from Tuesdays with Morrie page 950 Mitch Albom

Think about it… How do you feel about getting older? Why? What do you think is the ideal age? Why? How do you think most people in society feel about aging?

Mitch Albom Born in 1958 Morrie Schwartz was Albom’s Sociology professor Brandeis University in Massachusetts Journalist - Sportswriter in Detroit, Michigan Author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven published in 2004 At the time of Albom’s visits, Morrie Schwartz was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease-- a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Complete title: Tuesdays with Morrie– an old man, a young man, and life’s greatest lesson published in 1997 (sold more than 14 million copies) Albom wrote this book to help pay for Morrie’s medical expenses.

Before You Read… What type of nonfiction work is Tuesdays with Morrie? How does Morrie say that young people are being “manipulated”? How is Morrie’s perspective on aging different than most? What message does Morrie try to explain to Mitch Albom in this excerpt?

Notes 1. What type of nonfiction work is Tuesdays with Morrie? biography: when a person’s writes the story of another person’s life (Mitch Albom writes the life story of Morrie ) 2. How does Morrie say that young people are being “manipulated”? Through the media and advertisements- images of young people Telling young people that if they wear a certain brand of jeans or buy a certain cologne that they will be “beautiful” and attractive 3. How is Morrie’s perspective on aging different than most? Most people have a negative view of getting older, where as Morrie has a more positive and realistic perspective. 4. What message does Morrie try to explain to Mitch Albom in this excerpt? To appreciate life at each stage To embrace and appreciate the changes the future brings

Make a Connection… Is there someone older, patient and wise, who understands you, helps you see the world as a more meaningful place? Someone who gives you advice to help you make your way through life? (Maybe it’s a grandparent, or a teacher, or a neighbor, or a family friend…) What have you learned from him or her?