Tuesdays With Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie. Mitch Albom. Doubleday Books. August 1997. 192 pages. Source: Betterworldbooks.com

First sentence: Mitch Albom, the books narrator, recalls his graduation from Brandeis University in the spring of 1979.

Plot: 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, and 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. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? 

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Knowing he was dying of ALS - or motor neurone disease - Mitch visited Morrie 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.

My thoughts: Dying with grace.  If we are unfortunate enough to linger on this earth in a state of deterioration before we pass this man should be a role model for our last days.  Though the subject matter was not a pleasant one it was heartwarming to witness albeit second hand Morrie's last days.

I would recommend this book for as early as young adults and up.