The author of Tuesday's With Morrie, Mitch Albom, expressed a theme about life that you have to learn how to die before you learn how to live. This book is worth your time to read, because it teaches important lessons about the world such as feeling sorry for yourself, regrets, family, and much more. The most important lesson in this book was about death.

The main character, Morrie was a college professor who taught a class every semester. Near the end of the school year, he got sick and most of his students left the class. By the end of the semester, he could not do many things on his own and had to depend on others to help him with what he could not do by himself. He did not feel sorry for himself because he knew that he was going to die. He wanted to make the best of what was going to happen. This is a great example of how we should never feel sorry for ourselves because there is always someone who is in a position that is worse than ours. Morrie taught what he thought was his last class in the late spring of 1979.

Mitch Albom, one of Morrie’s former students, came and visited Morrie when he found out Morrie was sick. When Mitch pulled up in his car in front of Morrie’s house, Morrie automatically knew who Mitch was. This shows that some people, who create a big impact on our life, stay in our mind and heart forever. From Mitch’s initial visit on, Mitch spent time with Morrie every Tuesday and Morrie held more classes with just this one student. Morrie taught Mitch the same lessons he had taught for years in his college classroom but now these classes were conducted in his living room.

Morrie was always happy and had a good attitude all the time. One of the ways this is shown is when the local news came to interview Morrie, one of the questions asked was, “How will you give when you can no longer speak?” Morrie then answered by saying, “Maybe I’ll have everyone ask me yes or no questions.” This book will hopefully motivate everyone to live their life like Morrie’s, happy and enjoying every moment.

This book review was written by Katie Erickson. 

If you choose to pick up and read a copy of Kodo Ancient Ways, written by Kensho Furuya, master aikidoist, be prepared to read and then ponder.  Each chapter or short section is a sharing of the author’s ideas and insights into the ancient wisdom within the practice of the martial arts. He touches on many of the common topics such as what the bamboo plant symbolizes and what it means to become a black belt, but he also touches on topics such as modern day training in the martial arts and what this means to the traditional ways of teaching.  This book could be viewed as an easy read, because the language is easy to understand and the sections are short but if you only read the words you will miss the greater meaning within the book.  Kensho Furuya leaves many of his sections open to interpretation because the true wisdom and understanding will occur when you, the reader, take the time to ponder the words on the pages and then apply it to your life and your practice.  If you undertake this book you will have the opportunity to learn some of the ancient traditions and wisdom within the martial arts and enjoy the modern day applications that we as martial artists are continually striving for.

Living the Martial Way written by Forrest E. Morgan, Maj USAF takes the philosophy of the martial arts and the warrior’s mentality and transforms it into modern day applications and lessons.  Living the Martial Way explores the traditions behind the ancient martial arts, their evolution in to modern times, the lessons learned from the warriors that have come before us and how to take these lessons and convert them into meaningful action within your life.  

The book begins by introducing you to what the martial arts are, and why one might practice them today. It then moves on to describe warrior training including the concepts of strategy and ki energy. Next, the book introduces the true concept of honor and how one can put honor into action. Then, it ties all these concepts together to give you a template of how to live your life as a modern day warrior.

By the end of this book you will have a deeper understanding for what it means to live a warrior's life and you will be armed with a template of how to implement warriorship within your life. If you are looking to be motivated to take your martial art from simply a physical practice or hobby to expanding into Living the Way, Living the Martial Way will help you to begin the next step in your journey.

The Art of Humane Living written by Dr. Michael R. Foley takes the practice of the martial arts and applies it to your personal life journey.  With each chapter you will be introduced to a new concept beginning with living in the present moment, and progressing through the process of understanding ourselves, resolving conflict, and ultimately sharing the gifts you have been given with others. 

Dr. Foley is a sixth degree black belt (Yuk Dan) in the martial art of Tang Soo Do.  He is currently the director, founder and Chief Instructor (Sa Bum Nim) of The Center for Humane Living which is a non-for-profit organization located within the greater Phoenix area.  The Center for Humane Living’s mission is to inspire all people to live more peaceful and compassionate lives.  The mission of The Center for Humane Living is accomplished utilizing an innovative approach to martial arts instruction and the philosophical wisdom of martial artists past and present.

In class, Dr. Foley often utilizes the lessons outlined in his book as a way to link the physical art with the spiritual practice of the martial arts enriching the learning experience.  Even if you do not practice the martial arts, it is an excellent book for anyone who wants to be introduced to the basis for conflict and aggression and most effective methods of resolving both internal and external conflict.  Furthermore, it teaches and inspires each of us to become an instrument for the propagation of peaceful living throughout the world.

If you are interested in Dr. Foley's book please contact The Center for Humane Living or e-mail us at webmaster@kiinspiringthoughts.com.

Character is Destiny written by Senator John McCain is a compilation of short stories all directed at inspiring character development. Each story is focused around an ideal or personal characteristic that the subject of the story embodied. The individuals within these short stories range from historical figures such as, Joan of Arc to the more modern day hero Pat Tillman. Any individual, any age, would benefit from reading this book. If you have children reading this book together would be an excellent way to share the stories it contains. Although, some of the stories may be more advanced for younger readers, the short stories can be used as a spring board for a larger discussion of these values and how each of us can live by them.

Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success by Coach John Wooden is a wonderfully written children’s book. Inch and Miles the two main characters are given an assignment by their teacher Mr. Wooden to discover the true meaning of success. Along their journey they are helped by varying animal friends, each one of which possess one of the characteristics that makes up Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Through their adventure Inch and Miles find out that it’s not the trophies or the toys, how many friends you have or how cool they are that makes you successful. Success is simply being the best YOU, you can be. This story is fun, the illustrations colorful and entertaining but the message is universal and a wonderful springboard for conversations about what it means to truly be successful and what the real recipe for personal success. This book is most certainly one to add to your library. I believe my seven year old put it best when she saw I had bought this book, “Inch and Miles? I love this book. I have read it at karate. Can we read it right now?” ABSOLUTELY!