1. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (1997) [Novel] by
Mitch Albom.
Copyright 2005 by Prestwick House Inc.,P.O. Box 658, clayton, DE 19938.
207 pages
Original languages: English
Mitch Albom is the author of six previous books. A nationally syndicated columnist for the
Detroit Free Press and a nationally syndicated radio host for ABC and WJR-AM, Albom has, for
more than a decade, been named top sports columnist in the nation by the Sports Editors of
America, the highest honor in the field. A panelist on ESPN's Sports Reporters, Albom also
regularly serves as a commentator for that network. He serves on numerous charitable boards
and has founded two charities in metropolitan Detroit: The Dream Fund, which helps
underprivileged youth study the arts, and A Time to Help, a monthly volunteer program. He lives
with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Morrie Schwartz was one of Mitch Albom’s college professors. Since his college graduation,
Mitch and Morrie gradually lost touch; however, Mitch rediscovered Morrie during the last months of
his life and they were able to rekindle their friendship. Mitch visited Morrie every Tuesday, in his study,
which turned into a private lesson on how to live life. Tuesdays with Morrie is the magical result of
Mitch and Morrie’s time spent together in the months leading to his death.
Mitch Albom is not only a best-selling author; he is also a newspaper columnist for the Detroit
Free Press, radio host for ABC and WJR-AM in Detroit.
Albom is a native of Philadelphia, PA and attended Brandeis University, where he obtained his
degree in sociology. He then attended Columbia University for his Master's Degree in journalism and
business administration.
Mitch Albom has written seven other books, including the bestseller, The Five People You Meet
in Heaven. His other works include Live Albom I, Live Albom II, Live Albom III, Live Albom IV, BO, which is
the autobiography of Bo Schemechler, and Fab Five, which is a story about the University of Michigan's
men's basketball recruits who became starters as freshman, during the 1990's.

2. Aside from writing novels, Albom has also been deemed the #1 Sports Columnist in the Nation
by the sports editors of America. He has received over 100 writing awards from National Sportswriters
and Broadcasters Associations, Headliners Club as well as many others. His work has also appeared in
publications such as Sports Illustrated, GQ Magazine, The New York Times, USA Today, and TV Guide.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE BASIS OF THE KIND OF BOOK
Tuesdays with Morrie Genres
Sociology
Fiction
Biography
Biographical novel
Philosophical fiction
Philosophy
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF THE AUTHOR’S INTENTION
The purpose of this book is definitely to entertain. It contains humor and sarcasm with twists of
seriousness and wisdom. Primarily, the book was written to express a certain man’s views of life’s
important lessons while staring death in the face. There are multiple examples throughout the book of
entertainment, but a few definitely jumped out at me. When Mitch, the main character, and his former
professor, Morrie meet every Tuesday, they discuss the world, their regrets in life, death, family,
emotions, the fear of aging, money, marriage, culture, forgiveness, and about how love goes on. Any
reader can relate to any or all of these topics.
"Tuesdays with Morrie" is definitely one of those books that you find yourself constantly thinking
about. Coming home and cuddling up to this book for hours in my family room was definitely enough
motives to get me through each school day. I read this book for pleasure; therefore, it was entertaining
to me. One part I liked was the beginning when Mitch describes Morrie. He describes him as an old,
grey-haired college professor. Then, he informs the reader that Morrie loved to dance, even in his old
age. When picturing a college professor in my head, I see a "strictly-business" adult with a lifeless

3. personality who does not care about many people on a personal level. My image of that changed when I
saw the old, black-and-white picture on the first page of the book of Morrie dancing and smiling. In
other words, the book goes beyond the text to entertain. The multiple life lessons that served as the
themes of this book are definitely a form of amusement, also.
SUBJECT AND THESIS STATEMENT
Experience is what connects us with others. The very personal tone of the novel Tuesdays With
Morrie by Mitch Albom is essentially influenced by the author’s purpose for readers to establish a direct
connection with its main characters.
The book is subtitled "An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson”. The book is about a
young man who loses his way (Albom), and the old man who makes him realize this (Schwartz). How did
Albom lose his way? After college graduation (1976, Brandeis University, Massachusetts) he promised to
keep in touch with his professor but never did. Then his favorite uncle, 44, died of pancreatic cancer and
Albom suddenly felt time was precious. "No more playing music at half-empty nightclubs," he writes.
"No more writing songs in my apartment, songs that no one would hear. I returned to school. I earned a
master's degree in journalism and took the first job offered... (16)" In other words he became focused
and successful.
The novel also discusses various topics that we all experience and in this paper I would like to
focus mainly on life, work, community, relationships, aging and death. Discussing these usual topics
make the novel something that everyone can relate therefore people enjoy getting in touch of it.
ANALYSIS STRUCTURE
Albom wrote the plot very straightforward with little ambiguity and complicated historical
references. He has a tendency to include flashbacks to his college years from when he was a student of
Morrie’s; he does this to give background on his once, slightly naïve and less materialistic self, so the
readers have a clear conception of the person he has become in the following sixteen years. He also
does this to emphasize Morrie’s loving and compassionate values that he has always tried to express
through his teachings.

