Tuesdays With Morrie - My Thoughts

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I just finished reading the book Tuesdays with Morrie and it is as inspiring as what people have said about it. I have read Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith as well, two years ago. And they are very inspiring, why? Because, for one, it's non-fiction which means it's true-to-life, obviously and it brings out more emotions to the readers because you feel like you have met the same people and you have been with the author in his journey and you have experienced it first hand though you are just sitting in your room reading. But that's what I like about it.

Okay, for those who do not know the story, here is the gist. In college, Morrie Schwartz was Mitch's psychology professor. But to him, he was more of a mentor and as the story progressed, they became almost like relatives. Often, Mitch calls him "coach" as Morrie had come to like it and so, he is called "player". After he graduates from college, he started to seek out a job. Many times he failed until the death of his uncle drove him to go back to school. Eventually, he got a master's degree in journalism and became a sports writer. He went from New York to Florida and finally landed on Detroit where he worked for the Detroit Free Press.

From there, his life started to turn around for the better. He quit renting and bought a house and a car. He married afterwards. All his life, he was chasing after his accomplishments which seemed to give him satisfaction and worth in his life. He thought he could control things when he was successful and so he tried. Up until one night when he hears his professor's name on the TV. Who is Morrie Schwartz? And it hit him.

That was the start of his turning a new leaf. His professor from then on showed him new perspectives and gave him advice on how to live life. By that time, Morrie was already terminally ill and has no more than a few years or even less to live. After realizing that his death was imminent, he started to live. He called everyone he knew, he started to share to people his story--he was simply making his life worth something not only to him but to others. His condition became known to many people and he started receiving letters from people all over.

Mitch got the opportunity to know his professor up-close. He was able to learn many things from him regarding relationships, life, death, marriage, values. He became like a child to Morrie. And the book became his 'final thesis' with his professor. Time came when Morrie was bed-ridden. Lifting his hand was already a heavy load for him to do. Through it all, Mitch was beside him, to help him. Usually they met on Tuesdays and every Tuesday, they would have a great time just talking to each other.

Morrie died peacefully as he always wanted. Nobody was there when he gasped his last breath but it was what he wished for--to have nobody hold on to the memory of knowing that you were there beside him, knowing that you were not able to do anything. He did not want anybody to feel pity for him or to feel guilty, he did not want anybody else to suffer. He just lived life as normally as possible even with the illness. And Mitch still felt the same way toward his professor when he was in college, and when he was almost going to die. Nothing changed except that he became even more cheerful that he got the chance to spend time with all the people before he died.

It is a really great story. For me, to be so engrossed in a book that I would not put it down says something about the book and the author. I read it in one sitting and every page of the book has something that can inspire you. You can feel the literature coming to life and you feel every bit as the author feels. And I believe, Mitch feels deeply for his professor. And I came to like him as well, and I realized more about my life than I have sitting in front of the computer. I have learned so much from this book and I bet everyone who has read it has been consumed and motivated by it.

Finding Your Road To Success by Patrick Daniel Is a Different Kind of Success Book

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Finding Your Road to Success by Patrick Daniel was a pleasure to read, and will be a pleasure to re-read. There are a gazillion books out there about "how to be a success," but Patrick Daniel's book stands out from the crowd.

First off, this really isn't a book about "success," not the way we in Western culture would normally define it. It's really a work about two things that allude so many in this rat race of life: happiness and satisfaction. Unfortunately, what we call success and what we call happiness very often don't go hand in hand.

Right away you don't feel like you're reading a book. Rather, you're sitting down with Patrick and having a one-on-one with him about life. He doesn't come across as some "success expert" with a bunch of finger-wagging, cocksure formulas or old clich?s. Instead, he simply starts telling you what he's done, how he's achieved his own success, and how you can as well if you follow some basic concepts.

Patrick is very transparent and talks openly about himself and his family, his goals, his dreams, and even his failures. He tells you how he's responded to all these things and how he's come out ahead as a result. He also shares his faith and why that is so important to him. He makes it clear that what he considers success, and ultimately his goal of "Ultimate Success," is not necessarily what you and I would choose. His formulas are more like conceptual templates where you, the reader, fill in the blanks.

And all along he backs his views and models with stories; some heart-warming, some serious, some funny, but all applicable. I think my favorite story was how thrilled Patrick was to finally achieve his long-term goal of throwing $500 in one shot at a slot machine and how satisfied he was even though he lost (you'll have to read the book to find out what that was all about).

This book is also packed with rich quotes worthy of noting from all kinds of sources, both unknown and famous individuals, as well as the Bible. These quotes, as well as some of the methods he's used to manage his life (like a budget sheet) are all reprised in one handy section at the end of the book.

All in all, this is a personal and touching work by someone who has achieved success in many ways, including learning to help others, budgeting money, living by ethical standards, cultivating friendships, and by always being a lifelong learner. Be prepared to read Finding Your Road to Success several times, taking notes and piecing together your own version of how you can find your Ultimate Success as well. There's way too many nuggets in this work to gather in just one or two shots.

Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He holds a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.libatique.com/ or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com