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Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book. Highly recommended.
Review: As a big fan of Marc Summers during his "Double Dare" days I happened to stroll along and find this book. Amazingly enough, halfway into reading it I found to have many symptoms of OCD that I never would have guessed. I won't tell what they are, but ever since I was in grade school I was quite angry with myself for displaying these habits I normally couldn't control. It's relaxing to know it's NOT me that's the problem but a simple chemical imbalance in my brain that's causing me to be the way I am.
Originally I purchased this book just to hear how Marc Summers worked his way through the ranks of show business, but it came out to be so much more. It was a book that defined who I am and why I am the way I am. Although my symptoms are nowhere near as severe as Marc's are, I found his experiences to be something I can relate to. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a great story of struggles and success through the life of show business and/or to anyone who has the slightest doubt of having this disorder. I knew I was thrown in for a suprise! Thank you Mr. Summers for writing it!
Rating:
Summary: Affirming story of hope for those who live with OCD
Review: As the parent of a child with OCD, I found Marc Summers' book to be an incredibly helpful one. The book gives solid information about this disorder and also tells Marc's personal story of his journey from diagnosis to recovery. My son watched "Double Dare" religiously. Seeing one of his idols struggling with the same disorder that he does, has helped Jake continue to win his battle as well. A good read for families and those who work with people with ocd. This is one book that helps de-stigmatize a mental illness. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Must Read!!!
Review: First, I must say, this book had me completly in awe. I totally HATE to read. I can not by a single book without going from page 2 and skipping to the last few pages to see how it ends. But Marc Summers book is GREAT! I read it from the VERY first page to the last, without skipping a word. I found his story about his trials and triumphs with OCD to be interesting and very informative. I am 24, and I grew up watching Double Dare, and never would have guessed that he had this disorder. I personally have never been affected with OCD, nor have I have never known anyone to be afflicited with the disease. I knew very little about it, until I read this book. I recommend this if you are even a little bit curious about OCD. It is very well written and I felt like Marc was right here telling me his story. I wish Marc and his family all the best things in life.
Rating:
Summary: More than what you see on TV
Review: Having a son, age 11, who suffers from OCD and who is a fan of Marc Summers, I thought this would be a great book for both of us to read and we were not disappointed. While my son's OCD is not quite as severe as Marc's, we definitely could relate to so many things that he shared. It made my son feel better to know that he was not alone and to even find some humor in all of it. I think by writing this book, Marc Summers has touched the lives many in a very positive way.
Rating: 
Summary: Childhood hero tells his tale
Review: I first found out my childhood "idol" (or at least one of them)had OCD on a Dateline episode years ago. His book tells of his ordeal including how he came about learning he had OCD, its impact on his family, and his treatment. I found parts of the book repetitive, especially in overlap with what his doctor wrote at the beginning. However, it was interesting, at least to me, to see how someone so "successful" could be dealing with so much, and still succeed. It was really inspirational to me. I'd recommend it to anyone first dealing with OCD and feeling alone, or anyone who just wants to delve a bit more into the life of everyone's favorite Double Dare host. (I'm sorry, Marc, but that's what I'll always remember you for. I was just a kid, I sorry!)
Rating:
Summary: An Important Read for EVERYONE!
Review: I have been a fan of Marc Summers for years. I have always thought of him as an amazing man, and great talent. When I first found out about OCD, it was through his talking about it on tv. After seeing him in many interviews, and reading this book, I was able to admit to myself that I have many symptoms of OCD. I think that everyone should read this book, even if you don't have OCD, this book will help you to understand the millions of people who do. I think that it is inspiring how Marc became the man that he wanted to be inspite of this disease, and it gives hope to others that this is a disease that you can live with.
