|
The Five People You Meet in Heaven (平装)
by Mitch Albom
| Category:
Teens |
| Market price: ¥ 138.00
MSL price:
¥ 128.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
| Stock:
In Stock |
|
|
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
In The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom gives us an astoundingly original story that will change everything you've ever thought about the afterlife - and the meaning of our lives here on earth. |
| If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
|
| |
AllReviews |
1 2   | Total 2 pages 12 items |
|
|
David (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-14 00:00>
In my mind, The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a fine book for what it is. Regard it, if you want, as a fable of what might happen to some of us after we're dead.
You can argue that it's sentimental, emotional and riddled with more cliches on a single page than what's found in director Frank Capra's entire filmography.
But people expecting a seismic shift in their lives - something wise, shattering and "attitude-altering" from anything receiving great word-of-mouth that skyrockets in popularity - are forever doomed to disappointment.
There are few things worse than when so-called "sophisticated readers" (and I include myself in this group), attack a book mercilessly, feeling so let down by high expectations.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven moves quickly, is never dull and wears its heart with earnestness. Sure, it's cloying in a way that will irritate those used to so-called "fine literature," those paperweight-thick tomes filled with big words and pretentious phrases.
But The Five People You Meet in Heaven is remarkable in its simplicity, and it has all the basic story telling elements down that makes for a good read. I really believe it's the kind of title that will never go out of print. People will still be talking about it fifty years from now. And it will forever polarize readers.
I think it's too easy for people, some guilty of overt intellectual snobbery - to scoff at works like The Five People You Meet in Heaven - at the exclusion and denigration of all that is mainstream and "popular," as if the masses who made this book a success are all wrong and they themselves are sure-headed and right.
Just don't believe them. The Five People You Meet in Heaven is for you if you find other thick and weighty titles a little daunting after a while. It's the perfect "break," a refreshing change of pace for a guy like me used to going through so many books that feel like work, titles filled with depressing themes and sentences as tortuous in construction as they are in their efforts to provide messages that are pseudo-revelatory and profound.
I like books for the "masses" just as much as I like prize-winning titles stretching several hundred pages each, some good, some great and some awful. And The Five People You Meet in Heaven isn't designed to please critics. It's unfair and just plain mean-spirited to accuse any author of "making money" or "selling out" when it's obvious that he/she has tapped into something that resonates and brings optimism to many people who might otherwise avoid books. There's nothing wrong, in my view, with reaching out to as many people as possible and giving them hope and contentment amidst the turbulence of their everyday lives.
I'd like to think The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a response to fashionable pessimism, the type found at any gathering of intellectuals (I know, I've been to some, and they're awful). But it isn't. Having said this, author Mitch Albom still surprised this old codger (me) with what he reveals on the last page. (Don't cheat - it has no text - but it's a doozy.) This made me even more fond of the book.
However simplistic, straight-forward and "seemingly" effortless, I won't fault Albom for knocking out something that feels aimed straight from his heart to yours, even if he doesn't always connect. "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" will always generate arguments, pro and con. Yet its fans will always outnumber its critics. This is a book that will refuse to be dismissed. And this is a great thing, you know, people arguing the merits of books.
Hence I'm not embarrassed to admit that The Five People You Meet in Heaven falls into my category of "guilty pleasures." But I don't feel guilty. And you shouldn't either.
|
|
|
Kenneth Yeh (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
I just got this book today when someone recommended it to me and when I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I skipped dinner and didn't do my homework but it was just that good. It leaves you wondering if you ever made a difference in someone's life here on earth. Then it makes you wonder who the five people you will meet in heaven are. This book was truly inspirational. It makes you want to go out into the world and try and make as big as impact on people's lives. I recommend anyone to read this book whether you believe in heaven or not. It's an absolutely amazing book.
|
|
|
Andy (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
To tell the truth, after reading Tuesdays with Morrie from Mitch Albom, I did have high expectations for this follow-up.
And I must say that my expectations were more than surpassed by another winner from him.
The interweaving of Eddie "Maintenance"'s various aspects of life from his childhood, teenage years, courtship, military service, marriage, middle age to old age and finally the beginning of his journey through heaven was beautifully and intricately spun in this short tale.
The poetic descriptions of the various "steps" in heaven that Eddie traversed through in search for inner peace before his final resting destination and the 5 lessons he had to learnt brought to mind the eternal existentialistic questions of why we are here and what our life purpose is, in a quiet and non-intrusive manner. So much so that we can be prompted to examine our own lives more sympathetically.
