Book Review: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
What if we could have lessons on how to live? Lessons from someone who has seen the highs and lows of life, from someone who has gained love and lost love. From someone who could share the best of their learning, from all of their life experiences? That is what Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom was to me.
Mitch Albom’s professor Morrie Schwartz became a philosophical guide and mentor to him in his college years, but they lost touch after he graduated. Fifteen years later, Albom rediscovers Morrie, who is in the last stages of his life, also rediscovering the guide and friend he knew and valued years ago. Morrie resumes his role as a teacher in Mitch’s life, although this time the lessons are not academic in nature, but rather about life itself. They meet every Tuesday, and Morrie recalls his experiences and what he learnt from them.
The thing I found most beautiful about this book is the pure, warm relationship that is depicted between a teacher and student. I call it pure because it is what a teacher-student relationship is supposed to be like, so comfortable that it becomes a friendship. One of the most important aspects of learning is listening, which also forms the base of friendship.
The book — or rather, Morrie — talks as much about death as about life, if not more. Because after all, the nature of life lies in death itself. In some moments, the book might seem to be preaching too much. But for me, that feeling never lasted, because the book is a short read that is filled with wonderful anecdotes, a gentle humour, and emotional sensitivity.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a beautiful book. But it is also a sad book. It made me cry at several moments, and even if it doesn’t bring you to tears, it is certainly a book that will leave you in a melancholic mood. But it also makes you think about experiences, lessons, the world, and life, for a long time after you’re done reading it.