Rating: 
Summary: How Boring
Review: I must say I really do not like to read books, but this book especially board the heck out of me. I couldn't stand it, his life is a total mess and on top of that this book was bland. I give this book a 3.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on OCD I've ever read
Review: I've been reading through all books I can find about OCD, as I have recently been diagnosed with this disorder. I thought this one would be lightweight, full of stories about Double Dare and written in a comic style. Was I wrong! Summers is so honest about his life and his OCD. He included information about the disorder that I have never read elsewhere, even in books that are written to be overall medical guides. I also very much enjoyed how honest he was writing about other aspects of his life, including show biz and his family life. He sounds like a fine person that I would love to get to talk to someday. It was especially interesting for me to read how long it took him to seek treatment, even after he realized what he had, as I have been through that myself. I want to thank him for writing this book and for having so much courage in sharing his story. It was his appearance on Oprah that first made me sure I did have OCD, although like him, I did nothing about it for quite a while. I had forgotten (or blocked out) that I ever saw him on the show until I read this book! A real must read for anyone interested in OCD.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on OCD I've ever read
Review: I've been reading through all books I can find about OCD, as I have recently been diagnosed with this disorder. I thought this one would be lightweight, full of stories about Double Dare and written in a comic style. Was I wrong! Summers is so honest about his life and his OCD. He included information about the disorder that I have never read elsewhere, even in books that are written to be overall medical guides. I also very much enjoyed how honest he was writing about other aspects of his life, including show biz and his family life. He sounds like a fine person that I would love to get to talk to someday. It was especially interesting for me to read how long it took him to seek treatment, even after he realized what he had, as I have been through that myself. I want to thank him for writing this book and for having so much courage in sharing his story. It was his appearance on Oprah that first made me sure I did have OCD, although like him, I did nothing about it for quite a while. I had forgotten (or blocked out) that I ever saw him on the show until I read this book! A real must read for anyone interested in OCD.
Rating:
Summary: Marc Summers has everything in its place
Review: The book discusses his childhood in Indiana, summers visiting with his grandmother, his brother Mike and sister Lois. His wife Alice, son Matthew and daughter Meredith have all had to endure his OCD symptoms, but up until that moment they never knew what caused him to behave and act certain ways. It actually took a year from the date of the television show for Marc to contact Eric Hollander, M.D. again and seek help such as behavior therapy and medication. The chapters are not all in chronological order. In one chapter he discussed waiting for Alice at the church and how his OCD symptoms flared up. He reflects back at this, since at the time he was unaware of OCD and that this was the reason for his behaviors. Alice was late in arriving at the church along with her family, causing Marc to panic and yell at her once she did show up. This was the first time Alice had seen him in this state of mind. The next chapter he explains how they meet, so it was a bit confusing for me at first reading of their wedding and then going back. He brings along flip-flops for using in bathrooms at Hotels. He cannot have his bare feet touch any floor but his own at home. He laughingly described how he cleans in the shower with the flip-flops on and removes one while balancing on the other. He has rituals in how he gets dressed, such as he lays clean socks on sheets but never on the bedspread. As a child Marc rushed home to watch Art Linkletter. Instead of wanting to be a kid on the show Marc dreamed of one day hosting a similar show. His brother at the time played the drums and toured with famous acts, causing jealousy in Marc and sibling rivalry. College dorm life was not pleasant for Marc. He ended up persuading them to give him a single room so he could have it clean at all times. One disturbing symptom or character flaw that Marc has exhibited is the need to win no matter who he is playing against. He discussed playing basketball with his son and also playing monopoly with both his children. I wondered why his wife never initiated a strategy for his need to win, and why they allowed him to beat his kids and not teach them differently. There are some lessons here that I have picked up on how he was raised and then what his family avoided and never discussed. The therapy methods the Dr used seemed a bit off in my opinion and unnecessary. They started with Marc waiting five minutes and worked up to an hour I believe that he would wait after the maid left to fix the house. In my opinion I feel the Doctor should have encouraged Marc to discuss this with the maid and try to avoid this anxiety and stress by explaining how the house should be cleaned. I imagine with the book out for a number of years now that the maid must know about this, unless she does not speak English. I would have liked seeing a list of OCD symptoms from the Foundation and/or the criteria to have a diagnosis of OCD from the DSM-IV. I feel this would be beneficial to readers who may see themselves and/or family members in the traits that Marc describes. The book is a good read, although it does lack the correlation between OCD and Tourette's syndrome and other disabilities.
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