Rating: 
Summary: Even better than I'd hoped
Review: I grew up watching Michael J. Fox on TV and eagerly looked forward to this biography. Almost too eagerly....I must have read 10 reviews including lengthy excerpts and by the time I did all that, I hesitated to get the book because I felt like I must have already read it, and besides, aren't the excerpted parts probably the best parts?Boy, was I in for a touching, surprising, and consistently page turning ride. Every part of the book is that honest, that funny, and occasionally, it does make you moved to tears. He does manage to be a funny and nice guy and yet at the same time let you see sides of himself - which he has since dealt with and overcome - that I'm not sure most of us would reveal to any but our closest friends. I stayed up way too late last night finishing it because even though it wasn't a thriller, you do get more and more drawn in. Bottom line, even if you've read the reviews ad nauseum, I promise you'll enjoy every minute of this book.
Rating:
Summary: A book you will want to read all in one night....
Review: I've always sensed that Michael J. Fox was an intelligent man, but I did not realize how much of a talented writer he was until I read his book! Once I started reading, I spent every spare moment I could with his book in my hands and my nose in the pages. (If you look inside my copy, you can see my nose prints!) But seriously, as other reviewers have noted, his book is quite personal, gripping, engaging, and very intelligently written. Obviously, he has done his homework regarding Parkinson's disease and it shows in his writing. Also, I agree with those who say his book is inspiring, especially for those who suffer from this disease. On many levels, his book is quite inspiring. After reading his book, I no longer felt like saying, "Oh, poor Michael!" Instead, I felt that he truly is a lucky man to have a loving family, loyal support from many, and a worthy mission to help cure a devastating disease. Buy the book - you won't be disappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: A Lucky Man writes a moving tale
Review: Michael J. Fox has always conjured up the word "boy" in my mind, hardly a "man" since his height and his stature and even his voice cause one to think of an adolescent. Accordingly, he played mostly "boyish" roles until the latter part of his career, most likely being as typecast as an actor as I had typecast him as an observer. Once you read "Lucky Man", any temptation to call Mr. Fox a "boy" or perceive him in any kind of immature way is quickly put to rest. Not only does his Parkinson's disease diagnosis and treatment mature him, it downright ages him right before your eyes. In his thirties, Mr. Fox has an illness that is much more associated with the elderly, certainly not the young father of four children whose face still exudes a "golly gee" flair to it when he smiles. The book is at its best when it is steering through Fox's leanest years, barely able to pay his New York rent and stashing bills into a cabinet rather than paying them. His self confidence is astounding as he beats out hundreds of other actors for his first starring role and then manages to land the role of Alex Keaton in Family Ties against the wishes of its Executive Producer. Indeed, in terms of his acting career at least, Fox catches some lucky breaks. I have grown tired of reading autobiographies where money and success ruin a perfectly good kid, they go into rehab or find Jesus or find some "perfect mate" and become suddenly "reborn". Fox teeters on the brink of this a bit with his adulation of his wife, Tracy, but can you blame him? She truly has staying power: she stayed with him when he was partying so hard his young son found him passed out one morning. She stayed when he was diagnosed with Parkinsons and eventually had to leave Spin City and, even more hearteningly, she had another child with Fox after his illness onset. Lucky Man loses some of its initial oomph when it delves into Parkinsons Disease and the research that is needed and all that Mr. Fox does to raise money for this cause. This is another pet peeve of mine: it is not until a famous celebrity has such an illness that it gets much attention and then, when it does, you just know (or should I say dread) that this effective poster child will ultimately be defeated and die from the very illness he is fighting like hell to beat. Stories like Lucky Man are engaging and interesting but, as was the case with my beloved Gilda Radner who wrote about her own disease (she died of cancer in 1989 shortly after her book came out), these wonderfully brave celebrities prove to be just as human as the rest of us. All the money in the world cannot spare you your eventual fate if you have a life limiting illness but, along the way at least, you can have a ball and consider yourself indeed "Lucky" to have the love of a family and, more importantly, love of yourself.
Rating:
Summary: You gotta read this book!
