Have A Little Faith, Mitch Albom

Images-1 For this trip, I brought the kindle.  After years of bringing just an extra bag for books, the kindle is a god send.  I downloaded 4 books before leaving figuring that was ample as was in the middle of a paperback already.  Finished the paperback and moved on to Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I didn't realize it until I was quite into this page turning story that Mitch Albom is the person who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.  2 books for whatever reason, I never had any interest in reading.  I might have to go back and rethink that.

Religion, has never come easy to me.  I have very mixed feelings about it.  On one hand, I believe it is important to have some type of religion in your life possibly to have a connection to the past or just because a little spirituality isn't a bad thing.  But, I have always questioned God. 

This particular book is a true story.  Albom was asked by his childhood rabbi to write his eulogy and give it when he dies.  Something that Albom thought was a 2/3 week assignment ended up taking place over 8 years.  The rabbi had a strong constitution.  The book is an intellectual journey about belief for Albom.  Over the course of his relationship with the rabbi he becomes involved with a homeless charity as through his meetings with the rabbi, Albom feels a need to give back to the community he lives in.  He ends up meeting a priest in the inner city of Detroit where he lives.  A total drug addict who hit rock bottom and became a priest.  Albom questions both the rabbi and the priest about their connection to God and faith.  He asked many questions I have found myself asking.  What is most interesting is the answers given by 2 completely different men of God. 

Regardless if you have faith or you don't, this is a book that should be read.  An intellectual journey about faith.  I cried through many parts of the book.  It is moving, it is thought provoking and it captures the essence of human life. 

I loved the book. 

 

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Comments (Archived):

  1. Natacha

    Joanne, I loved, loved, loved this book! I am just like you in my thoughts about religion and the many unanswered questions which is why I think this book had such an impact on me. I cried and laughed through this book, my friends are tired of hearing me speak about this book, but more importantly, it reconfirmed my belief in the power of community. Favorite line: I believe in hope.

    1. Natacha

      I forgot to mention, I have read all of Mitch Albom’s books, and loved them all.

  2. cookiemoo

    Thanks for the review, Joanne. Somehow I missed knowing about this book. I read his other two and loved them.When I was 11, my father died. I wondered how God could be so mean and cruel. Years later I read Rabbi Harold Kushner’s book “When bad things happen to good people”. I came to the same conclusion as Kushner – God cries WITH us when we are hurt. Wow, what a revelation! God is good. God is not the God of anger and retribution. It started me questioning my religion (Jewish). And through a lot of reading I have come to adopt a more new-age philosophy. Religion exists to bring people to a more spiritual place. That is the reason for all religions. Everyone has a different path to get to that place. At this time, my Jewishness remains in the form of traditions – holidays, food, and I light Sabbath candles to connect to and have a dialog with God, not because I am mandated to. Sorry for the rambling. You touched a cord.

    1. Gotham Gal

      You should absolutely read this book. It will touch a big cord.joanne [email protected]

  3. cookiemoo

    Just got finished sending it to my kindle 🙂

  4. Yoga for Corporate

    I loved The Five People You Meet In Heaven. Tuesdays with Morrie was just ok, as the malicious devil in me thought of the student and his dying teacher as bisexuals.

    1. Gotham Gal

      Good to know. i will pick up the Five People firstjoanne [email protected]

  5. leeschneider

    Joanne, interested to hear your thoughts on the Kindle. My wife and I just became a family of Kindles, and so far so good. Yet to travel with it, but I’d imagine it’s great.

    1. Gotham Gal

      Love it for travel. Also, easy reading. I am a big fan of collecting books to pass them on to family. Kind of like being surrounded by old friends. I collect art books of all the exhibits Ive been to too. I doubt I will be an all year round Kindle user but you never say never. But the vacation thing rules.joanne [email protected]