Tuesdays with Morrie: My views

2nd Book of the year is "Tuesdays with Morrie- by Mitch Albom": "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." This quote by Henry Adams aptly captures the profound influence Morrie had over his students with his smile and his way of thinking.

This is a book that has been recommended by so many people, and after reading it, I can say that it is definitely worth the hype. 

It's a story of a student Mitch and his Professor Morrie, who has been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system which has no cure, and the doctors have already told him that he won't last much longer.

Mitch was once one of the brightest students of Morrie and always saw him as a fatherly figure, learning a lot about philosophy, psychology, and human behavior from him. After graduating, he met Morrie, gave him a gift, and promised to stay in touch. Mitch actually wanted to be a musician, but soon after graduating, the harsh realities of the world hit him hard, forcing him to give up his dream and become a sports journalist. He lost contact with his friends and with Morrie, and his life became something he hated the most. He became part of the rat race, everything he once loathed.

One day, he saw a famous TV program discussing a brave professor whose end was near but who hadn't lost hope and was still looking at everything positively. Mitch hesitantly went to meet his professor, feeling embarrassed about reconnecting after 16 years and seeing him in such a condition. This marked the beginning of a series of meetings with Morrie every Tuesday.

During these meetings, Mitch posed different questions to Morrie. Each Tuesday, they discussed various topics: Death, Fear, Aging, Greed, Family, Marriage, Society, and Forgiveness. The most painful aspect of these 14 Tuesday discussions was witnessing Morrie's body gradually losing function, with his pain increasing. Yet, he never showed signs of self-pity. 

His perspective on death was refreshingly unique: "Learn how to die, and you learn how to live." 

According to Morrie, we typically focus on numerous insignificant matters. However, if we understand that death is certain and can arrive at any moment, we would concentrate only on essential things and strive towards our goals with full effort and potential.

In Morrie's words, "You don't need the latest sports car, you don't need the biggest house. The truth is, you don't get satisfaction from those things. You know what really gives you satisfaction?" His answer: "Offering others what you have to give."

This book captures emotions so authentically that it feels like Morrie is sitting directly in front of you. With each passing Tuesday, his condition became increasingly miserable and painful, but he never displayed weakness. 

His primary message was simple yet profound: "Love each other or die." 

Recognizing that Mitch wasn't living his best life, Morrie wanted to impart one final lesson to his favorite student, whom he affectionately called "my player" (Mitch used to call him "coach"). 

Through their 14 Tuesday meetings, Mitch learned immensely, and his perspective on life transformed completely. He felt like he had returned to his roots.

This book doesn't fit into a specific genre. It alternates between being emotionally stirring and heartwarming, offering life lessons that even some self-help books cannot provide. 

It takes only 2.5-3 hours to complete and is a book one should read periodically. It continually reminds readers about life's most important aspects and helps maintain distance from materialistic pursuits.

I rate this book 4.2 out of 5, considering its profound impact and timeless wisdom.