Book summary

Having sold upwards of 30 million copies of his three most popular titles, it is safe to say that Mitch Albom is among the most beloved inspirational writers of our time. But even he was more than a bit daunted when Albert Lewis, an octogenarian rabbi in New Jersey, requested that Albom perform his eulogy, particularly since Lewis was still very much alive. Albom reluctantly agreed to perform the speech, and then set out to get to know the rabbi better, which would seem to be a prerequisite for the job. Meanwhile, in Detroit, Michigan, the city where Albom currently lives, a pastor named Henry Covington was finding out that simple faith and prayer was not enough to keep a crumbling church from scaring away his congregation. Christian churchgoers are sometimes fondly referred to as a flock, but the "sheep" in Henry's church were often joined by other furry creatures--rats. A passing rain storm during the mass might result in a series of surprise baptisms, as the water poured in through holes in the roof. Albom gets involved in the lives of these two remarkable men from opposite ends of various social spectrums, and discovers that their differences pale in comparison to their similarities. As the rabbi prepares for death, and the pastor tries to repair his church, they each rely on their foundations of faith to assure them that their actions have a relevance will which last well beyond their lifetime. Selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Books of 2009.

  "Mitch Albom’s first non-fiction since Tuesdays with Morrie does not disappoint. It starts with a request from his childhood rabbi that Albom deliver his Eulogy. Needing a deeper understanding of the man behind the mission, he is brought back to the world of faith he left behind years ago. Albom also meets a convict turned pastor and soon realizes there are more similarities between Christian and Jewish faith than he thought possible. This is not a book about religion, but about the comfort of finding something to believe in.

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