Morrie by Mitch Albom Mitch Research Paper

The book is set up as a series of lessons, each one occurring on one of Mitch's visits to his newly reinstated mentor. Morrie Schwartz's "lectures," however, are not like traditional college lectures. Instead, they take the form of discussions between the two characters on the important lessons of life, with the two men learning from each other. Mostly, however, the book details how Albom reconnects both with his mentor and with his former idealism. The ways in which this occurs are varied; for the most part, Mitch and Morrie's discussions of various world events and philosophies regarding life and death lead to a deeper understanding of humanity in both men's minds, and especially in Albom's. One of the most profound yet simple points that occurs during the book is when Mitch asks Morrie how one can prepare to die. Morrie basically reverses the question with the Buddhist notion of an individual living each day with the awareness that it truly could be their last. In this way, it could be stated that no one can be prepared to truly live until they have discovered and perfected a way to be prepared to die.

These positive reflections on the connectivity of man and the world lead to the bulk of Mitch's change in attitude throughout the book.Yet there are also some negative reflections that occur in the book that make him realize the error and emptiness of the life he has lived as a successful and career-oriented journalist. One of the more poignant points in the novel is when Nightline tells Morrie it would like to do another interview, but they want to wait until he appears even more ill and decrepit. Through such instances as these, as well as wider philosophical reflections, Mitch Albom realizes that what is truly important in this world are other human beings, and his connection with his teacher as detailed in this book provides this lesson for….....