Originally Published: August 18, 1997

By: Mitch Albom

When your life is coming to an end, the best thing you can do is share lessons learned with someone who is still living theirs. In Tuesdays with Morrie, this is expertly done between a professor and his former student.

Sociology professor Morrie Schwartz has developed Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is interviewed by Ted Koppel on Nightline. Sports columnist Mitch Albom catches the interview with his favorite teacher and begins visiting him to help care and ask questions about life.

Morrie’s lessons on love, happiness and forgiveness are better than what you’d find in most self-help books. By accepting death, Morrie can look at his life with more clarity and highlight both the good and bad decisions he made. You’ll feel a strong connection to the man you never met.

Final say: Morrie’s legacy lives on. ★★★★★