One Sentence Summary
“For One More Day” is a heartwarming novel about a man who gets the chance to spend one more day with his deceased mother, learning valuable lessons about life and forgiveness.
Book Genre
- Fiction
- Self-Help
- Inspirational
Main Topic of the Book
- Family
- Loss
- Redemption
- Second Chances
Key Ideas
- The power of forgiveness and reconciliation with loved ones.
- The emotional and psychological impact of loss on individuals and families.
- The importance of cherishing the time we have with loved ones.
- Finding meaning and purpose in life through family relationships.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
Part One: Introduction to the main character, Charley “Chick” Benetto, who is in a downward spiral after losing his job, his wife, and the hope of ever reconciling with his daughter. On his lowest night, Chick drives to his hometown and attempts suicide, but instead finds himself back in his childhood home with his deceased mother.
Part Two: Chick spends the day with his mother, reliving memories and having conversations that he never had the chance to have before she passed away. He begins to understand her perspective on life and the sacrifices she made for her family.
Part Three: Chick gets the opportunity to go back to a pivotal moment in his childhood where he blames himself for his father leaving. He is able to see the event from his mother’s point of view and learns the truth about what really happened.
Part Four: With a newfound appreciation for his mother and a new perspective on his own life, Chick is able to make peace with his past mistakes and find redemption in the present.
Key Takeaways
- Cherish your family and the time you have with them.
- Forgiveness is a powerful tool for healing and moving on from past regrets.
- Small moments and memories can hold great significance in our lives.
- Our perception of events can be influenced by our own biases and emotions.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Mitch Albom is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and playwright. He is best known for his international bestseller “Tuesdays with Morrie,” a non-fiction book about his conversations with his former professor who was battling ALS. Albom has written several other popular novels, including “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and “The Time Keeper.” He often incorporates themes of loss, forgiveness, and the importance of relationships in his writing.
Target Audience
“For One More Day” is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, but it particularly resonates with those who have experienced loss of a loved one and are grappling with feelings of regret and longing for one more chance to make things right. It is also a powerful read for anyone seeking insight and inspiration on how to live a meaningful life.
Publisher and First Publication Date
“For One More Day” was published by Hyperion Books on September 26, 2006.