Rating: 
Summary: A Book Packed With Courage and Zest!
Review: I thought, "Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life" was a remarkable book. The depression that accompanies such a tragic injury is so real. So many people want to give up. It takes alot of energy and inspiration to not "throw the towel in." I know because My dad is in a wheelchair after a sudden stroke. Mr. Reeve's determination has served a s a role model for my dad. There is alot of things that he will never do, as he discusses in the book and many interviews: however, it is the attitude that it wouldn't stop him from dreaming and going for his goals that made him succeed with zest. A remarkable man that has not only changed his life with his books, spinal cord research sponsership, and leadership, but also our own.
Rating:
Summary: A super book by a SUPER man!!!
Review: +++++
This book, by actor, director, writer, and activist Christopher Reeve, is part autographical, part inspirational, part scientific, and part political. (Other readers may find other parts to this unique book.) For such a slim book (that I finished reading in two sittings), I was amazed at just how much I learned about and from this courageous person.
This book is not only for those with spinal cord injuries. It can be used effectively by those with other physical types of problems as well as those with emotional problems. It can also be read by those who want only to read an inspirational book by someone attempting to overcome large obstacles.
Reeve does not give direct advice but what he does is allow us to read about his learning experiences and then, form our own conclusions.
Why did I decide to read this book? Two major reasons:
(1) I read a quotation (not in this book) by Reeve. He states:
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
(2) Reeve's several accomplishments AFTER his spinal cord injury (again not stated in this book). Some highlights include the following:
(i) a 1997 Emmy
(ii) a 1999 Grammy
(iii) a 1999 Screen Actor Guild Award for best actor
(iv) a 1997 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
(v) acting in two movies
(vi) directing two movies
(vii) the establishment of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation in 1999
(viii) the establishment of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Centre in 2002 {Note that Dana was his wife since 1992}
(ix) the author of two books (this one and one in 1998).
These are only a few of his many, many accomplishments. Visit his internet site to learn about more accomplishments.
Thus I thought to myself, "This guy is on to something!!"
This book consists of nine chapters. Since there is no indication that you have to read the book in the chapter order indicated in the table of contents, I read these chapters in a slightly different order. These chapters are as follows:
(1) THE FIRST DECISION. Gives in surprising detail the cause, anatomy, and emotional experience of Reeve's spinal cord injury. (The accident occurred at "three o'clock on May 27, 1995.") Reeve tells us at how he arrived at the answer to the question posed by Hamlet: "To be or not to be? That is the question!"
(2) HUMOR. This was a coping mechanism Reeve eventually used to deal with his injury. He tells us that "Inside...I was angry to my very core" right after his accident. Humor helped quell this anger. Look for the antics of his friend Robin Williams (who shared an apartment with Reeve when they were both starting out).
(3) MIND/BODY. This was another coping mechanism. Reeve's theme for this inspirational chapter is his belief that "there is a relationship between the mind and the body that can both create a physical condition and enable us to recover from it."
(4) RELIGION (presented in the book as chapter 5). Reeve tells us, "The truth is that I only found a religion very recently that I can reconcile with a lifelong quest for the meaning of spiritually." This is a very frank and honest chapter that some readers may not appreciate. I, however, found it refreshing that he spoke so candidly about a subject that, for some reason, you're not supposed to speak candidly about. This chapter is continued in the next chapter.
(5) FAITH (presented as chapter 8). Continues the search begun in chapter 4 "to discover the relevance of spirituality." Reeve finally finds a religion and uses this as another coping mechanism. Again, as with the chapter on religion, this is an honest and candid chapter that I found refreshing to read.
(6) HOPE (presented as the last chapter, chapter 9). Hope can only be realized through effort. Thus Reeve tells us that "Since 1997 I have worked closely with [politicians] on health care reform, rights of the disabled, and increased funding for biomedical research." This chapter concludes with an essay written by Reeve about hope entitled "The Lighthouse." Hope is another coping mechanism he used.
(7) ADVOCACY (presented as chapter 6). It tells us how Reeve began "defining [his] role as an advocate for research [especially stem cell research] and [improving] the quality of life for people with disabilities [by, for example, advocating increased health and disability insurance]." Here we learn more about science and politics.
(8) RECOVERY (presented as chapter 7). By late 2000, Reeve had some surprises regarding his condition. He states, "[There have been] three...significant milestones in my history as a spinal cord patient. The first was discovering that my injury was not complete; the second was finding out that I could breath on my own, if only for short periods of time, [and third] the ability to initiate movement." As a consequence, his hope increased and his advocacy work increased.
(9) PARENTING (presented as chapter 4). Reeve had three children, two sons and one daughter. We discover through him how it is possible to be a good parent despite having a severe disability.
The only minor weakness with this book is the chapter order. However, I easily overcame this problem and established a pattern that works for me. Thus, to recap the above, I read this nine chapter book in the following chapter order:
{1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 6, 7, 4}
Finally and sadly, Reeve died recently (from causes not directly related to his injury). He is survived by his parents, one brother, two half brothers, one half sister, his wife, and his three children.
In conclusion, Reeve portrayed the "Man of Steel" in the 1978 movie "Superman, The Movie" (his first movie that won him a Most Promising Newcomer award). In the years after his injury, he transcended this title to become the "Man of Courage and Action." Be sure to read this book to learn the final inspirational thoughts of Christopher Reeve (September 1952 to October 2004)!!
