Thoughts: Tuesdays with Morrie

Title: Tuesdays with Morrie: an old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson
Author: Mitch Albom
Year: 1997
Length: 199 pages
First Lines: "The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink leaves.  The class met on Tuesdays.  It began after breakfast.  The subject was The Meaning of Life.  It was taught from experience."


Tuesday with Morrie is by no means a recent or unknown book.   It has received a lot of press throughout the years and been made into a movie.  Yet, every so often I find myself perusing its pages, skimming through Morrie's often simple truths.  As a short book (barely 200 pages in the 2007 reprint), Tuesday with Morrie could easily be devoured in a single sitting.  This time around, I read a chapter here or there over the course of a few months.

Despite the obviously sad overall theme, Tuesdays with Morrie is a book that makes me smile.  My background is in public health education and gerontology.  I spent most of my time in college with older adults, not exactly common for someone in my generation.  I have seen first hand the kind of impact a little quality time can have in the life of an older adult, especially those in assisted living or daycare facilities.  I am an advocate for intergenerational relationships, like that of Morrie and Mitch, and cannot stress enough the benefits to both age groups.

You do not have to have any special training or skills to have a great impact on the life of another person of any age.  If you are willing to give a bit of time, a little of yourself, you can make a difference.  For me, that is perhaps the greatest message of Tuesdays with Morrie.

In Morrie's (and Mitch's) words (pages 126-127):

"There's a big confusion in this country over what we want versus what we need," Morrie said.  "You need food, you want a chocolate sundae.  You have to be honest with yourself.  You don't need the latest sports car, you don't need the biggest house.  The truth is, you don't get satisfaction from those things.  You know what really gives you satisfaction?"

What?

"Offering others what you have to give."

You sound like a Boy Scout.

"I don't mean money, Mitch.  I mean your time.  Your concern.  Your storytelling.  It's not so hard.  There's a senior center that opened near here.  Dozens of elderly people come there every day.  If you're a young man or young woman and you have a skill, you are asked to come and teach it.  Say you know computers.  You come there and teach them computers.  You are very welcome there.  And they are very grateful.  This is how you start to get respect, by offering something that you have.  There are plenty of places to do this.  You don't need to have a big talent.  There are lonely people in hospitals and shelters who only want some companionship.  You play cards with a lonely older man and you find new respect for yourself, because you are needed.  Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life?  I wrote it down, but now I can recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.  You notice," he added, grinning, "there's nothing in there about a salary."

Thoughts: Bossypants

Title: Bossypants
Author: Tina Fey
Year: 2011
Audiobook Length: 5 discs, 5.5 hours
First Lines: "My brother is eight years older than I am.  I was a big surprise.  A wonderful surprise, my mom would be quick to tell you."


I don't think it would be too bold to claim that Bossypants represents my ideal audiobook experience. There is truly something magical about hearing a book read by its author.  It doesn't hurt when the book is laugh out loud funny either.  Tina Fey is hilarious and listening to her only added to my enjoyment.

Bossypants is Fey's memoir and traces her rise to SNL and 30 Rock fame.  I actually learned quite a bit about Fey through her funny, often ridiculous, and sometimes profane stories.  She is obviously very smart and possesses an enduring ability to laugh at herself.  An additional benefit to listening to Bossypants is hearing the actual recordings of some of the SNL sketches for which Fey is known.

I will caution you not to listen to Bossypants if you do not want to hear foul language; it is used throughout the book.  I suppose it would be easier to sort of skim over it while reading, as opposed to hearing Fey scream it at you in the car.  Although I could have done without some of the language, I still appreciated Fey's wit and humor.  This was the perfect book to listen to on my drive home after a long day at work, especially when I needed a good laugh.

My Rating: 4 of 5

PS - 1. I admit the cover is pretty creepy.  2. I think one of the funniest parts of the book is titled "Suburban Girl Seeks Urban Health Care" (Disc 1, Track 5), in which Fey recounts her first gynecology appointment.

Thoughts: A Short History of Nearly Everything

Title: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Author: Bill Bryson
Year: 2003
Pages: 478
First Lines: "Welcome.  And congratulations.  I am delighted that you could make it.  Getting here wasn't easy, I know.  In fact, I suspect it was a little tougher than you realize."

A Short History of Nearly Everything is the first book I've ever read by Bill Bryson and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Slightly intimidating at first, A Short History of Nearly Everything proved to be surprisingly easy to read for a "science" book.  This is definitely not a textbook, but I finished with the sense that I had added to my knowledge base.  Bryson's wit and humor made sometimes less than exciting topics engaging.  It seemed that Bryson also infused some lesser known personal details about many of the famous scientists, which furthered my interest in the book. 

My Rating: 4 of 5

Thoughts: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

I finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot last night since it was due back to the library today.  What an incredible book!  It is the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose immortal cells, called HeLa, have been essential in furthering modern medicine.  It is the story of Henrietta's family, particularly her daughter Deborah, and their quest to learn about Henrietta and her cells.  Yet, it is also the story of Rebecca Skloot, as her interest in HeLa cells spurred her desire to meet the Lacks family and tell Henrietta's story. 

This book has its share of joy and triumphs, but it is also filled with injustice, racism, and sadness.  I am so glad that Rebecca Skloot spent a decade of her life trying to learn about Henrietta and her family.  This is a story that needed to be told a long time ago, as you find out in the book.

Yes, a significant portion of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks deals with science.  But it does not read like a book about science.  So many of the Lacks family's personal struggles and stories are told that at times you feel almost intrusive.  However, you never stop rooting for Henrietta's family.  You empathize with the injustice and hardship.  Most of all, you are thankful for Henrietta's immortal cells and all the wonderful medical cures, vaccines, and research they have allowed. 

If you want to learn a little bit more about Henrietta and aren't sure if you want to read the book, I recommend reading this piece done by CBS Sunday Morning in March 2010.  It's a nice summary and hopefully will make you want to read the book!

Thoughts: Three of Anna Quindlen's Short, Nonfiction Books

Ever since my high school English and Creative Writing teacher told me that my writing reminded her of Anna Quindlen, I have been meaning to read some of her work.  So, last week I finally got around to reading three of her short, nonfiction books: A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Being Perfect, and How Reading Changed My Life.  I can't say much about my writing, but I enjoyed Anna Quindlen's books immensely and can at least appreciate the compliment now.

In all three of these books, Anna Quindlen's writing is fresh and insightful.  Her advice, though nothing I haven't heard before, was a welcome reminder to enjoy life.  I especially liked all of the literary references present in How Reading Changed My Life as Quindlen demonstrated the evolution of her reading.  I identified with many of her thoughts about reading and books in general.  For example, on page 20 she writes, "We read in bed because reading is halfway between life and dreaming, our own consciousness in someone else's mind."  More often than not, I read in bed and had never thought of it this way before, but I like it.

I also liked these lines from Being Perfect: "This is the hard work of life in the world, to acknowledge within yourself the introvert, the clown, the artist, the homebody, the goofball, the thinker.  Look inside.  That way lies dancing to the melodies spun out by your own heart." (page 19)  I'm sure these words appeal to me because of the musical reference at the end.

I have another nonfiction book by Quindlen checked out of the library and waiting to be read.  She also has a few novels that I intend to check out, too.  To end, some truth from How Reading Changed My Life: "Books are the plane, and the train, and the road.  They are the destination, and the journey.  They are home." (page 70)