The Meaning of Life

The book has a clear thread, using the last weeks of Murray's life to reveal the wise old man's understanding of a few key words of life. If one has a weak imagination and cannot imagine the coming of death, Murray's own experience provides a concrete example for a deeper understanding of the wisdom of life based on compassion for the protagonist.

At the end of his life, the student asked Professor Murray how he would like to spend a perfect day if he had a healthy 24 hours. The professor replied simply, "Let me see... Get up in the morning, do some exercise, and have a nice breakfast of sweet rolls and tea. Then we go swimming, we invite friends to lunch -- I invite them one or two at a time -- so we can talk about their families, their problems, their friendships."

"Then I'll go for a walk in the park, see the colors, see the beautiful birds, and enjoy the nature I haven't seen for a long time.In the evening, we'd go to a restaurant and have some really good pasta or maybe duck -- I love duck -- and then we'd dance the rest of the time. I would dance with everyone until I was exhausted. Then go home and have a good night's sleep."

You see, we don't really need that much. A perfect day might mean eating a nutritious and delicious breakfast, spending time with friends and family, enjoying nature, doing something we're truly passionate about, and finally getting a good night's sleep. It's not about money, it's not about glory, it's not about status, it's not about big houses, fancy cars, designer clothes and bags. All we need is to truly give and feel love. This is the meaning of life.

"To love or to die," I think, means that as long as you are giving love and feeling love, you are truly living. Because professor Murray says: "Death ends the life, but not the relationship.

Below is my review of the book.

The novel also has two threads, parallel to the author's own situation and memories of his college years. On the one hand, it shows that Murray's philosophy of life is practiced, he not only thinks so, but also does so. On the other hand, it introduces the changes of the author's three views in his student and working days, and his situation is also a common problem in the society at that time. Then, it guides the readers to think through the different attitudes towards life between the author and Murray. So the whole book has been interwoven horizontally and longitudinally, reading will not be monotonous.

The author and Murray discuss all the life issues that confuse everyone. Death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, tolerance, a meaningful life. These are questions that many people go through life not wanting to think about with a single nerve. These are questions that many people refuse to think about for reasons as simple as not having enough time. These are the questions that make many of us wonder on our deathbeds why we are so afraid of what is about to be the most natural and fair final step in life. So, this is a book for young people. To keep them from feeling empty after they've been busy for most of their lives. So, this is a book for middle-aged people. To show them that no matter how much life has passed, it is never "too late" to refuse to change. So, this is a book for old people. So that they can cherish their last moments and be as peaceful as the professor at the end of their lives.

But how could such a small book possibly explain such a big topic of life thoroughly? But as long as it gets you started or going, it's a good book. Maybe the professor thinks the same way.

2022-05-15

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