Cheap The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Book) (Mitch Albom) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Many self-help gurus encourage us to imagine our funeral service and what would be said about us. I think there's a lot of merit to that concept. Mr. Albom has added another important element to that concept: What were the unintended effects that others had on our lives and we on theirs? Cast in that light, even the most mundane life is suddenly filled with drama and greater significance. I hope Mr. Albom will consider writing a self-help book that allows us to think through the lessons of this book for our own lives.

To describe what happens in Heaven in the book would be to spoil the book for you . . . so I won't. I found the book constantly surprising and interesting, and a quick read. One of the underlying themes of the book is the need to be more accepting of one another . . . and the consequences of our actions. In that regard, I thought the story was weak only in developing the resolution of his relationship with one of his parents. Other than that flaw, I would have enthusiastically graded the book at five stars.

Let me quote the book's intriguing opening paragraph to give you a flavor of why you may want to read this book:

"This is a story about a man named Eddie and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying in the sun. It might seem strange to start a story with an ending. But all endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time."

I think that's the best opening for a book that I have read in many years. Much of the rest of the writing is just as good.

As I finished the book, I began to think about how my "failures" may have actually helped others to "successes." That was a new thought for me, and one that will make me act quite differently in the future. That was a great gift to receive from reading a single story.

strong modern day parable
Eddie had worked for years at maintenance at Ruby Pier Amusement Park insuring the rides were safe for patrons. Though he did his job meticulously and everyone kind of knew Eddie, adults never took him seriously. Children seem to like him but even Eddie when he became an octogenarian reflecting back on his life felt he achieved zero. Eddie recently died trying to save a little girl.

Eddie regains consciousness in heaven. Five people, one at a time, shows him the positive impact of his life on others. Though in terms of major impact, his deeds may seem small, Eddie begins to understand the essence of God's gift of life to mankind. Humanity consists of a vast series of interconnecting networks that mesh the lives of everyone. No matter how minute, that iota of caring impacts people even those outside your sphere and Eddie clearly cared.

This is a strong modern day parable that reminds readers that everyone counts even Eleanor Rigby. Using a seemingly nonentity to bring his message across, Mitch Albom paints a simply stupendous story that no person is left behind as we live as an interconnected and overlapping links on this planet. Everybody has plenty to offer and should be encouraged to do so.

Harriet Klausner

Absolutely Wonderful
Inspiring, comforting, a joy to read.