The Five People You Meet in HeavenThe Five People You Meet in Heaven
Score Modern
What it's about
Eddie, an old maintenance man at a seaside amusement park, dies on his eighty-third birthday trying to save a little girl from a falling ride. He wakes in heaven, where five people are waiting for him, some he knew and some he never met. Each one explains how their life and his were connected, and helps him understand what his life meant.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's a short, simple fable about how every life touches others, and it has comforted millions of readers.
You'll love it if you liked
For One More Day
Tuesdays with Morrie
Have a Little Faith: A True StoryGood to know
It's very short and gentle. Eddie's war memories include a fire that killed a child.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller73 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #73 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #167 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #604 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1146 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Epic
More by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with MorrieHave a Little Faith: A True StoryFor One More Day
The Time KeeperIf you like this, read next
The Overstory
Anathem
Scythe
Sing, Unburied, Sing
Cloud Atlas
SkywardExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Five People You Meet in Heaven worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,146 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Five People You Meet in Heaven about?
Eddie, an old maintenance man at a seaside amusement park, dies on his eighty-third birthday trying to save a little girl from a falling ride. He wakes in heaven, where five people are waiting for him, some he knew and some he never met. Each one explains how their life and his were connected, and helps him understand what his life meant.
How long does it take to read The Five People You Meet in Heaven?
About 6 hours (224 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Five People You Meet in Heaven?
If you liked it, try For One More Day by Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom or Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom.