By Sandra Scheller
SAN DIEGO — Okay, I’ll admit it — I’m a huge Mitch Albom fan, probably the unofficial president of his fan club. His recent presentation with Dr. Dean Nelson at Point Loma Nazarene University did not disappoint. Speaking about his latest book, Twice, Mitch captivated a packed, standing-room-only audience.
There is only one word to describe this new book: masterpiece. As the beloved author of Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and The Little Liar, Mitch has a unique way of weaving together stories about life, love, and loss. In Twice, he ties those threads even tighter, exploring not just death — as he often does — but what it might mean to have a second chance at it.
Without revealing too much, Twice reminds us that there are some things in life we simply don’t get a second chance at. The answer is in the book. Consider it a gift from Mitch. Mitch tells this story with such tenderness and truth that you feel as if you’re walking beside him — holding his hand — as he speaks.
Mitch also shared something deeply personal — the loss of his adopted daughter, Chika, and the endless love he still carries for her. He spoke about what it felt like to have so much love to give but nowhere to give it, and how adopting his second daughter, Nadia, gave him a new way to express that love. In that moment, the meaning of Twice became clear: it’s about love, loss, and the rare gift of being able to give your heart a second chance.
Thank you, Dr. Nelson, for your continued Writers Symposium by the Sea. We were so blessed to hear Mitch Albom speak — not once, but twice this year.
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Sandra Scheller is a freelance writer based in Chula Vista, California.
Your well-written report makes me want to read the book.