The Five People You Meet in Heaven By Mitch Albom

Author Born on May 23 rd, 1958 in Passaic, New Jersey Studied sociology at Brandeis University Master’s degree in journalism and business from Columbia University

More author… Free-lance writer for Sports Illustrated and The Philadelphia Inquirer Lead sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Writes a weekly column on sports writing, won the Associated Press Sports Editor Best Sports Columnist award 13 times

Inspirations… Albom reconnected with one of his sociology professors, Morrie Schwartz, with whom he was very close as an undergraduate at Brandeis. Schwartz suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease, a terminal illness that gradually destroys the nervous system. Every Tuesday, Albom visited with him, and he turned his interaction with Morrie and the life lessons the old man taught him into his best-selling memoir, Tuesdays with Morrie.

Based on… Albom was inspired to write The Five People You Meet in Heaven because of his uncle, Eddie Beitchman Similar to the character since he was a World War II veteran, died at 83, rarely left his home city, and often feeling that he didn't accomplish what he should have This is a story that focuses on life on earth to state how all lives are somehow connected

The plot of the novel was inspired by a story Eddie told at one Thanksgiving Dinner: When Eddie was younger, he was sent to the hospital with a life-threatening fever. On the verge of death, he woke up one night to find his dead relatives collected around the bed, staring at him. Eddie told them to “get lost,” and that he wasn’t “ready for them yet.” He recovered, but always retained the memory of that night. Albom, intrigued by his uncle’s near-death experience, developed it into a story, exploring the concept of heaven and who would be waiting for the deceased in the afterlife.

Life lessons This book focuses on five different lessons that Eddie discovers when interacting with the different characters Albom explores the possibility of the afterlife to unfold a rich story compromised of various situations life handed Eddie when living on earth By focusing on past situations, Eddie realizes how he has impacted others/others have impacted him

Characters Eddie- protagonist of the story that goes on an incredible journey to discover five lessons given by different people Joseph Corvelzchik, The Blue Man- first character Eddie meets in heaven, gives Eddie his first lesson, everything happens for a reason The Captain- Eddie’s commanding officer at war and second person he meets, sacrifices are part of life Ruby- third person he meets that teaches him to let go of anger

More Characters… Marguerite- Eddie’s wife he met at Ruby Pier after returning from WWII, and fourth person that teaches him the power of love Tala- a little girl and the final person that teaches that there’s always a purpose for your life