The message I got from Mitch Albom at the end was that Eddie could have been anyone of us and that we do not need to wait for our turn to meet our five people in heaven to recognise that whatever we are doing now has meaning and has purpose in wonderful and beautiful ways and that we should never allow ourselves to belittle our lives.
Not quite the tearjerker as Tuesdays but Five People has certainly touched my heart and a few others in more ways than one. I hope that you will allow this beautiful book to touch yours too.
Kudos to Mitch Albom and a big thank you to his uncle Eddie for being the source of inspiration for this would-be classic.
God bless
|
|
|
Barbara Rose (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
Mitch Albom writes with heart, soul, truth and meaning. This profound book brings you the true meaning of life, and "why" certain people are in our lives. Through the poignant stories told, you will learn that even the smallest acts from the heart make a profound difference. You will learn compassion and understanding for those whose role in your life you have had difficulty understanding "why" they are in your life to begin with. You will learn that even in Heaven you are loved, and how your deeds on Earth make more of a difference than you may realize.
This book is a captivating, heartfelt and beautiful read that will bring you genuine wisdom, as it opens your heart. A true page-turner, and a MUST Read! Deserves 10 Stars!
|
|
|
Michael (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
Mitch Albom as taken the experiences of a man's seemingly useless life, and unwrapped a story that is a gift to each of us.
His use of the language, and ability to evoke real emotions from his character AND his reader at the same time is truly amazing.
I found this to be a fairly quick read, and read it in one 4 hour sitting. The Author tugs at hearstrings, provokes thought and smiles as the main character sometimes fumbles his way through a timeless heaven, discovering that in the end, his life had more meaning than he could ever imagine.
Mitch Albom is going to solidify his status as a national treasure with this book.
Give this book to everyone on your Christmas list!
|
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
This hearty little 200-page book provokes the everlasting question, "What happens when you die?" to rise to familiarity among our thoughts once again. I have wondered where Mr. Albom was inspired to write a story such as this; with such intensity as was shown.
The story tells of an old man, named Eddie, who dies trying to save a little girl from a falling ferris-wheel cart at a carnival. Eddie goes to heaven, and with the help of five seemingly non-impacting people, he relives his life, point by life-altering point and he begins to understand why he lived and what his purpose on earth was.
With Mr. Albom's unique flashback technique of writing, this story comes alive within the imagination of it's readers.
A wonderful and deeply intense book and I recommend it to individuals who have read and loved Mr. Albom's previous book, Tuesday's With Morrie.
Many will learn to love and appreciate this book and I hope that reading this review will persuade YOU to read it as well.
Thank You ... and Congratulations, Mr. Albom for writing a wonderful book.
|
|
|
Carolyn Rampone (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
The Five People You Meet in Heaven is "good" until you get to Eddie's person number five. That's where the uncontrollable and audible "sighs" come to the surface and it rises to terrific. The book is made right there, with little Tala. She is actually the only one of the five people I feel really had anything to do with Eddie's purpose in life. The others it seems are illuminating Eddie's mistakes or possibly explaining why things happened the way they did. I found those a little empty. Tala gives Eddie's life meaning and purpose and eventually, the peace he needs to move on.
I didn't find any life changing or affirming moments between the pages, but the author didn't promise any, did he? .
I only gave it 4 stars because I felt Mitch Albom made a big oversight with Eddie's funeral. Considering the way he died, I felt it was a huge betrayal.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven leaves you thinking about the events that shaped your own life and wondering if there is some meaning in them that escaped you. It is a light read, I was done in a few short hours but little Tala is still lingering with me, days later.
|
|
|
Frederick Babb (MSL quote) , USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
I read this book as a recommendation. No fancy advertisements, no pressure from book of the month clubs. Just a friendly recommendation of a story that someone thought I might enjoy. I thank that person for doing so.
Eddie is a 83-year-old maintenance man that most would probably never see in our world these days. The type that is too unimportant to get rid of. But, as his death quickly overtakes him, we are shown how this forgotten old man was such a grand figure. It makes one think about people that they see everyday without really knowing anything about them.
Anyway, we are then told how Eddie was and something about his life as it changes from birthday to birthday. Finally, we follow Eddie into heaven where five instrumental figures from his moral life appear. He is ultimately surprised at the influence he had on each of these people as they demonstrate the true value he had in their lives.
