Mitch Albom's books usually act as a balm to a restless soul.
I have always felt that people, at any point of time, are a product of the cumulative set of experiences that have accosted them in their life till then. The attitudes & behavior are outcomes of this baggage that we carry and potray. Albom's simple and easy to absorb books provide explanations for actions/thoughts that might have troubled you in your life. It further acts as a soothing agent to your open wounds.
In this book, Albom talks of some important lessons in life that are cherished in god's books.
Lesson 1. There are no random incidents in the lifespan of a person. All people we come into contact with or incidents that we face are never "unrelated" or "random".
Lesson 2. Sacrifice is never a waste. Sacrifice should never be a cause for remorse or blame or frustration later in life.
Its hard to place one's faith in this lesson. I always think of the people who are mutilated in war. They become invalids for life. Has the sacrifice for their nation gone a waste? Such a state dampens enthusiasm for life itself. Concepts of nation or sacrifice for a nation become weak in the face of a population that has just given you a pass courtesy your inability to match them limb to limb.
Lesson 3. Loyalty is an asset in god's court of law.
This almost seems like an archaic concept. I, however, view it as an answer for the question - How should man lead life? In order for a person not to lead a life of a sloth, one has to associate with certain aspects, principles that make one's life extra-ordinary. The concept of non-violence, united a vastly different population to fight for freedom. Imagine something like that in these materialistic times. In the story related, loyalty to a friend who has given up on life, over one's own anger, frustrations and circumstancial disloyalty has raised this ordinary person's life to an extra-ordinary one. I doubt if i could ever live up to such standards.
I have always felt that people, at any point of time, are a product of the cumulative set of experiences that have accosted them in their life till then. The attitudes & behavior are outcomes of this baggage that we carry and potray. Albom's simple and easy to absorb books provide explanations for actions/thoughts that might have troubled you in your life. It further acts as a soothing agent to your open wounds.
In this book, Albom talks of some important lessons in life that are cherished in god's books.
Lesson 1. There are no random incidents in the lifespan of a person. All people we come into contact with or incidents that we face are never "unrelated" or "random".
Lesson 2. Sacrifice is never a waste. Sacrifice should never be a cause for remorse or blame or frustration later in life.
Its hard to place one's faith in this lesson. I always think of the people who are mutilated in war. They become invalids for life. Has the sacrifice for their nation gone a waste? Such a state dampens enthusiasm for life itself. Concepts of nation or sacrifice for a nation become weak in the face of a population that has just given you a pass courtesy your inability to match them limb to limb.
Lesson 3. Loyalty is an asset in god's court of law.
This almost seems like an archaic concept. I, however, view it as an answer for the question - How should man lead life? In order for a person not to lead a life of a sloth, one has to associate with certain aspects, principles that make one's life extra-ordinary. The concept of non-violence, united a vastly different population to fight for freedom. Imagine something like that in these materialistic times. In the story related, loyalty to a friend who has given up on life, over one's own anger, frustrations and circumstancial disloyalty has raised this ordinary person's life to an extra-ordinary one. I doubt if i could ever live up to such standards.
Lesson 4. People pass away, but love does not die.
Love is an entity that overrides people in every imaginable way. One lives in memories of the small (till then seemingly unimportant) memories of times spent together, conversations, thoughts, just the comfort of sitting next to each other.. the list is endless. People whom you love always live in your heart and in your memories. They are just not present physically.
Lesson 5: People have a purpose in life, however, wasteful you feel your life has been
In the story that relates this lesson, the protagonist has this frustration and empty feeling as he feels he has wallowed away his life. After a promising start in the army and later as a salesman, the protagonist spent most of his time being a maintenance man in an amusement park. He became a fixture that just existed in time. It is revealed to him in heaven that his purpose in life was to keep children safe and happy. What i found most unnerving about the story is the thought - Did the sub-conscious thrust him into the role of a maintenance man in a penance for having burnt a little girl alive in his years during the war. ?
All in all, nice lessons in a nice & easy to read format. I feel, it can be read by all ages, though the impact on each age group would be different.
Even a person who does not have the habit of reading can read this book. Trust me, he/she will not put it down till it is finished
A must read book as far as i feel.
In the story that relates this lesson, the protagonist has this frustration and empty feeling as he feels he has wallowed away his life. After a promising start in the army and later as a salesman, the protagonist spent most of his time being a maintenance man in an amusement park. He became a fixture that just existed in time. It is revealed to him in heaven that his purpose in life was to keep children safe and happy. What i found most unnerving about the story is the thought - Did the sub-conscious thrust him into the role of a maintenance man in a penance for having burnt a little girl alive in his years during the war. ?
All in all, nice lessons in a nice & easy to read format. I feel, it can be read by all ages, though the impact on each age group would be different.
Even a person who does not have the habit of reading can read this book. Trust me, he/she will not put it down till it is finished
A must read book as far as i feel.
