How to Live, How to Die (Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom)

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Product:	Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
Date:	18/07/01 (628 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Inspiring and uplifting, True story, Easy to read

Disadvantages: You won't be able to stop talking about it!

I was dubious when I saw this book classified as a biography, even though it is a true story about a real person. But more than being the story of Morrie Schwartz's life, it is a story about Morrie Schwartz dying.

Now before you think it all sounds too morbid and not a worthy read, please think again. Because it is so much more than just a simple story. It is the most touching and inspiring book I have ever read - and yes that IS a bold statement! But if you read the book, you will understand perfectly. Hopefully if you read this op, you may understand at least a little!

Let me start at the start. Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Albom's favourite college professor. Mitch lost touch with Morrie after graduation, until one night he heard the name Morrie Schwartz mentioned on television, twenty years later.

Morrie was being interviewed, because Morrie was dying, and he had a lot he wanted to say about it. He had Lou Gherig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative neurological disorder for which there is no cure.

Mitch was consumed with guilt and regret, and went to see Morrie, this man who had been so special, such an influence. Only to discover that he wasn't through teaching Mitch yet.

Rather than becoming depressed, Morrie had seized life and had become a lightning rod of ideas. He had philosophies on dying, thoughts on living, and wisdom about what really matters in both.

They met once a week, on Tuesdays, hence the title of the book. Each week was a different "lesson". They discussed everything from family and marriage, to fear and forgiveness, money and culture, regrets and death...and it's all there in the book.

Mitch was a sports writer, and had thought himself pretty successful with a good lifestyle. But talking to Morrie leads him to redefine what is really important, and what "success" really means. He learns many simpl
e truths, things he had lost in life's everyday complexity. So it is about Mitch's life, as well as Morrie's. In learning how to die, he learns how to live.

It is told with such humour and honesty, with love and sensitivity. It made me laugh out loud; it made me cry too. Really cry. Not a lot of books can do that.

But in spite of this, or maybe partly because of it, this book is still so uplifting. It is touching, fascinating but most of all inspiring. I came away from it feeling like I was just so glad I had read it. I learned from Morrie too, just as Mitch did. It may not "change your life" (although it just might!), but I think some of Morrie's little philosophies can touch us all in some way. It has a lot of gentle lessons in it, without being "preachy" or wordy.

It is very "readable"; the style is great, and the story so absorbing, you will not be able to put it down. I guarantee you will recommend it to anyone who will listen. And it will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

P.S. I've just found out this book has been made into a movie!!! It was co-produced by Oprah Winfrey (which is where I first heard about this book), because she loved it so much. The casting is perfect - Jack Lemmon plays Morrie, and Hank Azaria plays Mitch. Jack Lemmon actually won an Emmy for his brilliant portrayal. He died only months after filming ended, which makes many of his words kind of prophetic, and even more moving.

I watched it last night, and while I think the book is far better (as is often the case), it is definitely worthwhile viewing. The movie concentrates on the relationships between Mitch and Morrie, and Mitch and his girlfriend Janine. I would have liked to have seen more about Morrie's family, and Mitch's brother is completely left out...but I guess it is only an hour and a half long! So my advice would be, read the book first
if you can. And if there's someone you wish would read the book but won't - get the movie!

One of my favourite lines was when Morrie was talking about becoming more dependent on others, even to go to the "commode" or blow his nose, and how society sees this as something of which he should feel ashamed. He says, "When we are infants, we need other people to survive. When we are old, we need other people to survive. But in between, we need other people even more."

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