Before I created Bucket List Publications, I was a high school English teacher for 8 years and a university student 
for 7 years before that; my life was littered with books, reading, and writing. I cherished the daily reading time that was built into my class schedule and I loved going to class to discuss a book, new or old. The feel of the pages below my fingers, the look of the written word displayed before me in sentences and paragraphs, and the unlimited world that was created with each new character and setting all came together to drive my passion for reading. I read 100s, maybe 1000s, of books and narrowed my favorite authors down to a handful. Choosing an absolute favorite seemed impossible; with countless genres spanning the history of time, I didn’t think one would rise above the others. Then, one day in class, a student suggested I read “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom and a new love for reading flourished. I read all of his books over and over again; I found ways to incorporate them into the high school curriculum; I suggested them to everyone I knew. I had found my favorite author. Filled with inspiration and creativity, his books are a cherished addition to my collection. His new book, “The Time Keeper”, is Albom’s most imaginative novel yet. Regardless if you read regularly or just on occasion, give the gift of time this Christmas and experience the world through Mitch Albom’s eyes.
It’s hard to imagine a world without time, but that’s where Mitch Albom’s “The Time Keeper” Begins. Dor, Father Time, has a story to tell, a story that traces our obsession with clocks and calendars, dates and hours in the day. Dor is obsessed with time and he’s the first person to count and measure it. He becomes Father Time after he is banished to a cave to be bombarded with all of Earth’s pleas, for more minutes, more hours, more years, more time…. The pleas of two people ring out louder than the rest – Sarah, a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, and Victor, the calculating executive who believes he’s found a way to cheat time. The three characters blur the lines of time and teach us the importance of it.
Albom writes, “Man alone measures time… and, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.” Like “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”, Albom takes a simple concept and creates a story that is powerful and filled with sadness, thoughtfulness, and ultimate beauty. Albom seems to get what is truly important in life.
One quote resonated with me and and made me reflect on my time: “The true value of time is that you’ve got to make your decisions in each day count, otherwise you could live forever and it won’t make much difference.”
What did you do with your time today?
GIVEAWAY
Would you like the gift of time this holiday season? Like Bucket List Publications on Facebook and leave a quote about time or like this post and leave a quote about time below. One winner will be selected per day for 5 days. I’ll contact one winner per day, starting on December 18th, and send you “The Time Keeper” in hard cover.
***Limited to North American addresses for shipping purposes***
Bucket List Publications 
Mitch Albom has a talk show here in the Detroit area on WJR 760AM weekdays. He has done some wonderful things for the people of Detroit including churches. He also visits Haiti for humanitarian work. Good guy. A little too far left for me, but a good man. 😉
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My ninth grade mathematics teacher used to say, every time she put a test before us was this:
“Time is a precious commodity. Once wasted it can never be regained.”
I love books too.
Jeremy
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I love to read as well and Mitch is a very good writer. I will have to download this book and read it.
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That sounds like a book I would love to read! My favorite time quote is a little removed: it’s the paraphrasing of Faulkner by Dale from The Walking Dead: “I like what, uh, a father said to son when he give him a watch that had been handed down through generations. He said ‘I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire, which will fit your individual needs no better than it did mine or my father’s before me, I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you may forget it for a moment now and then and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it.'”
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Mitch Albom is awesome. I’ve read his books I was first introduced to him in Tuesdays with Morrie, and it’s still my favorite book of his. He’s a great writer! Great.
I’m a sports enthusiast so my quote is from the great John Wooden. I’m a USC fan but he was still a great coach and motivational speaker and it applies to life as well 🙂 One of my favorites 🙂
“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” John Wooden
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I love this quote. A patient of mine in the past said it one day and I’ve always remembered it. Didn’t know where it came from. Thanks!
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No worries. It was a great quote. Makes sure you get things done right the first time 🙂
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Lesley,
I’ve been meaning to write and say thank you for supporting my itty bitty blog in wordpress. I joined Pinterest a while back and added this page of yours to my Books board on there. Hope it’s okay with you. They give you instant credit for the contribution!
Hope you get to check out my Pinterest boards when you get a moment out of your adventurous life! You’re an inspiration.
