Lucky Man : A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Great Story on How to Deal with what Life deals You
Review: Lucky Man, A Memoir
AUTHOR: Michael J. Fox
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades

BOOK REVIEW: This was an audio book sent to me by a friend. At first, I thought I really don't want to listen to this. While I like Michael J. Fox, I am not much of a reader (or in this case a listener) of autobiographies. But, I thought since it was sent to me, I would give it a try and see. I am so glad I did.

I have always liked Michael J Fox and the TV series and films he has been in. I also admired him for coming out about his medical condition. The book gave me an insight into a person I thought I knew from the public persona we all know about.

It was fun to learn where he grew up and about his family. It amazed me to learn that he struggled with alcohol. It also amazed me to learn that he kept his disease secret for so many years and was still able to work and provide such wonderful entertainment to the world. I enjoyed learning about Tracy, his wife, and their children.

This book is a story about a real person with a real disease that isn't going to go away. It tells how Michael came to terms with it and it learning, on a daily basis, to live with it. It shows what someone can do even with a very debilitating disease and how a full and satisfactory life can be lead.

Michael has become an advocate for Parkinson's Disease and had enough courage to appear before a Grand Jury without the aid of his daily medication just so this high panel could actually see what living with this disease is like. I truly admire Michael J Fox and all he had done with his life.

This is an audio book worth listening too.

Rating:
Summary: Please, please read this moving book.
Review: This guy just 'gets' it. Michael J. Fox understands the meaning of life, and I think he always has - even since he was Michael A. (Eh?) Fox.

My Grandmother has often been quoted by her children as having said throughout their childhoods, "You'll thank me when you're 40" (which they all did on their 40th birthdays). The precocious MJF, however, appreciated the wisdom of his Nana above all others from his first memory; the two of them then knew that they were amongst a special few (if not a special 2) that seemed to share an understanding of life's 'big picture'.

When MJF was pushing all limits in living the life of the Prince of Hollywood, he never fully felt entitlement to the wild and fun, albeit shallow, excesses of daily life. Also, MJF didn't really understand it, as best seen in the example of his being secretly disappointed and scared when his tough, disciplinarian-Dad seemed to be impressed by MJF's stardom. (Luckily, his brother Steve and later his wife Tracy gave him the reality-checks that he was craving). By no means did this silence the party at the time; rather, in all likelihood, this raised the decibels tenfold. Yet, MJF went to bed most nights confused and uncertain about his entire identity and existence.

In his book, MJF takes us through amazing character growth as he brings us through his wonderfully positive family experience of a working class background, his introduction to death, his being an object of mockery for his height (we all have something, eh?), his struggling to make a career against the odds, his rise in Hollywood, his falling in love, his discovery of a disease, his hiding that disease.... and throughout each stage, he shares with us his fears, joys & understanding from the perspective of an average person just trying to figure out this world and pick through the good and the bad served out on one's plate.

The best part about the book is that my opinion and reaction are derived from MJF's stories, but he does not try to spell out a moral of his story, pontificate as to the meaning of life, or even feign being remotely profound. In the same ironic vane as the book's title, however, the Reader walks away from the book sensing just how beautifully profound the Author is. After many hearty laughs and a few heartfelt tears, I put down the book feeling a certainty of my own humility as well as life's true priorities.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Lucky Man", didn't want it to end, was spiritually moved by MJF, and walked away full of inspiration (OK, admittedly, also with a renewed crush continued from my childhood days of watching 'Family Ties'), adoration for his son Sam for his touching innocence, and admiration for his wife Tracy Pollan for her epitomizing unconditional love.

To top it off, the book is a well-written one and a pleasure to read from the literary angle. This is accomplished without it losing its voice to a ghostwriter / editor.

My recommendation for Michael J. Fox's "Lucky Man" is a: 'Please, please read!'

Best of luck and all our prayers go out to Mike & family. xo

Rating:
Summary: Nicely Done
Review: I read the book in 2 days; couldn't put it down. Haven't seen the Back to the Future Series, nor much of Family Ties. However, Doc Hollywood(movie) is one of my favorites. How PD has changed his life, and the consequent choices that he and Tracy have made, was engrossing. Very well written and moving.

