AFCC Book Club: Tuesdays with Morrie

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom

Book Review by Arlene Ariston

A personal favorite, a kind of book that you would want to read and re-read because long after you have read it, it stays with you and the lessons learned are what you will treasure...arlene

I recommend this book for young adults. Here's a brief description of the book:

"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, helped you see the world as a more profound place, 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, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with 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."

Back when I was confined at the hospital a year ago, I read it again, rekindling that precious feeling of having found a friend, a mentor who understood what you went through and stood by you. My surgical oncologist saw me reading it and commented, "I love that book". I love it too so I gave a copy to my cardiologist, one of my angels at the time I was undergoing some dark moments in my life! Here are some quotes from the book that I really like:

#1

“"The truth is . . . once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."”

Morrie Schwartz
#2

“"Build a little community of those you love and who love you."”

Morrie Schwartz
#3

“"Do the kinds of things that come from the heart."”

Morrie Schwartz
#4

“"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else, something hurts you, yet you Know it shouldn't, you take certain things for grated, even when you know you should never take anything for granted...."”

Morrie Schwartz
#5

“"Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do, accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it, learn to forgive yourself and forgive others, don't assume that it's too late to get involved."”

Morrie Schwartz
#6

“"Dying is only one thing to be sad over, Mitch. Living unhappily is something else."”

Morrie Schwartz
#7

“"These were people so hungry for love they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works."”

Morrie Schwartz
#8

“"If you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere."”

Morrie Schwartz
#9

“"Take my condition. The things I am supposed to be embarrassed about now — not being able to walk, not being able to wipe my ass, waking up some mornings wanting to cry — there is nothing innately embarrassing about them. It's the same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it."”

Morrie Schwartz