Rating: 
Summary: FIVE STARS, PLUS, PLUS, PLUS!
Review: Anyone who is living with a debilitating medical problem will relate well to Michael's story. With age comes wisdom, tolerance and grace; however, life often throws us curves when we least expect it - some of them will impact the remainder of our years hear on Earth. Michael deserves more stars than can be counted here for his courage, dignity and strength in the face of adversity - his battle with Parkinson's disease. Through it all, he has never lost his sense of humour and appreciation for life itself; that in itself is a major accomplishment. It seems fitting that this book will be the last one I will be reviewing for Amazon due to my work schedule and my own set of health problems which have plagued me for some time. Michael's autobiography is an in-depth look at the man, his personal life, his career and, of course, his degenerating conditon he lives with on a daily basis. His book is touching, inspiring and highly recommended reading. In the face of his pain and suffering, Michael is as he says, "a lucky man" for the love and support of friends and family. One never knows how fortunate they are when they have their health - so many take it for granted when things are going well; however, when the health is no longer there, our greatest blessings can be the love of our family, the support of friends and an unfaultering faith in whatever Power it is one believes in. Thank you, Michael for telling your story; may peace and love always remain with you.
Rating:
Summary: A lovely surprise
Review: Starting into any celebrity memoir is always a little harrowing. Will Star X check their ego at the door?
Will the sugarcoating be too much to bear?
Who is going to be the target of the revenge-inspired smear campaign? That's why Lucky Man is so refreshing. Michael J. Fox has told the story of his life and, more importantly, of his struggle with Parkinson's Disease. LUCKY MAN, though, is no sob story. Fox sees his diagnosis with PD as an opportunity to help. "The ten years since my diagnosis have been the best ten years of my life, and I consider myself a lucky man." this quote sums up the feel of the whole book. Warm, funny and painfully honest, Fox lets us into his life both before and after PD. We learn about his family, his drinking problem and life in Hollywood, but not in the lurid way that some stars tell it. His writing is down to earth and real. Michael J. Fox has crafted an inspirational and important book without relying on cookie-cutter tear-jerking cliche or obvious pity ploys. LUCKY MAN is the best memoir I've read in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: More than a bio, ten stars plus, a must read by all,
Review: Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton in 1961. Residing in Burnaby, British Columbia, while his father was in the Royal Canadian Army Signal Corps, he recounts growing up with parents, siblings, Nana, and friends. Describing himself in the toddler years, Michael says, "... a handful, a whirlwind... precociously funny in a what-spaceship-dropped-off-this-alien kind of way." Michael's early love of music, specifically the guitar (self-taught), was fruitful as a member in the "Halex" band. His love of drama and art was realized at age sixteen when Michael made his debut as a twelve-year old in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's production of the series "Leo and Me". Fox's American career was launched with Disney in "Midnight Madness". Career credits include the theater screen with "Back to the Future", "Teen Wolf", and "Doc Hollywood"; and popular television series, "Family Ties" (on the set, Michael met actress/wife Tracy Pollan), and "Spin City". With humor Michael describes success, '...those who got, get', i.e., if famous and with fortune, free offers abound. Just the mention of his favorite beer in a conversation, brought a truckload of the beverage to his front door... with a promise of more anytime he wanted it! Fox's emotional journey in facing the reality of the diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (PD) began in 1990 with the twitching of a finger. In LUCKY MAN, Fox approaches his story with wit, positive attitude and honesty, emotions, and the trials in the continuation of his career. The diagnosis of PD was understandably kept from the public for seven years... shared only with his inner circle of family and trusted associates. Michael experienced the ritual commonly traversed with diagnosis of debilitating diseases including anger, denial and acceptance. Candidly, Fox tells his faults, ups and downs, the highs and lows of life and show biz, his philosophy, and the thrill of playing hockey against Bobby Orr. In admitting his problem with alcohol and the existence of PD, Michael is led to a therapist and engages a permanent neurologist for treatment of his illness. As an advocate for PD research funding, Fox has testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing. His campaigning efforts, continued to this day, have had a definite effect on raising awareness of PD in the public and private sectors. Specifically, the acknowledgement that PD is prevalent in earlier ages vs. the medical textbooks statement that PD is diagnosed in later ages of 50-65 years. