The other is the story of a professor of social psychology who has come to understand that life’s complexities can be broken down into simple truths. This book was not planned; it came about after Mitch Albom, by chance, saw his old professor on ABCs Nightline being interviewed by Ted Koppel about what it was like to be dying of ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Mitch had lost track of his Brandeis University professor and college mentor shortly after he graduated and settled in Detroit as a sports writer. Albom was surprised and saddened to learn that Morrie was dying and quickly got in touch with his old professor. What started as a reunion of old friends, turned into the project of a lifetime.
However, amid all this suffering and despair, Morrie reconnects with his former student, Mitch Albom, a successful yet emotionally and spiritually bankrupt sports columnist. Mitch Albom was Morrie’s former student at the university and although he had promised Morrie that he would keep in touch with him after graduation, he failed to honor TUESDAY WITH MORRIE MOVIE REVIEW3 his promise. One night as Mitch was flipping through the channels, he recognized Morrie in a television program “Nightline” hosted by Ted Koppel. Surprised to learn that his former professor was dying of A.L.S, Mitch decided to get in touch with him. A reunion of friends turned into an opportunity to appreciate life’s little pleasures.
However just like Mitch the success and the moneys lure faded and he became unhappy and unfilled with his life. Tuesday with Morrie provides the readers with the true story of the last days of a wise college professor who philosophizes and frequently challenges the true meaning of happiness. When Mitch Albom a once favored student by his professor finds his former mentor dying of a devastating disease, he returns once again to meet each Tuesday just as in college to discuss the true meaning of life and happiness. Mitch visits with his former professor, on these precious Tuesdays to discuss the important things in life as they did twenty years earlier. The result is a touching, thought-provoking journey through the philosophy of life, death and the search for meaning into transitions and life.
Favorite Work: Survivor Type by Stephen King Most Memorable Character: Montresor ( Cask of Amontillado) Expected Grade: 100 In the beginning of the year, we read Survivor Type by Stephen King which has stuck with me throughout the year. This story is narrated by a disgraced surgeon, Dr. Richard Pine, who initially gives you very vague detail about his life other than being stranded on an island with a considerable amount of heroine. As the book progresses, he reveals detail about his scandalous past as a poor boy from Brooklyn who worked his way up in the world and went into prescription drug dealing. In an attempt to catch food, he breaks his ankle and is reduced to amputating his own foot (careful to keep his hands in immaculate condition) using the heroine as anesthetic. This foot is his first meal.
“The Company Man” Essay “The Company Man,” a short story written by Ellen Goodman, is about a man who was “worked himself to death.” She describes the last days of Phil’s life, and the impact, or lack thereof, he made on those around him. It is a shame that the man has to die because he never had much interaction with his family. By using unique tone and detail, Goodman is able to convey the message of how important it is to spend time with family, and to not get caught up in the occupational life. The details Goodman uses help to describe Phil’s overworked lifestyle. For example, Goodman writes “He worked six days a week, five of them until eight or nine at night, during a time when his own company had begun the four-day week for everyone but the executives, ” (20-27).
A memoir, written by Mitch Albom, has made the most impact in raising awareness for the disease, however. Tuesdays With Morrie was written for Albom to remember his old professor
The doctors told him that he will be in the wheel chair for the rest of his life but he was determined to regain his strength and movement. How can one attain this disorder? The specialists struggled to find out the cause of this disorder for decades and there is still no answer. In Ian’s case, this disorder was acquired through the gastric flu because the antibodies to the infection attacked his body. His mother was assuming it was because Ian had a busy work schedule, he worked many difficult shifts.
Ewart was an American who had gotten a disease that causes his organs to shrink for a long time. He chose to die by euthanasia, to end his pain of his own accord finally. He said that Motoneuron disease made him tired and he had no will to live. If he was in so much pain by the disease, he would still want to live, but there were too much pain. From Steven Ertelt’s article, we knew that Ewart said, if he chose to live, he would suffer illness, but it did not mean he could cure the disease and have a new life (2008).
In the early stages of the disease, Morrie was a guest on ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel. In the interview, the final question they asked Morrie was about his worst fears of the disease and what it will eventually do to his body. Morrie looked straight into the eyes of Ted Koppel and said, "Well, Ted, one day soon someone is gonna have to wipe my ass!". An interesting quote, coming from a frail man. He makes the point on one of the most dependent and private things someone has to do.
Albert kept himself occupied with this schooling, extracurricular activities, and work that he needed to help support the family. He was eager to learn and eventually attended a university to further his education. While he was in college, he became ill with tuberculosis and almost passed away; he overcame the disease although it still bothered him in the later years. After he recovered, he was forced to support himself working was a meteorologist, a police clerk, and a salesman. During that time he was married, then divorced and also joined and left the Communist party.