Review of novel The Five People You meet in Heaven

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Review and Reflection : Mitch Albom 's "the five people you meet in heaven

Mitch Albom 's book "the five people you meet in heaven (2003 ) relates the story of Eddie , Ruby Pier Carnival 's maintenance guy . Eighty-three year Eddie dies on the very day of his birthday after a severed cart from one of the carnival rides fell on him even as he attempted to save a young girl who was directly under the wayward cart 's descent path . The book relates Eddie 's experiences after his death

mingled with some memories from Eddie 's life and birthdays of years past

In reading the stories shared by the five people Eddie met in his journey to heaven makes one question the self-centeredness that prevails among living humans . So often we are caught up in our own lives thoughts and experiences that we fail or forget to look at other people and how our actions may be affecting them . Introspection and self-analysis seem to be key points in Albom 's story

I found it interesting that Albom presented a concept of individual and personalized heavens . Often people think heaven is made up of fluffy clouds and harp toting angels . The concept that heaven is a personal place is striking . In daily lives we hear people saying how a soft bed after a hard day at work is "heavenly " A lover 's arms , is also heaven A comfortable and familiar place where one can be one 's self is also heaven . These and more interpretations of what "heaven " is are represented in the book

What also struck me is how the story reflects how a person can easily forget and take for granted what their experience and their lives . Eddie continually compares his "lowly job " as a Ruby Pier 's maintenance guy to his brother Joe 's highly paid sales job . A lot of people are prone to doing that in real life , judging their worth in terms of dollars and cents . An example of this would be the estate lawyer who on visiting Eddie 's tidy but frugal apartment felt grateful for his "portfolio of stocks , bonds , and a vested retirement plan (Albom 178

Perspectives . People often have varying perspectives or views of things . Self worth , occupation , ideals are just a few things that people more often than not differ in perspectives

For example , Eddie as Eddie "Maintenance " can be viewed many ways . He can be the low paid fair grounds worker , the guy who entertains kids with his washer animals , the old man who gets everybody working at the carnival , the devoted husband , or the wounded army veteran . He is also the man in charge of keeping everybody safe on their day of frolic and fun at the carnival

It is so easy to take one 's worth and actions for granted . We are all so absorbed with our personal affairs that we often fail to take a longer look and assessment of everything that is...