Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. Fox Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Lucky Man: A Memoir
Book Review: A wonderful surprise
Summary: 5 Stars
I happened to pick this book-on-CD at my library, in pursuit of some reading material I could listen to on my daily commute. I was really surprised at the quality of this memoir -- I assumed it would be a fun, light, and fluffy "Hollywood read" like so many out there that would make the daily traffic more entertaining. Think popcorn for the brain. Sometimes it's nice to have fluff.
This ain't fluff, though. It's feels like meeting someone for the first time and just knowing the two of you are going to be great, lifelong friends. Mr. Fox already had the distance at the time of writing to look at the span of his life with a nonjudgmental eye, noting all the good and bad in his own choices. His honesty makes you sink back in your chair (or carseat, in my case) and feel like a good friend is relating his day to you, and you can't help loving him, despite his admitted faults.
His prose is completely enjoyable -- very quick-witted, honest, but not wordy for the sake of being wordy. The words flow beautifully -- I had no idea he could write like that.
Further, his explanation of Parkinson's Disease helped me understand the disease on a much deeper level, and he does a great job explaining stem cell research, which I already supported but -- embarrassingly -- did not know a lot about.
What really impressed me about Mr. Fox is that he has come through his prognosis and advancing symptoms with such a remarkable attitude of grace. (I don't use that word lightly.) He didn't get there easily either and he even mentions going through Kubler-Ross's stages of grief. It wasn't pretty, but it's real, which is what great writing is all about. He managed to turn the whole disease on its head and charge forward with renewed spirit.
The strong bond of his marriage reminded me of my own marriage to my husband. Traumatic events can tear people apart or bind them together in ways that many can't imagine. You will be inspired to be a better significant other to your special person after reading about their relationship. (Again, it is not painted as perfect -- just a real partnership of equals.)
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it and then check out his website to learn more. [...]Incidentally, he's written another book, Always Looking Up, which I'm enjoying now and will soon review.
Book Review: AMAZING
Summary: 5 Stars
The fact that I'm a huge fan of Michael J. Fox has no bearing on my opinion of this book. His sophisticated yet humorous outlook on life is bound to keep you entertained from start to finish. He helps the reader to understand more about what he is all about, what he went through to get where he is today, and what Parkinson's Disease really is. Michael does not write with pride or ask for pity in this text, rather he's just sharing his story from one human being to another. I HIGHLY recommend this book!!Book Review: Acting on Epiphanies!
Summary: 5 Stars
Lucky Man is a stylishly written, self-deprecating memoir that will be irresistible to Michael J. Fox fans and those who have a loved one suffering from Parkinson's disease. The book has the same witty approach that you would have expected from any of the comic characters Mr. Fox played during his distinguished career.I was drawn to the book both because I admire Mr. Fox as an actor and because my father recently was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease. I thought this book would help me understand more about the disease and how to cope with it. My high expectations for learning more about Mr. Fox and his acting career, and understanding more about the experience of Parkinson's disease were vastly exceeded.
Mr. Fox begins the memoir with the experience of discovering his first tremor. He was recovering from an alcoholic binge the night before, a frequent occurrence in that stage of his career, and was inclined to think that somehow the two were connected. That's just the beginning of a long period of denial during which he avoided working with a neurologist, even after he accepted the diagnosis.
From there, the book travels backward to his youth in Canada and the frequent moves that his family made because of new assignments his father received while in the military. You find out how a kinetic, precocious and diminutive youngster found himself frustrated by high school and dropped out before graduating to take on the challenges of television. Not surprisingly, his meteoric career left him unprepared to handle the new challenges and responsibilities. Mr. Fox candidly describes the various bad decisions he made without wallowing in them. He had a series of epiphanies throughout his life to date that have informed him of what he was doing wrong. He has had the courage to act on those epiphanies, and has been rewarded for taking those actions.
The memoir's main theme is how Parkinson's disease turned out to be a blessing in disguise, forcing him to address many of the weaknesses in his life, which included boozing, delegating the details of day-to-day responsibilities, being over-focused on the commercial side of his career, not being enough of a family presence and not facing his demons.
If you have liked Mr. Fox on the screen, you'll probably like him better after reading this fine memoir. He has a strong sense of family, and you will meet a remarkable one in the Foxes through him. His wife, Tracy, is very special too, and you will see the kinds of support that can really help a patient with Parkinson's disease.
The disease and its potential for a cure are well described. All of us should be grateful to Mr. Fox for taking on a public role as an advocate in which he has been willing to let us all see the deterioration that the disease has brought to his neurological control over his body's movement. In fact, I decided to read this book after seeing a television interview that Mr. Fox did during the NBA playoffs this year in which he unconcernedly chatted on in an amiable way while his body twitched and jerked uncontrollably. It was a remarkable example of true grace and poise. Through his visibility, Mr. Fox's foundation has raised millions and helped accelerate the use of many more funds to speed the developement of a cure.
I agree that he's a lucky man. More importantly, he's a fine man. I'm glad he shared his story in this outstanding and open way.
I also wish him well in finding that cure, and being able to use it in his own life.
Where in your life has a setback turned out to be a blessing? What are you struggling with today that could be helpful to you? What are you not facing up to yet? Those are the questions that this memoir will and should raise in your mind.
Book Review: Amazing.
Summary: 5 Stars
Need I say more after the title? Don't expect a sad pity party. Michael J. Fox tells it like it is, it's the truth and nothing but the truth. His writing is very eloquent and refreshing. A must read!Book Review: An Ambassador for Hope
Summary: 5 Stars
At least one full generation has come and gone since Michael J. Fox was the "it" guy in Hollywood. Hitting back-to-back homeruns with "Family Ties", followed by the wildly successful (and still popular) "Back to the Future" trilogy, Fox carved out a moment in the public eye that few ever get to experience. He was able to sustain his showbiz career until the end of the last century, when his Parkinson's Disease symptoms became too much to balance a career and a personal life. Fox's announcement of his illness in the late 1990s forced many people to face their own mortality; "if it can happen to him, it can happen to me".
Fox's humility within this tome is refreshing. I doubt that many in his position would be able to disclose their personal lives and most subjugated moments with such candidness. His memoir is also educational, as it serves as an introduction to not only Parkinson's Disease, but also stem cell research. His information comes across as edifying, not preachy.
This book is well-paced, and I didn't find it to be the least bit self-serving. Fox writes in such a way that he assumes if you're reading the book, you're familiar with his work. There are no laborious stories about "the second season of Family Ties, the third season of Spin City", etc. He offers insight into those years without droning the casual fan or reader to sleep. Fox's natural charm and humor, which often mirrored that of the characters he portrayed on-camera, comes through in his words. His book is written as if it were simply a lengthy letter being written to an old friend.
Overall, this book is funny, sad, informational, and maybe most importantly, inspirational. With Fox as the unintended flag-bearer for the P.D. community, they have been given a voice that they never quite had before. Fox accepts that responsibility with optimism, and perhaps a necessary bull-headedness. More power to him.
This book is an excellent read. I hope to soon read Fox's follow-up work, "Parkinson's Disease - A Look Back".