The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Rating:
Summary: It's OK
Review: It was an interesting read, I found that I really wasn't impressed by the book. This book reminded me of the book What Dreams May Come, which I felt was a much better work.

Rating:
Summary: No man's life is insignificant
Review: I read this book in less than four hours at jury duty. It is written in sections that are very quick to read through and easy to go back to locate specific passages and events. Mitch Albom teaches us that no life is insignificant and that when existence on this earthly plane ends, an understanding of and reconciliation with life's mysteries comes at last. I'm sure he could have had seven, or ten, or twenty people to meet in heaven, but kept it to five for whatever reason. The book reminds us that things aren't always what they appear to be and that perception is an individual matter. There are many small pearls of wisdom in this book and it is certainly worth repeated reading. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who may feel as though their life does not make a difference in this world, as well as to those who think a lot of "other" people in this world are insignificant. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts it's made of. This novel is wonderful! Also I'd like to recommend Tuesdays with Morrie by Albom, and another peculiar novel, The Loser' Club by Richard Perez.

Rating:
Summary: This made me want to read
Review: I have never liked reading but when I purchased this book I couldn't put it down!! I had finished it in 3 days. It is an incredible story about life after death. If you don't like to read this book with make you a reader. Everyone should read this book!!!!

Rating:
Summary: OK, not great, as it lacks the realness of Morrie
Review: Albom is a newspaper man, and his best work has been non-fiction, with "Tuesday's with Morrie" as the apex so far. In his previous books and columns he has shown great talent in connecting the reader with real people through reflection of simple, yet very powerful, emotion. Even the most cynical make that connection because we know that the conclusions about living, loving, and the lessons of life are based on a real person, not a creation of the author.

Unfortunately, the realness of Morrie is missing in Eddie, the lead character of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven", and the book suffers for it. The experiences of Eddie, especially his WWII service in the Pacific, seem a little far-fetched (I mean, really, how many POWs, after being brutalized, starved for months, and forced to dig coal, ended up overpowering their captors and then burned villages on the way to being rescued?). Without a strong link to reality, Eddie never becomes the star of the story -- the skeptical reader remains aware that he is a conduit for Albom's imagination. And that makes this an OK, but not great, book. Imagine reading "All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" without having gone to Kindergarten -- and you'll get the idea.

Rating:
Summary: Not the Best Map of Heaven
Review: For a light reminder of life's spiritual mirror, The Five People You Meet in Heaven represents a great introduction into the world of spirituality, and life after death, and how our lives all have a purpose. When you are ready to go deeper, read the near-death, purpose stories by Betty Eadie (embraced by the light)or Tiffany Snow (psychic gifts). These highlight the deeper Spiritual things, and a look into heaven itself.Indulge yourself! Continue on the path to be a higher intelligence in the universe! The world needs it, doesn't it?

Rating:
Summary: JUDGE IT FOR WHAT IT IS
Review: You need to judge "THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN" for what it is, a book. It is unfair to judge it as a fact-finding prophecy about the laws of Heaven. It's not. It's a book. "OH GOD" with George Burns was not an analysis of God either. It was a movie. They are for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES!

Beyond that, you also need to judge "THE FIVE PEOPE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN" as a book unto itself. It is difficult to compare it to books like "SECRET LIFE OF BEES" or "MY FRACTURED LIFE" because despite the fact they are all great books, they are all individual and unique books and should be read and judged individually.

Of them, "THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN" is touching. I personally learned some things about myself not because the book told me things about myself but because it inspired me to look inside myself in different ways. That is what good books do. "SECRET LIFE OF BEES" and "MY FRACTURED LIFE" both made me look inside myself too, but in entirely different ways. There is no law that we must apply what we read or reflect on life's lessons. It is what we are inspired to do when a writer touches a chord we can relate to.

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Little Fable
Review: I loved this book. It was sad, and at times dark, but beautifully written. It will touch your heart.

Rating:
Summary: So many people in similar situations
Review: Have a box of kleenex close at hand when reading. This novel contains a line which will resonate with many readers. It's at the end of the fourth lesson when Eddie is asked about God. See if you can figure out which it is.
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Rating:
Summary: as deep as a puddle
Review: If you are looking for something to make you think, to make you laugh, to make you cry... keep looking. If you have even once thought about why you are here and for what purpose (higher or otherwise), then you don't need to read this book. Depth-free zone.

Rating:
Summary: On heaven...
Review: If heaven turns out to be how Mr. Albom describes it, definitely I don't want to go to heaven. I've had many thoughts on what heaven can be, but never crossed the thought that I would have to reach heaven to fill myself with more regrets and guilts than those I left this life with. I have the conviction that we must try to become the best out of ourselves in this life, that we truly should be committed to this; but to reach heaven to meet people I never met in this life and be filled with remorse and guilt exceeds all my expectations.
Having read "Tuesdays with Morrie", which is definitely an inspiration of love and a 'must read' to everyone, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is a most discouraging one.