When I first started reading “Tuesdays with Morrie”, I knew it was going to be a book that changed something in me. This book is more than just a story; it’s about love, purpose, death and more of life’s biggest questions. 

After years of not talking or seeing each other, Mitch Albom reconnects with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who he finds is facing stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that slowly degrades nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Through weekly “lessons” on Tuesday, Albom recorded his final conversations with Morrie and wrote this book as his final thesis.

Right from the first chapter, I felt the love that Albom has for Morrie. His recollections of Morrie are intimate and personal, and as he describes Morrie’s interactions with him, I began to understand why. 

Morrie’s mindset about death is unique given his situation; even lying on his deathbed and getting more paralyzed day by day, he isn’t afraid. Albom is shocked when Morrie says he feels lucky because Morrie needs assistance with practically every basic function like eating and going to the bathroom. However, since the diagnosis, Morrie has been surrounded by love from family, friends, caretakers and even strangers who watched his Nightline interview with Ted Koppel. It’s this love that Morrie is thankful for and the biggest lesson I took away from this book: giving and receiving love is what life is all about.

Albom’s writing style is simple and highlights Morrie’s limitless capacity for love. It reads like an intimate conversation, and each chapter’s lesson is universal and easily digestible. It gently nudged me to reflect on my own life and was a breath of fresh air.

This book is a must-read for everyone. We can all learn from Morrie’s kindness and optimism. If you’re feeling alone, exhausted from life or even perfectly fine, this book will remind you that love exists in the world. 

_{During college, Albom (right) took as many classes with Morrie (left) as he could. After college, Albom became a sports column journalist and lost all contact with his professor. He only learned about his old professor’s condition through the interview with Nightline. He realized how meaningless and exhausted he felt from his fast-paced job after speaking with Morrie and became an author and philanthropist. Reflecting, Albom’s initial situation is similar to my own: fast paced and lacking meaning. After reading the book and learning the same things Albom did, I began valuing my friends and family more. (Photo/Heather Pillar)}