BOOK REVIEW

(Tuesdays with Morrie)

Submitted by:
Ryan Kylle G. Malanot

Submitted to:
Khryzia Medina Neponcio
 The book titled "Tuesdays with Morrie" usually has a simple front cover; the layout is
common for books that can be considered an autobiography. An autobiographical book means
that the story delivered through the book is not fiction but a true-to-life story. The title itself was
derived from the author's personal experience, as he really visited before his college professor
Mr. Morrie Schwartz when he was sick; and witnessed his sufferings and realizations as he faced
the brink of death.

The author of the book was Mitch Albom. He is a well-known American writer,
journalist, and musician. He is well known for his books because most of his books have an
inspirational theme. As of the book Tuesdays with Morrie, it is both inspirational in theme in the
form of memoir, as he cherished the days spent with his beloved professor.

The thesis of the book is focused on the struggles of man on how it really is to live. Both
Morrie and Mitch learned that to live life is uncertain; unless you face death. People become
more practical and sought to seek better days when in the face of death rather than when
everything is still fine. The main purpose of the author for sharing the story of Morrie is first to
give awareness about Lou Gehrig's disease of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and how it affects
the disease bearer, and how the immediate family and people close to the patient may be affected
by the patient's condition.

The first quotation is, "Maybe not allowing ourselves to be loved is worse. We're scared
of giving ourselves to someone we might lose." In totality, this means we are afraid of losing. As
for me, I, too, am scared of losing something or someone, but on the brighter side, I tend to
remind myself that things or people can come and go, and that is part of life. Not everything or
anyone is meant to stay forever; despite the loss, we still need to progress and grow.

The second quotation is that "Accept the past as past without denying it or discarding it."
In short, this means that the past will always be a part of us. Former life experiences, whether
good or bad, must not be forgotten; instead, they must be learned from, and the lessons you've
learned from them can be shared with other people for them to know based on your experiences
as well; because at some point in time, a person tends to seek if there are still other people who
have a situation or experience similar to what they had previously. Our past must be credited for
molding us into better versions but must not dictate our future.
 The third quotation is, "Don't let go too soon but don't hold on too long." In Filipino
sayings, what comes lesser and too much is not good. There might be instances when we must be
patient, but there are also instances when we recognize that we do not deserve or are not suited to
a dream or a particular thing we possess. It is okay to wait but never let yourself fit on things that
are not for you; better opportunities are still ahead.

Furthermore, the book clearly demonstrates Morrie's honesty, simplicity, and positivity.
Even though he was suffering from ALS and would soon die, he motivated and inspired and
gave hope to people through his life anecdotes. That death does not invoke the end of the world.
This book will make you realize the harsh reality of life.

Because, as the man nears the end of his life, he shares some valuable insights about life
and how life can be difficult for someone, but the book is all about positivity. Mitch has
beautifully mentioned the learning that his beloved teacher Morrie taught him.

Morrie and Mitch used to get together on Tuesdays for classes that were unlike anything
else; these classes were regarding life. Mitch began to consider various aspects of life that he had
not previously considered upon meeting with his old professor. Morrie had ALS (Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis), which brought him closer to death each day.

Mitch was so preoccupied with living his hectic life that he sacrificed his happiness and
was content with all the assets that provided him with fleeting and fleeting happiness.
Fortunately, it wasn't too late for Mitch to realize that he was missing out on something far more
valuable than all the things he was chasing after. Mitch was reminded of his old professor,
Morrie, who lost his battle with this disease by the day.

But Morrie was all about positivism and how to find it even when you are surrounded by
negativity. Morrie was a man of harmony and commendable qualities. Mitch became aware of
his life and all the possibilities that would be available to him once he set his mind free as a
result of his habit of seeking positivity.

He was always concerned with relationships and the development of good relationships
because, in the end, what makes a difference most to a nearly dead individual is someone who
genuinely cares for him, which can only be achieved through the maintenance of good
relationships. Morrie never placed a premium on accumulating assets and becoming wealthy;
instead, he discovered the elixir of life in the most insignificant of things. One of these things
was dancing, which he used to do until he ran out of breath. He was never happy with
materialistic things.

Besides that, this book asserts that age is not a barrier to showing care and love to others.
The wisdom we receive from the elderly is often the best wisdom we could ever receive. This
became a wake-up call that life must include appreciation and compassion, as demonstrated by
the book.

Consequently, the book simply reminds us that life is complex, but it can be lived out
simply. It inspires people to use their time wisely and to be reminded of their worth constantly.
Life is indeed challenging, but it is our responsibility within ourselves to be tougher, stronger,
and make the best out of everything possible. With these, the book is great, for there are too
many life lessons that can be extracted as readers read between the lines. The book is suited for
all ages; more than that, this too can help people who are advocates of awareness and change for
those who suffer from Lou Gehrig's disease.