Rating:
Summary: Keep Kicking, Michael!
Review: I read this book around the same time that I read Fran Drescher's "Cancer Schmancer" and I was impressed that neither performer gave in to personal feelings of despair and preferred instead to work towards making an even better life for themselves. In this book, Michael J. Fox gives an interesting and oftentimes funny look at his early years in Canada and Hollywood and the touching story of his love affair with the admirable Tracy Pollan. The book does begin to adopt a more somber tone when he begins to relate the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease and the road he has travelled with it ever since. Despite all of the pain and suffering involved with this horrible disease, Mr. Fox continues to work towards educating the public on Parkinson's and a strong belief in a cure. This is a book well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: A whole new reason to be a fan...
Review: I happened to pick up "Lucky Man" in Best Buy, while waiting for my family to purchase a washing machine and dryer........anyway, I digress.

After flipping through the book, I found myself 10 minutes later so engrossed in it, I continued to read as I walked to the cashier to purchase the book.

I can't praise this book enough. I have a new found respect for Michael J. Fox. His life and his story are truly an inspiration. When I finished it I immediately returned to page one and started over. Nuts? Don't knock it 'til you read it.

About the book: It's basically Michael J. Fox, unplugged. It will make you laugh and it may make you a little teary-eyed, but most of all, it will inspire you and make you appreciate the power of the human spirit.

I can't end this review without mentioning his wife, Tracy Pollan. She is an inspiration as well. I now find myself wanting to be more like her - strong, supportive, funny and smart. I'm sure she is one of the primary reasons MJF feels like a "Lucky Man".

Rating:
Summary: Love this Book
Review: I have found myself reading many biographies lately and this is one that I couldn't put down. I wasn't a huge Michael J. Fox fan, but have seen him on several tv talk shows and find him to be a real down to earth and lovable guy. It takes a lot to put your life on paper for the world to read, but I've found several that you can't put down. Michael hasn't led the easy "Hollywood" life we think of with celebrities, and I think it's wonderful that he has decided to share that with the world. He lets us see that celebrities go through the same problems, if not more, in life as we do. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Biography
Review: Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox is an inspiring biography. Fox shares with us his life story starting with childhood and his early days as he tries to make it in Hollywood. All the way through Family Ties, Spin City, the Back to The Future movies and as he starts his family. It is inspiring to read how he deals with his Parkinson diagnosis, first trying to hide it, then finally publicly admiting it.
The biography is very well written and a very easy read. Even if you did not follow Fox's tv shows and movies, you will find his story inspiring and moving.

Rating:
Summary: I grew up with Family Ties and Back to the Future...
Review: ...and I always enjoyed the characters Michael J. Fox played-- always enjoyed him as an actor. But after being introduced to the man behind the mask, I have to say my respect for him has risen. Lucky Man is an open, personal account of MJF's highs, and lows. A frank, matter-of-fact presentation of his life and disease that invites empathy, not sympathy from the reader. A fantastic read!

Rating:
Summary: Michael J. Fox revealed
Review: If you like watching Michael on TV, as most people do, you'll probably also enjoy this book. Michael writes in a humble, humorous, and candid manner as he reveals his rise to prominence, as well as some of the problems that accompanied it. I suppose an obvious theme of the book is that luck may have played somewhat of a role in the good things that happened to Michael, that if a break or two hadn't gone his way, we may have never heard of him. However, I like to think that he has such a great personality that he would have eventually succeeded anyway. The book provides a lot of juicy details that make this required reading for any of his serious fans. It is highly entertaining and touching, too. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Rating:
Summary: Michael J. Fox - a lucky man
Review: Before I bought the very popular book "Lucky Man" Michael J. Fox was just the person from Back to the future - trilogy. How wrong I was. His book that is so vivid, and informative makes me feel that I know Michael J. Fox in person as I got to know so much about him now thanks to his excellent pleasant extremely intellegent and funny writings.

Michael takes us everywhere he's been and makes us see everything he's done. From the bottom to the top of the mountain, he has achieved to climb.

You really should read this book and find out why Michael feels he's a lucky man despite all that happened to him with that bloody incurable parkinson disease.