Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

This book has received much attention since its release in 1997. In the past ten years, it has become so famous it has even been made into a play. That's probably the reason I didn't really want to read it in the first place. But when I found it in a stack of books after my sister cleaned out her closet, I decided to give it a shot. For a full review, see Carlton's review.

The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week, in his home, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink flowers. The class met on Tuesdays. No books were required. The subject was the meaning of life. It was taught from experience.

I really liked this book. It was mushy-gushy and all touchy-feely, which is usually not my style. But for some reason, it worked. I think that's probably the point, as it seems like the author had a similar experience with Morrie, who is mushy-gushy by nature. Morrie, his old college professor, spent years trying to make Mitch cry and be more in touch with his feelings. The lessons Morrie gives via Mitch are simple enough, yet for some reason are Big Issues that the average person can't seem to resolve. When he says "learn to forgive yourself and others" or "accept the past as past," that seems simple enough, but when you stop to think about it, it's a problem many of us have. I guess that's what I like most about this book: the prose is simple, the lessons are simple, but if you let yourself, you can end up thinking about really complex and deep philosophies. And wow, I can't believe I used the word 'philosophy' in a positive context.

Overall: A