Books

Tuesdays with Morrie: A short review

MorrieThere are some books you read and you forget. There are some books that you read and remember. There are some books that you read and keep coming back to. And then there are some books that you read and feel like you want to keep it safely ‘coz you know you want to come back to it sometime. You don’t know when but you have the instinct that you might just suddenly want to read it again! “Tuesdays with Morrie” belongs to this last category of books.

The book has a very simple message – “To learn to live”.. I know it sounds like it’s a run-off-the-mill self-help book, but it’s not! Tuesdays with Morrie is about the last few interactions between Mitch Albom, the author (who is a Sports Journalist) with his dying Professor Morrie Schwartz. Morrie is down with ALS (a deadly disease which is slowly decaying his body) and in his last few days Mitch revisits his old Professor every Tuesday just like they used to spend their Tuesdays 15 years ago while Mitch was a student at Brandies University.

Tuesdays with Morrie might pull you down at times but it flows like a river – meandering and I must admit that Mitch expresses himself wonderfully. You can almost feel his emotions and identify with similar situations in your own life when you felt the way he did. It’s actually a perfect recipe to make you think and I must admit it’s one of the finest pieces I have seen which gives one the impression that it’s been made to “sell” and at the same time appears like it has been written from the bottom of the author’s heart.

Tuesdays with Morrie has also been made into a Movie.

29 thoughts on “Tuesdays with Morrie: A short review”

  2. Never managed to read this, even though I have been tantalizingly close to buying it (or just picking it up from Dad :-D). The trouble is that it’s a sad book — and most of the time I am hesitant to read such stuff ‘coz my mood goes into a downward spiral. For instance, The Pursuit of Happyness was such a wonderful movie, but I really felt sad after it!

    Anyway, looks like I should pick up this book sometime and read it. Thanks for the review. At my next book-shopping.

  3. @ Ruhi ..

    It’s an amazing read, isnt it? .. Despite that fact that it makes u fact..!

    @ KK..

    You should mann.. You will not be “sad” when you finish the book, coz despite the apparently sad ending (I mean, with Morrie’s death), the emphasis (and the message) is on the lessons he taught rather than the demise of the character!

    As far as Pursuit of Happyness is concernd, again the story was depressing in parts.. like when they’re literally on the streets, but the end is a triumph for Chris Gaardner..!

    I liked both! 😛

  5. Amyth, I saw the movie Pursuit of Happyness and didn’t really like it. However, does it stick close to the book? I haven’t read the book, but didn’t appreciate the “Hollywoodishness of the movie. Too melodramatic for my taste.

  6. Thank you for the kind words you left on Life 2.0 Amyth.

    And I’m glad I followed the link back here – I’ve really enjoyed reading this. I’ve just ordered ‘Tuesdays..’ from Amazon 🙂

  7. @ Ruhi..

    See, the point is that Pursuir of Happyness was a real-life story (although I havent read the book by Gaardner)… and I agree it’s the typical “Chicken Soup for the Soul”.. and “Overcoming obstacles” kinds.. As far as the melodrama was concerned, I’d say it had slightly more melodrama (considering that it was a Hollywood movie).. I usually don’t find the average Hollywood movie having much of melodrama (having been brought up with Bollywood!).. ;).. In fact just the other day a friend and I were having a discussion and agreed that even Bollywood is slowly going the “Hollywood” way as far as expressing emotions was concerned.. You know.. in a “controlled manner”..

    Anyway, bottomline I didn’t find Pursuit having too much of melodrama.. Not to the point of taking it away form the narrative! .. And it was a good watch.. so.. I had my money’s worth! 🙂

  8. @ Nick

    Glad you liked the review. If you the book, do drop me a note.. or write about it in your Life 2.0 blog.. Sure to make for very healthy and insightful discussion! :)..

    Thanks for dropping by!

  9. @ Pure..

    Niiiice…! Always admired your taste in books. I would like to read Five People as well.. but I feel there are certain authors (not established fiction-writers by profession) who put their “ALL” into a book.. and once THIS turns out to be a best-seller.. they write more to “make hay while the sun shines”.. I hope Albom Mitch is not one of those and has done justice to “Five People”… Will find out.. 🙂

    By the way, I plan to start reading “The Witch of Portebello” one of these days..! 😛

  11. Pingback: www.learnhypnosiseasily.info » Tuesdays with Morrie: A short review

  12. @ Dinsan..

    There’s really nothing much to add.. Some of the thoughts in the book are simple but striking and I wanted the reader to hear it form the hosre’s mouth himself!

  13. Pingback: Book Reviews » Blog Archive » Tuesdays with Morrie: A short review

  14. Reminds me of the last lecture by Randy Pausch.

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=362421849901825950

    FYI…
    Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving talk, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.

  17. @ Vaishno

    I wasn’t much of a reader myself until college.. I just happened to get into the habit when I came across some really nice books..

    I don’t have a message as such for people who “hate” reading.. ‘coz, after all it’s a matter of choice.. All I can say is that it’s not so bad… Depending on what you want to read.. give it a shot.. read a nice book.. and if you happen to enjoy it and want to discuss it further.. we are here.. I have some friends who (as you can seen this thread!).. read and discuss.. and recommend… and ENJOY the process! 🙂

  18. U know what Amyth? i did try to read.. i tried to read litght books like, 5 point someone, etc… but then, thats where it ends! i guess i need to put in extra efforts to do this..cause i’m not particularly interested in readin… while there r others who can affortlessly complete reading 1000s of pages…
    May b i shud give it another try…

  19. @ Vaishno

    Liek I was saying in my previous reply to you on this thread, reading never came “naturally” to me until school.. I gradually developed the interest.. In my opinion, if you have to put in any extra effort, it’s a wasted cause..

    What I mean is: when you’re reading.. pick up a book of your interest.. anything that interests you.. Marketing.. Communications.. Branding.. whatever.. and delve into the SUBJECT… see what the author is trying to say… If it;s fiction.. try and IDENTIFY with the characters.. RELATE to what is happening in the novel.. If you can do this, then you will be completing 1000 pages novels yourself..

    And if you can’t, well then you don’t HAVE to be a reader.. It’s not that you HAVE to read just coz a lot of people do.. thats it! :).. There must be another 4 things that YOU do which a few others might now.. so BIG DEAL!.. 🙂

    That’s enough gyaan to last the weekend.. 😀 .. I should take a break! 😉

  20. Hi Amyth,
    I have read this book. Somehow, it did not make an huge impression, but I know there are many who swear by it.

    Do you also write on CH1B, because I read an post on Mitch Albom recently and commented on it.

  21. @ Archana

    Actually the book is very simple.. I mean it does say anything that is new or ground-breaking.. I liked it because we often tend to forget certain basic things which Morrie talks about.

    Yes, I do write on Ch1B, I usually cross-post my writings here in order to share my writings with friends / fellow bloggers outside of Cognizant as well..

  26. @ Prachi

    Incidentally, you are the second person whoz told me that he / she hasn’t been able to finish Morrie.. The other person said he foound it too BORING! 😛

Leave a comment