Book Essay Sample

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How Tuesdays with Morrie Challenges Modern Cultural Values

In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom is a person who gets to learn in life with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Morrie, through his weekly discussions, questions most of the values that are entrenched in contemporary American society, including the insanity around money and success, and the individualistic way of life. Rather, he encourages love, community and meaning in human relations. The wisdom of Morrie makes readers redefine the real importance of things and makes them wonder whether the definition of the good life as set forth by society really brings happiness.

A significant means in which Tuesdays with Morrie confronts modern culture is the rejection of materialism by Morrie. Mitch starts the story as a workaholic sports reporter who achieves success by scoring money and fame. He acknowledges that he sold a good deal of dreams for a larger salary (Albom 24). This is how he was pursuing the societal concept of success as wealth. Instead, Morrie explains to him that the culture that we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We are only teaching the wrong things” (Albom 25). According to him, individuals are supposed to form their own culture founded on goodwill and empathy, rather than rivalry and greed. The attitude towards Mitch is quite different in Morrie, as he lives in a fast world where profit is the main factor.

The other cultural value Morrie is challenged with is the fixation of society on youth and its fear of aging. Aging is viewed as a sign of weakness or something to conceal in modern culture. However, Morrie sees it as growth. He tells Mitch that, “as you mature, you learn better. Aging is not just decay, you know. It’s growth” (Albom 70). He does not feel embarrassed by the fact that he is aging, but he accepts it as a life aspect. This concept disputes the media obsession with eternal youth. Morrie also teaches us that every phase in life is significant and wisdom and experience are of more value than how people look.

Moreover, Morrie further questions how people in the world think about death. Most individuals fear to bring it up, but Morrie is not afraid to do so and he talks honestly about it. He tells Mitch “Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live” (Albom 51). Coming to terms with his death makes Morrie more alive and appreciating of each moment. This lesson demonstrates that neglecting death makes people afraid and unconcerned with life. The peaceful manner in which Morrie accepts life helps the readers think that they should live to the fullest and enjoy what they have rather than pursue the things they do not.

Lastly, the love and community Morrie has in his life are opposed to the current emphasis on independence and self-interest. He shows Mitch that learning to give out love and letting it come in are the most important things in life (Albom 34). To Morrie, relationships are what make a person happy as opposed to achievements. This communication is a reminder to readers that contemporary culture tends to ignore the importance of sympathy and feelings in favor of personal achievement.

Tuesdays with Morrie encourages the reader to observe how the culture values present in modern society, including money, youth, independence and refusal to face death, may result in emptiness. The lessons of Morrie provide a different way: to have a purpose, compassion and love in life. The book demonstrates that a meaningful life is not one characterized by more, but by giving more. It is with the help of the wisdom of Morrie that the reader can be challenged to reconsider what it takes to live a good life and make the right choices that will make one genuinely happy.

Work Cited

Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man and Life’s Greatest Lesson. New York, Anchor Books, 2007.