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Tuesdays with Morrie Essay

Decent Essays

Cassandra Stephens December 3, 2012 Psy. 120- Book Review Professor Dr. Priebe Summary: Tuesdays with Morrie, was based on a true story about friendship and lessons learned. It’s about a sports writer, Mitch and former sociology professor, Morrie, who is in his last days of life after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their rekindled relationship after many years. They first met on the campus grounds at Brandeis University. This never forgotten relationship was simply picked back up at a crucial time in both Mitch’s and Morrie’s life. After seeing his professor in an interview on the show “Nightline”, Mitch is reminded of a promise he made sixteen years earlier to keep in touch. Since the airing of that …show more content…

The most significant of them all was dealing with ALS. ALS is a painful disease that attacks the muscles. Due to this disease he was unable to do the things he loved (dancing) and eventually daily activities (we often take for granted). He loses the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). These include preparing meals, managing finances, going to work, and so on. He also lost his ability to do activities of daily living (ADLs), which include: eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and being able to get in and out of a bed or chair (Steinberg, p. 554). A prime example of his lost of ADLs was when he could no longer wipe his bottom. Yet, another is when he talks about him needing assistance with his swim wear; as a result his privacy being lost. In addition to the complications that occur with the disease, the book also mentions signs of the primary aging process (gray hair). Regardless of his failing health he found happiness, joy and even humor in it all and until the end. In the book, Morrie is in his last stage of development, integrity vs. despair. Erikson believed each period in life was a struggle between two opposing factors. He regarded this psychosocial crisis in later life as integrity vs. despair. Due to the increased declines and losses that occur in this stage, it is easy for many to resort to despair. However, the challenge is to achieve and maintain integrity, which can be done by accepting the past,

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