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research has become a passion in his life. To this date, the exact cause of PD is unknown. LUCKY MAN is not only biographical, it is a highly-informational writing with regard to the progression and research of PD. Medications associated with treatment are described, differing in results with each person. Fox says of his release of the diagnosed illness to the public, "Disclosure had allowed me to rearrange life so that I could get more from it." Michael J. Fox possesses obvious penchant for writing. His exceptional narrative in LUCKY MAN is philosophical, uplifting and insightful. While reading LUCKY MAN, I laughed and I cried. I am in awe of Michael J. Fox for his honesty, humility, compassion, and courage (that includes wife/actress Tracy Pollan and his four children). Review based on paperback edition 2003 [Note: The author's profits from the sale of "Lucky Man" are donated by the author to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Please visit the author's website: michaeljfox.com] Connected books recommended are: LIFE LESSONS by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; THE WHEEL OF LIFE: A MEMOIR OF LIVING AND DYING by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; SHAKING UP PARKINSON DISEASE: FIGHTING LIKE A TIGER, THINKING LIKE A FOX by A. N. Lieberman, Abraham, M.D. Lieberman
Rating:
Summary: A book that celebrates life
Review: Most people know that Michael J. Fox is a talented and charismatic actor,
but what you realize when you read "LUCKY MAN" is that he is also an
amazing human being. His experience with Parkinson's Disease is obviously
a major theme of this book, but you never feel sorry for him, nor does he
ever complain about what has happened to him. In fact, he does just the
opposite and explains how he actually found his life and his vitality when
he came to terms with his circumstances. His honesty and vulnerability in
describing his life leading up to his diagnosis and coping with the reality
of an (as yet) incurable disease has helped and will help many thousands of
people lead happier lives. After reading this book, I find myself inspired
by the possibilities life has to offer and grateful that Mr. Fox chose to
share the intimate details of his and his family's journey so that
everyone, not just those afflicted with Parkinson's Disease,
can lead lives as their own master, as creators of an extraordinary life for themselves. While reading "LUCKY MAN", I kept wishing I could recommend "WORKING ON
YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane to Michael J. Fox and the
Parkinson's community he discovered. Anyone who is touched by his outlook
on life, who is looking for something magical, who wants to discover the
moment-by-moment joy of being alive should read this book also. In "LUCKY
MAN", I found empathy, compassion and admiration for Mr. Fox and those who
suffer from PD (or other debilitating diseases). In "WORKING ON YOURSELF
DOESN'T WORK", you will find the road map to loving life, no matter what
your circumstances.
Rating:
Summary: A Humble Surprise
Review: This book was recommended to me and I was pleasantly surprised by how thoroughly I enjoyed it. It seems incongruous that Michael J. Fox has written such a humble memoir when he is best known for somewhat callous, self-centered characters on the screen. Yet throughout the course of his reminiscing, he talks about his choices to leave the 'magical world' of Hollywood for a real life. However, his celebrity status is always there, for better or worse.
Fox begins his book with the tale of how he discovered that he had Parkinson's Disease. He goes through the entire denial process, and 'hides' his disease for so long due to the fact that he hasn't come to terms with it. He needed to accept it as his fate before he could share it with the world. His memoir is broken into segments of his life, and Fox summarily describes his Canadian upbringing, how he dropped out of high school to pursue acting in Hollywood, and the years he struggled until he hit financial and celebrity success with "Family Ties" and the "Back to the Future" trilogy. He takes an unflinching look at his box-office failures, movies he acted in more so for financial reasons than creative ones, and an even starker look at his once overpowering dependency on alcohol to help him mask his fears about having PD. In the end, he recounts why he considers himself to be lucky even though he has an incurable neurological disease, and why he is more than happy to lend his name to finding a cure.