When you finish this book you will find that the old maintenance man from Ruby Pier was much more than he ever gave himself credit and it makes you reflect on how all of our lives our interconnected with each other somehow. The next time you wish someone a "Good morning" or a simple "How are you?" remember that your action may have more impact than you can ever imagine. Just ask Eddie.
|
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
Great literature invariably draws the reader in and invites him to think, to make comparisons between what he is reading and how it compares to ones own life and thoughts, to weigh in on whether there is agreement or disagreement. Story telling, on the other hand may be as simple as watching the latest brainless sitcom on television.
So where does The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom fall out? After reading the book my opinion--and obviously opinion is as different as fingerprints - is that Albom's book firmly fits the former and not the latter.
The book tells the story of a good man who lives a full life but doesn't know it. He feels shortchanged and, following his death, wonders what it all might of meant. The five people he meets help him to accept life as it was and to find some closure for the future. Some of the five are individuals he remembers some are mere phantoms that passed by without leaving much of an impression on him--or so he believes. Each teaches a lesson (and, yes, each lesson has applicability to every life) and clarifies how his interaction impacted life.
I hesitate to say more because Albom's book is written in such a way as to make it an entirely different statement and experience for each reader. My memories, feelings and experience are markedly different from yours and Albom's story struck chords with me that simply won't be the same for you.
Don't try to compare this one to A Christmas Carol (there is no opportunity here as Scrooge had to go back and make amends). Don't compare it to "It's a wonderful Life" (this really isn't a story about how a life made life wonderful for his peers). Some have compared it to Homer's Odyssey. This is a stretch because, again, our hero here is not trying to get back to his former life.
Instead Albom, I believe, in The Five People You Meet in Heaven makes a simple statement: one life touches so many others, both known and unknown, in a variety of ways. Often we like to think that we are alone here and that an action today has no impact on anyone else. Instead Albom poses questions about how a boy's simple act of retrieving a ball from the street might result in an ultimate consequence for an unknown passer by.
I did not find Albom's book to be preachy in any sense. Instead the author seems to simply state that a life lived has its wonders and consequences and when it's over it's over. Or is it? The Five People You Meet in Heaven does offer the interesting scenario of a newcomer becoming a player in the unfolding drama of Heaven's next arrival.
Don't look for answers about what Heaven might actually be. I don't think Albom in his work was trying to offer anything new to the established canon of accepted Christian scripture. Rather enjoy a very interesting story about one man's view of what might be. And if you're not interested in a thoughtful, introspective ride, there's always Seinfeld reruns.
|
|
|
Ratmammy (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-02 00:00>
Such a small book but what a big message it sends to the reader. The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom is the follow up novel to his very popular Tueadays With Morrie. Both have similar themes - living and dying - but heaven takes on a different approach.
The book starts right off with the reader knowing that Eddie is about to die. He's a simple man, worked nearly his entire life for the beachside amusement park called Ruby's Pier, and spent his time maintaining all the rides at this park. He's in his 80's, lives alone and has lived alone for quite a long time. He talks about his dearly beloved Marguerite, but his co-workers have never met her. Basically, outside of the children that come to the pier and his coworkers, Eddie is alone in the world.
Eddie's life flashes before our eyes, the years rolling by as we see him "celebrating" one birthday after another. These birthday scenes are significant, showing us what Eddie's life was all about, from the time he was five years old, till many years later in his old age. At the same time, we also watch his death, how his co-workers react to it, and the preparations that take place for the funeral.
The third story line is what happens after Eddie dies. He is taken to what he thinks is heaven, and before he can "pass", he is to meet five people that he made some important difference in their lives. He doesn't even know some of these people. But as their stories unfold, Eddie finds out why they were chosen to be his five people, how he touched their lives, and yet he cannot see why his life was so important, to them or to anyone. Not until he meets that last person, the fifth person in heaven.
For that is how Eddie lived his life. He feels that his life was unimportant; that it meant nothing whatsoever to anyone. He feels his life was a waste and that he probably wishes he had done things differently.
Without giving much of the story away (for this is a very short book), the moral of The Five People You Meet In Heaven is this, and Albom did an excellent job at getting to this point: NO person is unimportant on this earth. We are all here for a reason, for a purpose, even though it may be so small that it is hard to see. In Albom's heaven, every person who has died meets their five people, and through these five people, they learn the significance of their lives on earth. Even Eddie learns the meaning of his life, and it is far more significant than he could ever have imagined.
It is needless for me to say that I am going to probably give The Five People You Meet In Heaven the number one spot for books read in 2003. It has an important message for all of us, and was written in such a way that it should make a big impact on anyone that reads the book and understands the message. Mitch Albom once again has written a classic, and it will be enjoyed by many for years to come.
|
|
|
|
1 2 | Total 2 pages 12 items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
