Tuesdays with Morrie Book Summary

This book is the author’s recounting of the time he spent with his former university professor, Morrie.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a memoir by American author Mitch Albom about a series of visits Albom made to his former sociology professor Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz gradually dies of ALS.

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles.

The theme of Tuesdays with Morrie

In the book “Tuesdays with Morrie”, Morrie taught the author the practice of forgiveness. Not only to others but as well as to himself. We may regret the things we did in the past, but not everything is within our control. Not letting go of it won’t change anything, but a better outlook for the future might.

” I was thinking about a dream I had last week where I was crossing a bridge into something unknown being ready to move on to whatever is next but you did not”, said Mitch.
Morrie waited a moment. He shook his head slightly and said,” No, I did not but I felt that I could. Do you understand?

That’s what we are all looking for. A certain peace with the idea of dying. If we know in the end that we can ultimately have that peace with dying then we can finally do the really hard thing. So

Make Peace with Living

Morrie

He was an extremely intelligent, sensitive, and kind person.
Throughout the book, the reader learns how consciously and maturely he was accepting his condition with no shame and even a bit of humor.

And in the face of death, knowing that every day could be his last, Morrie was able to verbalize so clearly what really matters in life.

This book tells the story of a dying man, but more than anything, it’s a book about life. When you’re dead, you’re dead a long time.

I am not in hurry but I will live as fully as I can while I’m here, as vitaly I can, and as lovingly as I can
-Morrie

The book Tuesdays with Morrie also contains a handful of universal truths. They are:

1. Brighter Side of Life

He was going to lose control of using his own hands, this means he was going to be dependent on others to wipe his ass. This made him feel bad but then he put this on the brighter side. He said,” I get to be a baby one more time”.

The first thing that really stands out in Morrie is his ability to see, and we needed to create, a positive perspective of his situation. And in a difficult final condition such as his, you can’t help but think that this attitude can surely be utilized even in easier situations.

2. Priorities

Every day we expect to get up in the morning and live which is not true. Try to imagine hard for a second the

absolute horrifying terror of knowing that tomorrow is the last day you live. What would you do with your fewer hours?

Would you listen to broadcast/ listen to political views at the last times of your lives or you would spend them being with the people you love and love you back, one last time?
Why do we waste so much of our life’s efforts on things that ultimately have a lesser value to us?

Why do you think it’s so important for me to hear other people’s problems? Don’t have I have enough pain and suffering of my own? Of course I do. But giving to other people is what makes me feel alive.
-Morrie

This book was a reminder for me to not realize when it’s too late.

The message of Tuesdays with Morrie

The central theme in Tuesdays with Morrie is the way in which accepting one’s own death can help one to understand what really matters in life and to live more meaningfully.

Losing my mind over someone else’s political views is a clear waste of my time. Loving that person despite the difference in our views is living.