4. Mitch feels so thankful to have had Morrie in his life; for he has helped bring value and purpose into
Mitch’s life. Through the plot Mitch wishes to express how Morrie has changed his life, through these
Tuesday lessons; also, Morrie wishes to express his teachings and values to the world and he was able to
do that through Mitch and this novel.
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
Morrie Schwartz was Mitch Albom’s favorite college professor. At the start of the novel Albom
recalls a memory from his college graduation day: he is saying goodbye to Morrie and gives him a tan
briefcase with his initials on it. They hug and when Mitch steps back he sees that Morrie is crying. Mitch
promises to stay in touch with Morrie but he never does after college.
Since his graduation, Mitch has become a newspaper reporter and husband. He leads a very fast
paced life and is constantly working and traveling. He has become so engrossed in his work that it
consumes his life.
The novel recommences about sixteen years after Mitch’s graduation day; Morrie has since
been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Since Morrie’s diagnosis, he began jotting
down ideas and thoughts onto scrap paper, yellow pads or even envelopes. He also wrote philosophies
about living knowing death was very near. One of his friends was so taken with his writing, he sent them
to the Boston Globe reporter, who wrote a feature story about Morrie. The story intrigued one of the
producers of the show, “Nightline”, who then did a feature story about Morrie. Mitch happened to see
the “Nightline” show and recognized his old professor. He called him to set up a visit.
Mitch began visiting Morrie every Tuesday. Their discussions ranged from the world, regrets,
death, love and money; the purpose of their meetings was to discuss Morrie’s view on the meaning of
life. Mitch became so intrigued by Morrie’s philosophies that he began taking notes and even recording
Morrie.
Morrie’s philosophies included rejecting popular culture morals and following self-created
values, loving others, and learning to accept death.
With each lesson, Morrie becomes increasingly sick; during their last meeting, Morrie was bed
ridden and near death. As he and Mitch hugged for one last time, Morrie notices Mitch is finally crying.

5. Morrie dies a short time after. At his funeral Mitch tries having a conversation with Morrie, as he had
wanted. Mitch feels a certain naturalness and comfort to this conversation and realizes that it happens
to be Tuesday.
After Morrie’s death Mitch regains contact with his brother who lives in Spain and is battling
cancer.
CRITICAL COMMENTS
I thought that the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" was definitely one of the best books I have ever
read. Mitch Albom, as a writer, would probably be one of my favorites. The best part would be his
attitude when it comes to his style of writing, how he adds a gentle touch of humor to even the bleakest
of situations, and how he can take a true story with as much meaning as this one and transform it into
an absolutely beautiful work of literature that makes you never want to put the book down until you're
done-- and then read it again.
To lay it out for everyone who hasn't already read it, "Tuesdays with Morrie" is all about Mitch
Albom and his old college professor and the stories and discussions that they shared together. It's a true
story. After he says he'd stay in touch with his college professor, years later he sees his old, crippled
professor, Morrie Schwartz, on the television while he is dying of ALS.
So what does Mitch do? He travels to the opposite side of the country-- not just once, but every
single Tuesday for months-- and spends one day of his week with his friend, Morrie. They discuss
everything from Family, Love, Death, to the Meaning of Life until Morrie's very last days here on Earth.
The book tells of the many touching stories, how Mitch's wife goes to meet Morrie, how Morrie
eventually dies and keeps his spirit up all the way until the end, and how he embraces death in such an
open and unconditional way that not even Mitch can understand.
As you can see, "Tuesdays with Morrie" is an extremely touching story, and I would definitely
recommend it to anyone wanting a good book, and a lifelong lesson. In fact, I already have.