Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom: Book Review

“Tell you what. After I’m dead, you talk. And I’ll listen”

‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ is the most beautiful book I have ever read. The memoir beautifully captures the love and teachings involved in the relationship between a student and his mentor. It’s a treasure trove of loving counsel to which you can return again and again.

All of us have, at some point or the other, had a great teacher, with whom we connected, whose classes we absolutely loved, who had given us immensely important life lessons, and with whom, we had promised ourselves, we would never lose touch. Mitch too had his mentor, Morrie Schwartz, his sociology professor, whom he loved and who had taught him a lot of things. But like so many of us, Mitch too lost touch with his favourite professor. 16 years later, he gets back to his professor, but sadly now, Morrie has been diagnosed with ALS, a rare neurological terminal disease. So now, 16 years after, in the last days of Morrie’s life, the classes start again the subject being- “Meaning of Life”. 16 years back, Mitch had Morrie’s lectures on Tuesdays, and now too, they start meeting every Tuesday. Beautiful, isn’t it??

There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’. It’s like having a chat with your mentor, your guru. We have Morrie talking with Mitch making him understand the true meaning of life, love, work, community, family, aging, forgiveness, and, finally death. We learn to live as if it is the last day, to enjoy every bit, to not run after things, rather love and enjoy what we have and most importantly, give love and attention to the people who really matter.

The most beautiful thing brought out in the book is the relationship between Morrie and his student Mitch. A professor who really loved his students, the way Morrie answers every question without Mitch even asking them, the way Morrie has a response ready for anything Mitch says, the way Morrie is determined that his student should never stray in his life, shows what a master teacher he was. Morrie’s optimism at his impending death, his graceful acceptance of his disease and of his death, are surprising, for, practically they are so difficult to accomplish. Morrie was a true teacher, he didn’t only preach, he was a living example of all his lessons.

The book isn’t very long but it is one to be cherished, to be enjoyed. Some of their conversations will make you smile, some might even bring tears to your eyes. It is indeed a befitting ode to a student- teacher relationship.

Once you finish reading this blog, be sure to do one thing. Share this with your mentor, tell them they are your “Morrie”. Thank them and most essentially, express your love and gratitude to them. Let this be a never ending saga of love, one between students and their teachers. Don’t wait, for life is too short my friends! Make sure your loved ones know you love them!! Go!!