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_lezreads's review against another edition
5.0
Literally made me want to think more of my life decisions. Such an overwhelming and wholesome work.
malvalencia's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
noa_maria06's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
manish_ladla's review against another edition
5.0
This book was on my 'To Read' list . I don't know from where I got to know about this book but here I am who finished this book in 2 days. I was in Coorg-Ooty-Mysore trip with my wife and were heading back to Delhi from Bangalore. The flight journey was of approximately 2 hour. My wife had decided to download "Heeramandi" episodes from the Netflix. I then purchased this book on Amazon and downloaded it at last moment while waiting to board the flight on aero-bridge. I enjoyed the rest of flight journey by reading this on my kindle app on my mobile.
The summary of this is once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.
The novel is slightly different than usual novels I have read. Morrie(college professor) has been diagnosed with a rare disease and is going to die soon. But his unique way to handle the news of the disease and eventual death , has ignited the interest of one TV anchor who then proceeds to air the interview with Morrie. His former student Mitch (author of this book) happens to get the glimpse of the interview and then proceed to meet his former teacher Morrie and starts a series of lectures on Tuesdays which eventually ends when Morrie dies. The topics were general in nature and Morrie outpoured his life long experience .
When Morrie got to know about the disease , his first thought that why world is running /moving as nothing has happened. When he came out of hospital , everyone was doing his own work . World moves on with you and without you. only the loved ones will face a void in their life . Rest will carry their business as usual. But Morrie decided that he will deter and will make this as opportunity to reach out to public and share his experience. Thus he took on the death as new neighbor and carried on fighting with clutches of death as it is not something new. He did not feel ashamed of his dependence on the other people . As disease progressed, he even had to take help of other people to clean his private parts after using toilet and for mere existence. He was intent on proving that the word “dying” was not synonymous with “useless.” . He wanted to share the experience of death to public. He even held living funeral , so that he can experience what happens after death . this reminds me of my own attempts to hold such living funeral in school in class 9th or 10th when we used to make one of our classmates to sit on the chair , and we all then proceed to carry a funeral march reciting " Ram Ram Satya hai" on first floor. Our class teacher was amazed at our dare and frankness.
The author was also griping with loss of his uncle and disease of his brother for which he could not do anything. His brother was not taking his help. Thus he went beyond to help Morrie as to compensate his inability to help his own brother. In past , aggrieved by his uncle's death, he worked hard and became a sport's columnist. But when he met Morrie, he realized that it was materialistic. He wanted to become rich. I also am in this group. I wanted to join civil services so that I will be invincible. I still want to become IAS/IPS but at same time, reading these so many books have helped me to become human also. I have to live my life also and love my dear ones. My wife have rekindled the dying youth in me and now I want to go on country tour in my car (which my wife disapproves), go visit foreign pristine locations , meet new people, be humble and nice to other people but at same time , strive for my goals.
Morrie in his life had developed a culture of his own as " long before he got sick. Discussion groups, walks with friends, dancing to his music in the Harvard Square church. He started a project called Greenhouse, where poor people could receive mental health services. He read books to find new ideas for his classes, visited with colleagues, kept up with old students, wrote letters to distant friends. He took more time eating and looking at nature and wasted no time in front of TV sitcoms or “Movies of the Week.” He had created a cocoon of human activities—conversation, interaction, affection—and it filled his life like an overflowing soup bowl "
Morrie wanted the author to live his life and develop human bonds with other people. " The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. " . The materialistic objects does not fill your life. When I was ACP Bawana, I was sought after by lots of people. They will come to my office. My wife sometimes got irritated by the sheer number of calls I receive. But when I joined ADC post, it was silence. Those who would pick my call on first rings, now used to avoid me . No one now calls me. I was surprised when few of my old colleagues came on Diwali and greeted me and presents for me. I was not expecting them. These people who reached out to me when I was no one was result of deep bonds that I made with them. Those were Constables, ASI, Sub Inspectors whom I have helped a lot during my tenure , had came and wished me for Happy Diwali.
We’re so wrapped up with egotistical things, career, family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the radiator when it breaks—we’re involved in trillions of little acts just to keep going. So we don’t get into the habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, Is this all? Is this all I want? Is something missing?” . We need to make our own bucket list. I had once but it got all lost during my preparation days and I got busy with my life. I then prepared it again when I started my novel writing , but now all have been forgotten. I used to introspect when I used to write my diaries . I should start it again. To know you’re going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That’s better. That way you can actually be more involved in your life while you’re living.” How can you ever be prepared to die? “Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, ‘Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be?’ ”
Morrie had a troubled childhood. Mother death , poor father and brother who has polio in legs. His step mother was only light in his troubled childhood.
Morrie was lucky enough to have his family at least with hi, especially his wife. I had just finished "Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka" 2 days ago in which the main character Gregor had faced contempt and hatred from his family .
The bonds that Morrie made throughout his life had grew stronger when he was dying. Most of his students, friends and companions flew , drove and sailed miles to reach to him at his last moment. In this facebook and instagram addicted society, can I expect this when I will be facing the same. I had developed few good friends and they are with me when I need them. The key is to be social to them and give them selfless service . Don't expect anything in return from them and you will be amazed when they will return back when you will be in dire need. In this social media frenzy times, can we count the real friends ? We have digital friends and not the real friends.
: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. Then only you will develop bonds with the people . Mitch, if you’re trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyhow. And if you’re trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone.”.......... “Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a little community of those your "
But at same time we must forget those who have not reached /communicated to us when we were ill . They are busy in their own life . Expecting them to call you is not a selfless bond. Reciprocity involves breaking of heart . Don't expect anything from other.
