinking mammal I make take the opportunity to consider who the five people I might meet in heaven would be. But I'm not a deep thinking mammal so we'll just pass swiftly over that option for digression.

This is an easy-to-read story with a well written collection of short stories (vignettes of Eddies life) strung together behind the vehicle of his death (metaphorical not literal). It was gently appealing, perhaps even charming, without being schmaltzy and held my attention for the half day or so it took to read it. At no point did I feel the need to stick my finger in my mouth and make retching noises... always a positive sign. Perhaps not the most uplifting of all potential holiday reads but if it leaves you feeling tearful when you put it down, at least there should be a substantial amount of festive booze around to help bolster your spirits.
...more

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Nov 03, 2017 Vanessa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-bookshelf

I appreciate the sentiments of this book, the messages although a little schmaltzy made you stop and think about your own reflections on life, the little differences and the impact you can make that can leave impressions on other people whether your aware of it or not. I wasn’t completely sold on the style of the writing or the overall message, as an agnostic I feel somewhat conflicted about the whole heaven thing so I feel 3 stars is being generous.

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May 16, 2014 Aj the Ravenous Reader rated it really liked it

Shelves: physically-owned-books

The title alone got me reading this book and more when I found out the Mitch Albom wrote it since I am a big fan of his Tuesday's with Morrie. Though I did not like this book as much as I did Tuesday's, Mitch Albom again succeeded in inspiring his readers and moving them to have uniquely fresh view of death just like what he did in Tuesday's.

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May 06, 2016 Christian Guzman rated it it was amazing

It’s interesting seeing how heaven is perceived in someone else’s eyes. I do believe there is an afterlife of some sort, but I don’t know what exactly lies there. I think the concept presented in this book in which you meet five people that in one way or another shaped your life or are interconnected to you is clever. Furthermore, they explain to you about your purpose, destiny, and their involvement in you. This made me think about how it is true, there are many circumstances which affect your It’s interesting seeing how heaven is perceived in someone else’s eyes. I do believe there is an afterlife of some sort, but I don’t know what exactly lies there. I think the concept presented in this book in which you meet five people that in one way or another shaped your life or are interconnected to you is clever. Furthermore, they explain to you about your purpose, destiny, and their involvement in you. This made me think about how it is true, there are many circumstances which affect your life. Every action made affects someone else and vice versa. This would be an ideal “end” (or a new beginning) to someone’s life, especially if the person feels useless or felt as if they lived without a purpose. In my opinion, this would be a pleasant way to receive closure. In addition to that, you may have unanswered questions and it would be great if they would be answered. Sometimes we wonder about certain life events and seek answers, but only to find they aren’t able to be resolved. Hearing someone else’s point of view on why you should feel worthy and loved is very much enlightening.

The writing in this novel was structured well and was very direct. I wish more books had this style of writing. I was satisfied by how the life events that occurred in Eddie’s life were explained. You could really feel as if it you were living them alongside of him. At least that is how I felt. Whether if they were tragic or happy moments, they were realistic. Everyone has a life story and in some way we’re interconnected to each other. The life events of everyone may not be as extreme as his (or may be worse), but I think they're just as significant. I can easily say that this is a therapeutic novel that will help a person who is filled with sadness and feelings of unworthiness feel better. It surely made me feel great and refreshed afterwards! This is also a short book which can be read in a small amount of time (depending on the person), so this can easily be one of those “read again” novels. I also heard Mitch Albom’s novel “Tuesdays with Morrie” is another well written book too, so I will be checking that one out sometime. I am highly impressed by this book and author. Every life matters and we are all here for a reason.
...more

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Dec 05, 2018 Starjustin rated it it was amazing

Extremely well written by Mitch Albom, best-selling author of Tuesdays With Morrie. The main character, Eddie, dies and goes to heaven where he meets 5 people who help him transition from all that he needed to resolve in his earthly life in order to find tranquility and peace in heaven. Thoughtfulness, sacrifice, compassion, redemption and everlasting love.
I read this book once before but it seems to have come to light for me with this read. Highly recommended!

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Jun 16, 2007 Lizzy _3 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favoritebooksever, bookswithamazingendings

This book is very imaginative I'll give the author that much at least. I don't know if I liked the story so much as the way it was written. Don't get me wrong, the story was very creative and it made you think, but he wrote so poetically it was hard for the words not to sink into your soul. The story was about a old crippled man named Eddie. Eddie worked at an amusement park called Ruby Pier and he was the head maintenance worker. The book starts on the day of his death. There was this little This book is very imaginative I'll give the author that much at least. I don't know if I liked the story so much as the way it was written. Don't get me wrong, the story was very creative and it made you think, but he wrote so poetically it was hard for the words not to sink into your soul. The story was about a old crippled man named Eddie. Eddie worked at an amusement park called Ruby Pier and he was the head maintenance worker. The book starts on the day of his death. There was this little girl in the amusement park and her mom had left her alone so she could go on the rides with only her boyfriend and not her daughter. There was this ride at Ruby Pier called Freddy's Free Fall and it is one of those rides that you're at the top of a really tall pole and it just let's the cart drop and it's really fast until something catches it and you slow down right at the very end. So anyway, as Eddie is doing his rounds Freddy's Free Fall breaks and the cable is starting to snap (but nobody knows this yet) and there are people at the top and Eddie goes and tells his co-worker to get the people out of the cart and then to let the cart drop. But then as his coworker has gotten everyone out of the cart and preparing to let it drop Eddie realizes that it's the cable and if they let the cart drop, the cable will snap and it will fall off its tracks into the crowd of people that had formed below. Eddie tries to yell to his coworker but he doesn't hear him and so Eddie yells to the crowd to get back. The people listen...all except for the little girl. So as his coworker lets the cart down Eddie runs to save her but as soon as the cart falls on him, he feels two little hands in his. He doesn't know if he saves her. Then he has to go to heaven and meet five people that will explain to him about his life. I think this book was very inspiring. I was surprised at the ending and I thought that is was very good. I just really enjoyed reading Mitch Albom's work mainly I think because of the poetry. It was written in a very captivating style. I think that my favorite phrase that the author used was to describing Eddie. "...this was who he was and who he would always be, a man with sand in his shoes in a world of mechanical laughter and grilled frankfurters." Mechanical laughter and grilled frankfurters. This book should be read by anyone and everyone and although it is not very religious, it really made me think about life and life after death. VERY GOOD READ! ...more

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Oct 02, 2018 RM(Alwaysdaddygirl) Griffin (alwaysdaddyprincess) rated it it was amazing

5 stars:

-If your going through grief, I think this book could be helpful. This author is superb.

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About Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom

91,724 followers

Mitchell David Albom is an author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have collectively sold over 35 million copies worldwide; have been published in forty-one territories and in forty-two languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed television movies.