Michael J. Fox has written a witty, poignant memoir, filled with the wry humor that made him a beloved household name. He holds nothing back in his memoir, and never once searches for pity. He is at peace with his fate and the role that he has chosen to play for the rest of his life off the screen - that of an advocate to raise money for Parkinson's research in efforts to find a cure. Here's hoping that he succeeds.
Rating:
Summary: Molly's Book Review
Review: The reason that I decided to read this book for my book review project is because I got this book as a gift from my grandma after I took a trip to New York City with her and saw Michael J. Fox in the Plaza Hotel. This is a riveting book, starting from Michael's childhood in Canada, and going through the troubles and triumphs in his life from starting out as a troubled actor, to becoming a well established one, and most important of all his courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. This book really pulled me in because of the use of good humor and flashbacks. No matter how bad something was in Michael's life, he always tried to make a joke about it in the book, which I think is a good outlook on life. Throughout the book he flashed back to previous days, months, and years, and I liked that because it got me to imagine what it would have been like to have the childhood he did, growing up in Canada, and acting stardom, etc... This book takes us from various places in Canada to various places in California, and New York. This is an autobiographical story. Obviously the problem in this book, is Michael's struggle with Parkinson's disease- a neurological disease that affects people in the age group of the late 50s and early 60s-In Michael's case he has the young-onset Parkinson's, which started for him at the age of 30. This story is about his struggles and accomplishments with Parkinson's, he also learns to come to terms with this disease. Here are some quotes from the book: "Richandfamous" was as much a cliche fantasy to me as it would have been for a truck driver from Peoria.(Michael talking about his giant leap into super-stardom) "I'm about to take you on a brief tour, the highlights and lowlights of the being-famous-in America-Funhouse, a shape-shifting world where only one thing is perfectly clear, there is no way to prepare for the journey." (Michael talking about getting used to fame)
"I have stumbled upon one of the lesser-known truisms of American Society, those who got, get." (Michael talking about how people who are already rich get a ton of things for free, and many gifts and such) "I woke up to find a message in my left hand. It had me trembling, it wasn't a fax, telegram, memo or the usual sort of missive bringing disturbing news. In fact, in my hand was nothing at all. The trembling was the message." (Michael talking about the morning he woke up to final realize he might have Parkinson's disease)I think that anybody who wants to read a good book would love this book, it is a gripping, and funny book, that will always keep your interest. If you like Michael J. Fox, this is obviously the book for you, it gives great unknown-detail about his life and his illness. If you like auto-biographies this is also the book for you because it is an extremely interesting and well-written one. I loved this book, at some points I laughed out loud, and at some points I almost cried. This book gives out a lot of information about P.D. I think that that is great, because everybody should know about it. A lot of people don't know about it, but it's a very deadly and damaging disease.This book gives a lot of insight into what's really important in life and what's really just material. I hope that you eventally get a chance to read this book. I know you won't be disappointed. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: A real "Picker Upper"!
Review: In the course of this book Mr Fox went from just another actor with money and perks to someone worth looking at as an example. Mr Fox shows a real "positive" look on life as he shows how the struggles of his life mixed with his own good fortunes have molded him into the man he is today. This book showed me the attitude nessisary to truely make "lemonaid" when life gives you "lemons". It's easy and fun to read!
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD READ FROM MARTY MCFLY
Review: I've been a huge MJF fan since 1982 when I was only 8 but I never would have guessed this guy was such a talented story teller. His writing is also way beyond expectations. The appeal of this book, however, isn't his stardom or dealing with PD, but the over all story of his life. It's inspirational and entertaining in many different ways. I believe this book has mass appeal and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good biography or just a good story. I know this is the "Michael" he's willing to show us, but I must say, I have more than just a fan's admiration for him now. He is a tremendously good person who is not only entertaining America, but doing such important work through his foundation. Thank you Michael! I hope more and more success and happieness continues to come you way!
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