If you enjoy reading mainstream literature, you will likely have heard of Mitch Albom, the internationally acclaimed author of Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and For One More Day.
Albom’s most recent novel, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, tells the story of a group of people who survive an explosion on a luxury yacht and end up in a lifeboat together in the middle of a shark-infested sea. After three days adrift and with dwindling hopes of being rescued, they find a man floating in the surf and bring him on board.
“Thank the Lord we found you,” a passenger says.
“I am the Lord,” the man whispers.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. This sounds like a religious story, and that’s not really my thing. But hear me out. I didn’t think it was my thing, either–that is, until I started reading Mitch Albom’s books.
Yes, faith and spirituality run thick in Albom’s stories. It’s what he’s known for. He has an uncanny ability to get right inside your soul and get you thinking about big-picture stuff like the universe and the meaning of life and what happens after we die. But in the end, his stories all come down to one key theme: Love.
And love is a concept we can all relate to.
That’s why I think Albom’s stories speak to such a wide audience. In fact, in my own circles, I’ve witnessed a whole gamut of readers who enjoy Albom’s books, from staunch Catholics to people with agnostic views on religion right down to a couple of self-described atheists.
But take this for what it’s worth. As you can tell, I’m a passionate fan.
Anyway, let’s get on with it. Over the years, I’ve curated a long list of inspirational quotes from Albom’s books, and with Valentine’s Day approaching, I figured it would be a good time to share my top ten favorites about love from this author. Enjoy!
Tuesdays with Morrie
“Without love, we are birds with broken wings.”
“Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.”
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
“Lost love is still love…It takes a different form, that’s all. You can’t see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.”
For One More Day
“Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back.”
“One day spent with someone you love can change everything.”
“I also believe that parents, if they love you, will hold you up safely, above their swirling waters, and sometimes that means you’ll never know what they endured, and you may treat them unkindly, in a way you otherwise wouldn’t.”
“When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.”
The First Phone Call from Heaven
“If you find one true friend in life, you’re richer than most. If that one true friend is your husband, you’re blessed.”
“Sometimes, love brings you together even as life keeps you apart.”
The Next Person You Meet in Heaven
“First loves often remain in the heart, like plants that cannot grow in sunlight.”
Beautiful, right? And these are just the ones pertaining to love. Albom’s books are full of thought-provoking ideas about spirituality, faith, hope, loss, grief, time, life, and death.
Oh, and one more thing. During my research for this article, I learned this author recently tackled an interesting side project: an eight-part series that he wrote in real-time, one week at a time, near the beginning of the pandemic. It’s called Human Touch. The story follows four families in a Michigan neighborhood and how they navigate the “new normal” of the world as it begins shutting down.
You can find Human Touch on the author’s website for free.
Are you a Mitch Albom fan? Did I miss any great quotes on this list? What’s your favorite book from this author? Drop me a comment below or send a message. Don’t be shy. I love hearing from my readers!