★★★★
Genre: Memoir
Subject: Death, illness, acceptance
Setting: West Newton, MA
Main Characters: Mitch Albon, Morrie Schwartz
Series: no
Dates Read: April 13 - April 14
Number of pages: 127
Off the Shelf (pre-2012)? Source?: yes, Audio stockpile
Category for 12 in 12 challenge: Lunch
Haven't had a book move me to tears in a long time, this one did.
This small little book is a marvelous testament to the human spirit. Here was a man, a philosophy professor, who was literally dying inch by inch in his body and yet his spirit was indomitable. As his life was shrinking away from ALS, Morrie spent his time explaining to his former student what was important in life and what wasn't. His teaching was spiritual yet realistic. Love, according to Morrie, was the most significant act and forgiveness of self - well, according to him " for all the mistakes you've made, for all the things you did you shouldn't have, for all the things you should have done, don't get stuck on your regrets."
The lesson he was teaching is one that is hard to learn, but definitely worthwhile to hear.
"The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week in his home by a window in his 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. The teaching goes on."
I don't usually read books like this but I'm definitely glad I read this one. I learned a few important items.
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