Regarding marriage , he concluded that the both parties should respect each other, be open what is bothering you , and should be willing to compromise.
This was good novel and was something new for me. I should read more about such novels . I can think of "The last lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow" . I will try to read it soon.
The summary of this is once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.
The novel is slightly different than usual novels I have read. Morrie(college professor) has been diagnosed with a rare disease and is going to die soon. But his unique way to handle the news of the disease and eventual death , has ignited the interest of one TV anchor who then proceeds to air the interview with Morrie. His former student Mitch (author of this book) happens to get the glimpse of the interview and then proceed to meet his former teacher Morrie and starts a series of lectures on Tuesdays which eventually ends when Morrie dies. The topics were general in nature and Morrie outpoured his life long experience .
When Morrie got to know about the disease , his first thought that why world is running /moving as nothing has happened. When he came out of hospital , everyone was doing his own work . World moves on with you and without you. only the loved ones will face a void in their life . Rest will carry their business as usual. But Morrie decided that he will deter and will make this as opportunity to reach out to public and share his experience. Thus he took on the death as new neighbor and carried on fighting with clutches of death as it is not something new. He did not feel ashamed of his dependence on the other people . As disease progressed, he even had to take help of other people to clean his private parts after using toilet and for mere existence. He was intent on proving that the word “dying” was not synonymous with “useless.” . He wanted to share the experience of death to public. He even held living funeral , so that he can experience what happens after death . this reminds me of my own attempts to hold such living funeral in school in class 9th or 10th when we used to make one of our classmates to sit on the chair , and we all then proceed to carry a funeral march reciting " Ram Ram Satya hai" on first floor. Our class teacher was amazed at our dare and frankness.
The author was also griping with loss of his uncle and disease of his brother for which he could not do anything. His brother was not taking his help. Thus he went beyond to help Morrie as to compensate his inability to help his own brother. In past , aggrieved by his uncle's death, he worked hard and became a sport's columnist. But when he met Morrie, he realized that it was materialistic. He wanted to become rich. I also am in this group. I wanted to join civil services so that I will be invincible. I still want to become IAS/IPS but at same time, reading these so many books have helped me to become human also. I have to live my life also and love my dear ones. My wife have rekindled the dying youth in me and now I want to go on country tour in my car (which my wife disapproves), go visit foreign pristine locations , meet new people, be humble and nice to other people but at same time , strive for my goals.
Morrie in his life had developed a culture of his own as " long before he got sick. Discussion groups, walks with friends, dancing to his music in the Harvard Square church. He started a project called Greenhouse, where poor people could receive mental health services. He read books to find new ideas for his classes, visited with colleagues, kept up with old students, wrote letters to distant friends. He took more time eating and looking at nature and wasted no time in front of TV sitcoms or “Movies of the Week.” He had created a cocoon of human activities—conversation, interaction, affection—and it filled his life like an overflowing soup bowl "
Morrie wanted the author to live his life and develop human bonds with other people. " The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. " . The materialistic objects does not fill your life. When I was ACP Bawana, I was sought after by lots of people. They will come to my office. My wife sometimes got irritated by the sheer number of calls I receive. But when I joined ADC post, it was silence. Those who would pick my call on first rings, now used to avoid me . No one now calls me. I was surprised when few of my old colleagues came on Diwali and greeted me and presents for me. I was not expecting them. These people who reached out to me when I was no one was result of deep bonds that I made with them. Those were Constables, ASI, Sub Inspectors whom I have helped a lot during my tenure , had came and wished me for Happy Diwali.
We’re so wrapped up with egotistical things, career, family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the radiator when it breaks—we’re involved in trillions of little acts just to keep going. So we don’t get into the habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, Is this all? Is this all I want? Is something missing?” . We need to make our own bucket list. I had once but it got all lost during my preparation days and I got busy with my life. I then prepared it again when I started my novel writing , but now all have been forgotten. I used to introspect when I used to write my diaries . I should start it again. To know you’re going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That’s better. That way you can actually be more involved in your life while you’re living.” How can you ever be prepared to die? “Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, ‘Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be?’ ”
Morrie had a troubled childhood. Mother death , poor father and brother who has polio in legs. His step mother was only light in his troubled childhood.
Morrie was lucky enough to have his family at least with hi, especially his wife. I had just finished "Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka" 2 days ago in which the main character Gregor had faced contempt and hatred from his family .
The bonds that Morrie made throughout his life had grew stronger when he was dying. Most of his students, friends and companions flew , drove and sailed miles to reach to him at his last moment. In this facebook and instagram addicted society, can I expect this when I will be facing the same. I had developed few good friends and they are with me when I need them. The key is to be social to them and give them selfless service . Don't expect anything in return from them and you will be amazed when they will return back when you will be in dire need. In this social media frenzy times, can we count the real friends ? We have digital friends and not the real friends.
: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. Then only you will develop bonds with the people . Mitch, if you’re trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyhow. And if you’re trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone.”.......... “Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a little community of those your "
But at same time we must forget those who have not reached /communicated to us when we were ill . They are busy in their own life . Expecting them to call you is not a selfless bond. Reciprocity involves breaking of heart . Don't expect anything from other.
Regarding marriage , he concluded that the both parties should respect each other, be open what is bothering you , and should be willing to compromise.
This was good novel and was something new for me. I should read more about such novels . I can think of "The last lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow" . I will try to read it soon.
lasha_elk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0