Review: I was both mad and upset Thanksgiving weekend, 1998. The actor that I followed careerwise for so long was stricken with an illness that, as far as I knew, meant the end of his life! I was also mad that he kept this from us, his fans, for 7 years! I mean I went to Manhattan the fall before and watched him tape an episode of "Spin City" without knowing that he was stricken with such an illness!! Finding out more about PD, I realized that it wasn't as bad as I was thinking. And this book gave me much more. Michael opened up his life and let us peek in to see what was happening. I now have a new appreciation and admiration for this man. Sorry for my selfishness, Michael! I never realized that it could be so 'lonely' at 'the top'!
Rating:
Summary: OK, I admit it....
Review: I picked up this book because, at 33, I (lifelong nonsmoker) am facing a diagnosis of a rare lung disorder that no one has ever heard of. (Someday I may write a book on rare diseases. The title would be "You've never heard of it".) Anyway, I am glad that my health problems prompted me to buy this book. It really is as wise and funny and gently self-deprecating as everyone says it is. Face it, sane people in Hollywood do exist. The other reviewers have summarized the plot very well, so I won't repeat their comments. It seems clear that considerable credit must be given to Tracy Pollan as the person who has helped keep Michael grounded and unpretentious all these years. The description of how she told him off when they were getting to know each other and he was unforgivably rude is priceless. And kudos to Michael for putting that less than flattering anecdote in print. Michael J. Fox is a famous person with a disease. The fame and the disease are important, but in this book, the person really takes center stage, as he should. I wish more celebrity autobiographies were like this.
Rating:
Summary: Very candid auto-biography
Review: This was a good autobiography of a famous celebrity who has come full-circle from boy to man and through health and illness. His solid upbringing helped him choose a right course for his life and a loving, patient, and compassionate wife who supported him relentlessly through thick and thin. A good easy read that was also quite informative on Parkinson's.
Rating: 
Summary: 3+ stars--Stick with it, the book gets good.
Review: I really enjoyed this book because it seemed Michael J Fox was right in the room with me telling his story. It was interesting reading his thought processes. However, I had a hard time sticking with the book in the beginning pages 1-62. For me, it seemed to jump around and had some sentences/passages that I would have edited out (sorry, Michael). BUT, the book picks up at chapter three and is very rewarding and inspiring (without being mushy) to read. I've never read a celebrity autobiography before since I'm not that interested in Hollywood (unless it's Woody Allen), but Michael seems a man of substance. I was surprised. I believe any fan or non-fan will find this a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Although Mr. Fox would never make it as a master literary figure, his work in this book is truly inspirational. He is courageous by way of calling himself out or telling on himself when he has misbehaved and is humble enough not to toot his own horn too much because of the good things. I would say that makes for a very balanced human being. At one point when I was reading the book, I happened to look at the inside front cover and noticed that all the profits from this book are given to PD. My eyes filled with tears because I was so moved by Mr. Fox's generosity. I am proud of him for using his celebrity for good.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfull book about a real human being
Review: Listening to or reading "Lucky Man" should be a must for everyone. Michael J. Fox never asks for pity but instead paints a honest and deep reaching portrait of himself (in other words the flaws and virtues that make each of us human are displayed in the pages of this wonderfull book).
Rating:
Summary: Lucky Readers!
Review: From the moment Michael J. Fox takes you into his world during the "Pinkie Rebellion", to the emotional flashback to his grandmother, (in the telling of the walnut tree episode and dream)"Lucky Man" does what MJF has always done. It amuses and inspires, shares his insight and his dreams, gives nothing but honesty and fellowship to the reader. Like Gary Goldberg, we, in reading through Michael's first "written performance" can see that spark of life that sets his performance apart from all others. As Fox threads through his beginnings and growth during his struggle with Parkinson's disease, he gives us a window into his Canadian childhood, his family, his brief struggle for success, the pressures of TV/Movie stardom, and his close ties with friends and his young family. The PD community is fortunate to have MJF represent them in the continuing struggle for funding and research, and to help the nation better understand the world they live in. Michael who always could "elude, evade and anticipate any obstacle or potential bully" finds "peace, security and spiritual strength to stand in one place" through his battle with Parkinson's. A brief look at the remarkable and talented Tracy Pollan, as well, Fox paints a picture of a relatively young man coping with fate, yet looking back on a life we might all envy, with spirit and humility. Fox has taken his small screen talents and transposed them in an autobiography that will both compel and entertain you. What a marvelous read!
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