So when I finally picked up Tuesdays with Morrie after hearing about it for years, I was expecting some heavy “death is coming” kind of vibe, but it’s actually… warmer than that.
It’s basically Mitch Albom visiting his old sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, every Tuesday while Morrie is dying of ALS. Sounds depressing, right? But here’s the thing: Morrie talks about death the way most of us talk about weekend plans. Calm, direct, a little funny even. And through these conversations, he basically hands you this stripped-down guide to living a life that actually matters.
The chapters are short, which makes it weirdly bingeable for such a deep topic. Mitch keeps flashing back to his college days, so you see how Morrie shaped him way before the illness. And that’s part of why it hits—Morrie’s not just a “wise dying man” stereotype; you get glimpses of the teacher and friend he’s always been.
Some of the stuff Morrie says is simple to the point where you almost roll your eyes—until you realize you’ve been ignoring those exact truths for years. Things like:
- The culture will decide your values if you don’t choose them yourself.
- Love is the only thing that really sticks.
- Death isn’t the enemy—it’s the thing that forces you to focus.
And yes, you’ll probably cry. But not in the “I just read a tragedy” way—more in the “oh crap, I need to call my parents/friends/someone I love” way.
If I had to nitpick, the book can feel a little too neat, like every lesson fits into a perfect little bow. Life’s messier than that. But maybe that’s why it works—because Morrie knew he didn’t have time for detours.
I closed the book thinking about my own “Tuesdays.” Who do I meet regularly that actually makes me better? And if I don’t have anyone like that—why not?
If you liked When Breath Becomes Air or Man’s Search for Meaning, you’ll probably click with this. And if you’re feeling burnt out, weirdly empty, or just… drifting, it might be the reset button you didn’t know you needed.
Curious—has any book ever shifted your perspective on life the way this one does? Or given you that “I need to change something right now” feeling? Would love to hear your picks.
by TwistInTheStack