In his first novel, Mitch Albom recounts the life and death of a simple yet dignified old man, Eddie. After dying in a freak accident, Eddie finds himself in heaven where he encounters five people who have significantly affected his life, whether he realized it at the time or not. Each imparts a divine piece of wisdom unto him, instilling a deeper comprehension regarding the most intimate facets of life. The Five People You Meet in Heaven was published in 2003 by Hyperion, and remained on the New York Times Bestseller list for 95 weeks. It was the bestselling first time novel ever written.