Mitch Albom

2.1.1. Game attendance error suspension

In 2005, Albom and four editors at the Detroit Free Press were briefly suspended following an error in one of his columns. In a column published on April 3, 2005, Albom stated that two former Michigan State University basketball players, then in the NBA, were in attendance at an NCAA Final Four semifinal game to cheer for their school. Albom had filed the column on his usual Friday deadline, anticipating the players' attendance based on their prior statements. However, the players' plans changed at the last minute, and they did not attend the game. Although Albom was present at the game, he failed to verify the players' presence before the column went to print. The Detroit Free Press also suspended the four editors who had reviewed and approved the column for publication. A subsequent internal investigation found no other similar instances in Albom's past columns but did identify an editorial-wide issue of routinely using unattributed quotes from other sources. Carol Leigh Hutton, the publisher of the Detroit Free Press at the time, later expressed regret regarding the handling of the incident, describing it as a "stupid mistake" that was exploited by critics.

2.2.1. Sports Writing

Albom's first book outside of his column anthologies was Bo: Life, Laughs, and the Lessons of a College Football Legend (1989), an autobiography of football coach Bo Schembechler co-written with the coach. This book became Albom's first The New York Times bestseller. His subsequent book, Fab Five: Basketball, Trash Talk, The American Dream (1993), explored the starting players of the University of Michigan men's basketball team who reached the NCAA championship game in 1992 and 1993. This book also achieved New York Times bestseller status.

2.2.2. Inspirational and Philosophical Works

Albom gained widespread acclaim for his books that delve into profound themes of life, death, faith, and human connection, transforming his career into that of an inspirational author.

Tuesdays with Morrie
Albom's breakthrough book, Tuesdays with Morrie, originated from a television viewing experience. In 1995, he watched an interview with his former sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, on ABC News' Nightline, in which Schwartz discussed his experiences living and dying with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Feeling regretful for not having maintained contact with Schwartz since his college days at Brandeis University, Albom reconnected with his mentor. He began visiting Schwartz at his home in suburban Boston, eventually establishing a routine of weekly Tuesday discussions about life and death.

Seeking a way to help cover Schwartz's mounting medical expenses, Albom decided to write a book based on their conversations and sought a publisher. Although initially rejected by numerous publishing houses, Doubleday accepted the proposal shortly before Schwartz's death, allowing Albom to fulfill his wish of contributing to his former professor's medical bills. Tuesdays with Morrie was published in 1997 with an initial printing of 20 K copies. Through word-of-mouth and a brief appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, the book's sales steadily increased, earning it a spot on The New York Times Best Seller list in October 1997. It climbed to the number-one position six months later and remained on the list for an impressive 205 weeks. Recognized as one of the top-selling memoirs of all time, Tuesdays with Morrie has sold over 20 M copies and has been translated into 45 languages. On November 22, 2005, Albom was the sole and final guest on Ted Koppel's farewell appearance on ABC's Nightline, where they discussed the legacy of the broadcasts with Morrie Schwartz and Albom's book.

Oprah Winfrey produced a television movie adaptation of Tuesdays with Morrie for ABC in 1999, starring Hank Azaria as Albom and Jack Lemmon as Morrie. The film was the most-watched TV movie of 1999 and received four Emmy Awards. During his acceptance speech for Best Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries at the 52nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Jack Lemmon personally thanked Albom for his role in the project, which would be Lemmon's final major acting role. The book is widely used as educational material in high schools and universities worldwide, and its concise writing has led to its use in elementary schools in Asia. From the book's proceeds, Albom established the Tuesdays with Morrie Fund to support various charitable initiatives.

Have a Little Faith
Released on September 29, 2009, through Hyperion publishing, Have a Little Faith marked Albom's return to nonfiction after a decade. The book recounts his experiences that led him to write the eulogy for Albert L. Lewis, a rabbi from his hometown in New Jersey. Written in a similar style to Tuesdays with Morrie, the narrative follows Mitch's heartfelt conversations with the Rabbi, which reawakened his own sense of faith. This journey led him to connect with Henry Covington, an African-American pastor of the "I Am My Brother's Keeper" church in Detroit. Covington, a former drug addict, dealer, and ex-convict, ministered to a congregation primarily composed of homeless individuals in a church so impoverished that its roof leaked during rain. Through his relationships with these two distinct men of faith, Albom explores the transformative power of faith in the world. On November 27, 2011, ABC aired a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie based on the book.

2.2.3. Novels

Albom has also achieved significant success with his fictional works, which often explore themes of destiny, loss, and the afterlife.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Following the success of Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom published his first fiction book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, in September 2003 through Hyperion Books. It quickly became a New York Times Best Seller, selling over 10 M copies across 38 territories and translated into 35 languages. In 2004, it was adapted into a television movie for ABC, starring Jon Voight, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Imperioli, and Jeff Daniels. Directed by Lloyd Kramer, the film received critical acclaim and was the most-watched TV movie of the year, attracting 18.7 M viewers.

For One More Day
Albom's second novel, For One More Day, was published in 2006 by Hyperion. The story centers on Charley "Chick" Benetto, a retired baseball player who, grappling with unrealized dreams, alcoholism, divorce, and estrangement from his adult daughter, attempts suicide. He returns to his childhood home and encounters his long-deceased mother, who greets him as if nothing has changed. The book explores the poignant question: "What would you do if you had one more day with someone you've lost?" The hardcover edition spent nine months on The New York Times Best Seller list, debuting at the top spot, and also reached No. 1 on the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. It has been translated into 26 languages. In the fall of 2006, it was the first book sold by Starbucks as part of their Book Break Program. On December 9, 2007, ABC television aired the two-hour movie Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day, starring Michael Imperioli and Ellen Burstyn, with Burstyn receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her performance as Posey Benetto. Albom has stated that his relationship with his own mother significantly influenced the story, and several incidents in the novel are based on actual events from his childhood.

The Time Keeper
Albom's novel, The Time Keeper, was published in September 2012.

The First Phone Call from Heaven
In 2013, Albom transitioned to a new publisher, HarperCollins, for his seventh book and fourth novel, The First Phone Call From Heaven. The narrative focuses on the small, fictional town of Coldwater, Michigan, which is thrust into international attention when its residents begin receiving phone calls from their deceased loved ones. The central mystery revolves around whether these calls are a miracle or an elaborate hoax, which a grief-stricken single father and recently released prisoner, Sully Harding, is determined to uncover. The book received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
Albom's fifth novel, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, was published by HarperCollins in 2015. At nearly 400 pages, it is his longest book, chronicling the life and mysterious death of the fictional musician Frankie Presto, as narrated by the voice of Music itself. Born an orphan in a burning church in Spain in 1936, Frankie is blessed with extraordinary musical ability. At nine years old, he is sent to America, carrying only an old guitar and six precious strings. His journey, reminiscent of Forrest Gump, takes him through the vibrant musical landscape of the 20th century, from classical and jazz to rock and roll superstardom, where he encounters and collaborates with musical legends such as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carole King, Little Richard, and The Beatles. Real musicians, including Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Stanley, Darlene Love, and Ingrid Michaelson, contributed their names to first-person passages within the book. An original 17-song soundtrack for the novel, featuring original compositions by Albom and other artists like Sawyer Fredericks, Mat Kearney, Ingrid Michaelson, John Pizzarelli, and James Brent, was released by Republic Records. The soundtrack interpreted Frankie Presto's "greatest hits" and included older favorites featured in the novel, such as Tony Bennett's "Lost in the Stars" and Dionne Warwick's "A House is Not a Home."

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven
A sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Albom's novel The Next Person You Meet in Heaven tells the story of Eddie's heavenly reunion with Annie, the little girl he saved on Earth in the first book. The narrative strongly emphasizes the intricate ways lives and losses intersect, conveying the message that every life matters and every ending signifies a new beginning. The book debuted at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list.

Finding Chika
This book marked Albom's return to nonfiction after a decade. Finding Chika is a memoir and a heartfelt tribute to Chika Jeune, a young Haitian orphan who came to Albom's Have Faith Haiti Orphanage in Port-au-Prince. Chika was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and, after a two-year battle, passed away at the age of seven in 2017. An excerpt from the book was read by Albom on the Lit Hub/Podglomerate Storybound podcast, accompanied by an original score from musician Maiah Wynne.

The Stranger in the Lifeboat
Albom's seventh novel, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, was published on November 2, 2021, in the United States by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, and by Sphere, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group in the United Kingdom. The book became a #1 New York Times Best Seller in its first week of sales.

The Little Liar
The Little Liar was published on November 14, 2023, by HarperCollins. The book peaked at #5 on The New York Times Best Sellers list on December 3, 2023. This historical fiction novel follows Nico, an eleven-year-old boy during Germany's occupation of Greece in World War II.

2.2.4. Nonfiction and Memoirs

Albom's nonfiction works, including personal memoirs, are rooted in real-life experiences and observations, often blending personal narrative with philosophical inquiry. Tuesdays with Morrie and Have a Little Faith are prime examples of his impactful nonfiction. Finding Chika is another significant memoir, detailing his personal journey with his adopted daughter.