Sincerely,
Marei
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Time is on my side, yes it is
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I woke up really early this morning and I couldn’t get back to sleep so I decided to throw a movie on that I had not watched for quite a while. The movie I put on was Fallen with Denzel Washington. And what is the recurring song being sung within that movie? Yep, Time Is On My Side by The Stones. Needless to say, that song has been stuck in my head for the past hour. And there it is again. 🙂
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Thanks for the info, will have to look for Albom’s latest. Like what you said about the feel and the look of books, I read hard copy books, love how they feel, look and even the smell.
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That last question, “What did you do with your time today,” is so important. If our answer is not a positive one, then we need to examine why and do something about it.
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Sounds like a good book! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out now.
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this may just have to be my next read!
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Thank you for the suggestion. Anything that adds a little inspiration to my life!
“Time is very slow for those who wait
Very fast for those who are scared
very long for those who lament
Very short for those who celebrate
But for those who love time is eternal”
– Shakespeare
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Love that quote!
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I love this quote, thanks.
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Someone gave me that book in high school and I’ve read most of his books since!
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Time is life. Osho says,’past is no more future is not yet only present is present’.
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I have never read any of his books but have always wanted to. I like this quote from the Roman philosopher, Seneca – “Time heals what reason cannot”.
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How wonderful to learn that you, too, are a book lover!
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Tuesdays with Morrie was my favorite but I haven’t read any Albom books recently. Sounds like a good read. “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I have ended up where I needed to be.” Douglas Adams.
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“Real artists ship.” An old saying at Apple Computer, attributed to Steve Jobs, meaning that it is important to actually deliver. In my case, it keeps me diligent with my time and to finish what I started rather getting stuck in a perfectionistic rut. Great post! thanks for this one.
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Mitch Albom is fantastic – growing up in Detroit he was a must read for me and that’s back when he wrote mainly sports. When he branched off into books I was amazed with what he brought forth. I just downloaded the Time Keeper onto my Kindle to read over Christmas – it will be one of the first books I’m going to try to read electronically. Being ‘old school’ I’m still the feel the book type person so we will see how it goes. Thanks for posting – makes me more it excited to dive into it.
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Time waits for no man, or woman.
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Pingback: The Gift of Time « The (Semi-Regular) Roaming Lama
Great post! I wish I spent lots of time reading today, but my spare time was limited with Christmas prep… but…
In my spare time, if I am not reading, I’m writing. If I’m not writing, I’m reading. Maybe that’s why I became a Reading Specialist. Poetry gives me that nostalgic, slow-paced, savoring the moment kind of feeling. Thanks for the post.
Read my blog if you have a moment: mymendingwall.com
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I’ve never read Mitch’s books, but I’ve heard good things about them. “All that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that.” Baltasar Gracian
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Eddy Lives somewhere in time.
It used to be the signature of a virus circa 1990. The virus is long gone but I have retained its memories! I am not even from North America but, hey, I couldn’t resist it!
I liked the concept of the book and may pick it up soon.
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I’ve read every Mitch Albom book…except this one. Would love a copy for Christmas. To quote from his book Have A Little Faith…” As is often the case with faith , I thought I was being asked a favor. In truth I was being given one.”
Even if I dont get the giveaway, I’m going to get this book. Thanks for sharing
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I think in light of the recent events in Connecticut, we are reminded even more how precious our time is with our loved ones.
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I remember when I was fully involved in my quilt phase thinking with panic that I would not have enough years to be able to complete the myriad ideas I had in my head for design and color. It was this stupid panic, this self-absorbed panic that thought my art really contributed something so important to the world that somehow my life would be diminshed without those completed projects. Now I take one day at a time. My expectation of what I can accomplish is more realistic perhaps and more founded in the less trivial. Each moment’s creation, each realtionship, each contribution stands alone on its own, and if I don’t have another moment, I want to know that I did what I could when I could, and that it was enough.
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It simply amazes me how much you and I have led almost point specific lives. I too was a high-school teacher whilst working my way through both undergrad and graduate school for the 10 years prior. Furthermore, I know the rush of teaching, better yet, helping a student become aware of good writing and of course, literature.
There is a film running on cable now called “In Time” with Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake as the leads on both ends. Fascinating story really, insofar as all currency in measured with time.
