The Five People You Meet In Heaven

From the author of the "New York Times" bestseller "Tuesdays with Morrie" comes a novel that explores the unexpected connections of listeners lives and the idea that heaven is more than a place--it''s an answer. Abridged.

Mitch Albom was born in 1958 in Philadelphia. He graduated from Brandeis University with a sociology major and earned his Master's Degrees in journalism and business administration from Columbia University in New York City. Albom is a best-selling author, nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist for the Detroit Free Press, nationally-syndicated radio host for ABC and flagship station WJR-AM in Detroit, and television commentator. He is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller "The Five People You Meet in Heaven", and the phenomenal bestseller "Tuesdays With Morrie,". Oprah Winfrey produced a major television movie for ABC based on "Tuesdays With Morrie" that aired in December 1999. The movie was not only the most-watched on any network for that year, it also earned four Emmy Awards in 2000, including those for Best Actor for Jack Lemmon and Best Supporting Actor for Hank Azaria. With more than five million copies now in print, "Tuesdays With Morrie" is also published in 34 countries, in 30 languages, and was a bestseller in Japan, Australia, Brazil, and England. Tuesdays With Morrie has been featured in many national publications, including People Magazine, Life Magazine, TV Guide, and Redbook, and Albom has been featured on several television programs, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC's Today Show, the CBS Early Show, Larry King Live, and the Rosie O'Donnell Show. Albom has also been named #1 Sports Columnist in the Nation by the sports editors of America, the highest honor in his field. He has also received seven first place APSE honors for feature writing. No other columnist has won the APSE award more than once. During his storied career, Albom has received more than 100 writing awards from AP, UPI, Headliners Club, National Sportswriters and Broadcasters Associations as well as having his work appear in numerous national and international publications, such as Sports Illustrated, GQ, Sport, The New York Times, TV Guide, and USA Today Albom also hosts two nationally-syndicated radio talk shows for ABC. He broadcasts from WJR-AM in Detroit, The Mitch Albom Show and The Mitch Albom Show On The Weekend. The Monday Sports Albom, a sports interview program has hosted guests such as President Gerald Ford to Wayne Gretzky to Dennis Rodman. Albom is a panelist on ESPN's Sports Reporters, and he's also a regular contributing commentator to that network. He has been profiled by ABC News, NBC's Today Show, the CBS Early Show, and ESPN's Up Close. Albom has also twice served as a network Olympic commentator, first for ABC's Good Morning, America during the Atlanta Games and most recently for the CBS Early Show from the Games in Sydney, Australia. Albom is an accomplished songwriter and lyricist, having written the song Cookin' For Two for a television movie directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger that aired in the mid-1990's. Most recently, he wrote the lyrics for a song that has just been recorded by singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, with David Crosby on backup vocals and comedian David Letterman contributing some surprise vocals as well. Albom has founded two charities in the metropolitan Detroit area. The Dream Fund, which Albom founded in 1989, allows disadvantaged children to become involved with the arts and A Time To Help, founded in 1998, brings volunteers together once a month to tackle various projects in Detroit, including staffing shelters, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and operating meals on wheels programs for the elderly. Albom serves on the boards of various charities, including CATCH (Caring Athletes Team for Children's and Henry Ford Hospitals), Forgotten Harvest, and Michigan Hospice Organization. In 1999 he was named National Hospice Organization's Man of the Year.