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Book Review of Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
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"People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are my heroes. I first read this book several years ago. I re-read it for a very personal reason. One of my jobs as a Nurse Care Manager is to coordinate our ALS Clinic. I am often asked for pertinent reading material, and I always recommend "Tuesdays with Morrie".

Morrie Schwartz is the kind of man we would all want to know. A professor who loves to teach and to learn. A man who has his act together so to speak. A kind, loving man with an approach to life that we learn is very particular and precise for him. He has lived his life according to his own philosophy. Mitch Albom, the author first met Morrie years ago while a student at Brandeis College in Massachusetts, and Morrie became his mentor. They lost touch as people do. Mitch saw Morrie on "Nightline" discussing how to live with ALS. Mitch knew instantly that he needed to see his old mentor again. Mitch was at loose ends, and he needed to reconnect with Morrie. Thus began the Tuesdays with Morrie- 14 of them, to be exact.

The Tuesdays spent with Morrie were filled with simple platitudes. How to live the life you really want. Morrie was an expert at this. He had developed a neuromuscular disease
called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. There is no cure, and there is no treatment. The plan is to assist people with ALS to live their lives with quality. Almost every person I have met with ALS lives their lives to the fullest. They don't hesitate; they realize they don't have time. This is how Morrie deals with ALS. He lives his life well through his dying. Morrie doesn't dwell on the dying aspect. He has a wonderful support system. He has a family, particularly his wife and friends. He shows his love and gratitude to them on a daily basis. He does not miss a beat. They talk about everything. Morrie does not spout new words of wisdom. He talks about living your life with simplicity and connecting with those you love. Words we should all live by, but in our busy worlds, we tend to forget. Morrie knows what he wants, and he wants to live at home, without all of the complicated, expensive equipment that would keep him breathing. He dies as simply as he lives. He has given his best to Mitch. A lesson for all of us. A simple book full of ways to live your life to the fullest. Who could want for more?"
- Prisrob