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for ever event under heaven…a time to give birth and a time to die…A time…” Usually the musical group “The Byrds” get most of the credit — albeit, it is from Ecclesiastes 3:1-10. Thank you for everything and sharing!
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i am glad you suggested this book, as i am always looking for a new read. my favorite quote about time is “EVERYTHING IN TIME”. that quote has gotten through some of my darkest days. When i didn’t achieve a goal, or didn’t accomplish something, i would get bummed. but i had to remember, everything in time. because everything in time will always work out.
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Oh, I want to read this! I’m very sensitive to time because professionally I sell my time in ten minute increments. So I keep track of my time all day, client by client. But even more importantly, I am always working to have time to do the writing I want for me. I also do not allow people to waste my time. I show up promptly for appointments and if people make me wait beyond fifteen minutes, I politely reschedule. My time is too valuable to waste. And I honor others time in the same way.
I love to be surrounded by books, too!
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Both young children and old people have a lot of time on their hands. That’s probably why they get along so well.
Jonathan Carroll
Ps Tuesdays With Morrie was the first Mitch Albom book I read. It is an amazing book, as are the others of his I’ve read. Also, you should look into Jonathan Carroll as well. He is my favorite author. His lastest book, The Ghost In Love is my favorite.
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I read this book recently on a train trip while travelling through England, and it absolutely blew me away! I have loved Mitch Albom for some time, but I agree – out of his novels this one is his best so far! So thought provoking. 🙂
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Pingback: Give the Gift of Time this Christmas: Mitch Albom’s The Time Keeper « A snapshot of my life
Brilliant post you have caught my attention I shall be treating myself to this book. Happy Christmas Lesley thanks for all your support and inspiration this year. Xxxxx
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I loved Tuesday’s with Morrie. Such an inspirational man, such an inspirational story. And The Five People You Meet In Heaven made me cry – in a good way, if there is such a thing. Will definitely check out this book too. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Wonderful book!
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I have yet to read that book. Thanks for giving me the next book on my list.
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“Dost thou love life?
Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”- Benjamin Franklin.
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Time is an interesting thing, sometimes forgiving, sometimes not, but always moving forward, waiting for no one. I think how we use that time given us is reflective of who we are, our values and our perspectives of life. With the recent change in my health status I’ve begun counting the remainder of my time in terms of holidays left and milestones of those I love. Optimistically, and sans some remarkable change in the state of the art of treating my disease, I have three more Thanksgivings and two Christmases. Realistically, I have two more holiday seasons and perhaps two Easters. More importantly, I may fail in my goal of seeing my son graduate from college. So under these constructs, time, despite all efforts to retain attitudinal normalcy, becomes even more valuable.
So, to answer the question, I will use the time given me today, as with that provided me on every new day, to live.
Lifesabstractions
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“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”
– Harvey Mackay
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Great quote and so very true!
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Thank you for sharing this. He sounds like a great author. I always want the book I read to either teach me something new or give me something to contemplate.
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I’d love to read this book. Thank you for the book review.
Time is interesting, we worry too much about the past and future while what is important is the now.
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I have always wanted to read “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” but haven’t picked it up yet. Reading your post makes me want to stop by the bookstore.
“If you judge people, then you have no time to love them.” -Mother Theresa
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I love everything Mitch Albom!
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I somehow tend to associate time in a more “negative” way, as something that is already gone, or departing… in that vein, I caught on to this line from a FUN song….”Let the past be the sound, of your feet upon the ground, carry on….”
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Just added Time Keeper to my Bucket Reading List. Thanks!
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Thanks for the book review. I love to read too, worked in a bookstore for two years. I will definitely take a look at this book.
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That was funny, reading this when I have just recently been thinking and writing about time! I’ve not read this one of Albom’s books but I will look out for it. Have you heard of the Midsummer Chronophage? It’s amazing; it’s in the Museum of Scotland in my home city, yet I only came across it this October. I think you’d love it. If you google it you’ll find a youtube clip of the inventor talking about it (or it’s in my blog, of course). Such an interesting guy (he also invented the kettle safety on/off switch!). Or maybe you’ll have to add Scotland to your bucket list… 😉
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Sounds intriguing. It’s true, we DO worry that time is running out–at least I’ve started to.
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I never read this book, but I love how much you love this book.
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