(first published 2002; 180 pages; acknowledgements; 9 chapters; photos throughout; about the author; about the photographer who is his son Matt Reeve)
+++++
Rating:
Summary: Audio Review - "Nothing is Impossible"
Review:
The AUDIO VERSION of this book is A REAL DELIGHT to listen to. Mr. Reeve has such a kind voice and just to be able to hear him talk regularly now, without having to pause for a breath every 5 seconds or so,like he did years ago, brings a big happy smile to my face. I do not know anyone suffering from paralysis personally, but still found the book very interesting. I DID NOT want to MISS out on A WORD HE SAID. I found the information he gave on stem cell reasearch so interesting and informative, that I now plan to support the effort for research in the United States. I used to hope that he would walk someday, but AFTER LISTENING to what he had to say, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HE WILL WALK AGAIN.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational and Awe Inspirng Journey of a Super Man
Review: Being a huge fan of Christopher Reeve since he literally flew onto the big screen in 1978, I was truely horrified after his life-altering accident in 1995. As I grew from young child to teenager to young adulthood, I found myself marveling at the man and not so much on the character he played so so magnificently in the four chapters of the Superman films. He truely exemplifies "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" and it is funny that he told Richard Donner that he was afraid that he would not be able to live up to the creedo. He did and still continues to do so. The most remarkable thing about this book is the fact that he can draw so much humor from such a tragic occurance (of course having Robin Williams at your bedside probably did not hurt). The progress Chris has made both physically and mentally is nothing short of miraculous and although he did not meet his challenge of walking by age 50, he will one day walk again. As the tag-line for Superman proclamed "You Will Believe a Man Can Fly (walk)."
Rating:
Summary: MY HERO -- CHRISTOPHER REEVE
Review: CHRISTOPHER REEVE - My Hero
By Matthew P. "Black"
In a world shrouded by villains, few heroes could lift the veil and stand so tall, so much larger than life as to be unforgettable. Such a person was Christopher Reeve.
When I was very young, Chris literally flew into my life as the very personification of my favourite super hero. He was at first just an actor, a mere mortal, playing a character with God-like qualities. But although Chris became famous for merely playing a Superman, in the aftermath of his tragic accident, he metamorphosed into a being whose very determination and humanity transcended the fictional. Christopher Reeve became a Superman.
His smile, bright blue eyes and handsome face remained intact for the entire world to see as he battled his condition, not just for himself, but for all mankind.
Chris was determined to one day walk again, for all the reasons in the world that one could imagine, but to me, for the best ones of all: because he wanted too, because he believed he COULD. He would never let anyone tell him that it wasn't possible. THAT is why Christopher Reeve was a Superhero. He believed that all big obstacles could be overcome.
When I heard that he had died, for the first time in my life, I shed tears for a celebrity I had never met. Such was Chris's spirit, such was his intellect and determination, that I couldn't help but feel sorrow for his passing. Christopher Reeve was beautiful, both in body and in spirit. His painful journey of the last nine years forged a human being to truly look up to.
In the years to come, when we watch his fine acting performances again, read his inspiring words, and heed his call to throw off the shackles of paralysis, we will remember the real-life Superhero that had moved amongst us for 52 short years.
Goodbye, Christopher. We love you and we will NEVER forget you. Even when you could not walk, you made us believe that anyone could fly.
Rating:
Summary: I am sad
Review: Christopher Reeve died almost 3 months ago i am researching him and he fell off the horse and still survived and even though he was real hurt alot he cared of other people he was a good athlete and especially actor.He was a huge survivor.
In Memoriam,
Christopher Reeve
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational Writings
Review: Christopher Reeve's second major book is an attempt at the inspiration/self-help genre. While the book is a little unbalanced at some points, I found that Reeve is successful in communicating an inspiration message to his readers.
Being two years removed from my father's life altering stroke and currently undergoing some burdens of my own, I found the book's relevance to go beyond those who are paralyzed. Reeve begins the book by reminding the reader of the preciousness of life. Reeve admits to wishing for death after his accident. But he was reminded that those close to you would rather that you be around irregarless of your condition because they love you. Further chapters discuss topics including humor, mind and body relationship, and parenting in the face of a major life alterations. In his chapter on recovery, I found his discussion of stem cell research to be one of the more articulate statements on the issue that I have read. Reeve takes the time to thoughtfully write counterpoints to the arguments against the medical issue. At the same time, he respects those who area against the research for religious reasons. Also, included at the end of the book is Reeve's inspirational essay "The Lighthouse". All of the themes flow together surprisingly well. The one detractor I found in "Nothing is Impossible" is the chapters on religion and faith. While I respect Reeve's beliefs and I am happy that he has God in his life, the chapters on religion seem unfocused. In his chapter titled "Religion", he spend most of the pages talking about his experiences with Scientology. Only at the end of the chapter titled "Faith" does he discuss finding the answer to his spiritual journey. While the journey is interesting, I suspect most readers thirst for solutions with Reeve as an inspiration. This omission left me believing I should the book a score more like 4 1/2 stars. I found the writings of Christopher Reeve to be touching and uplifting. Aside from the one theme I discussed, Reeve does an excellent job of creating an uplifting read with the use of the changes in his life as a background story.
Rating:
Summary: An important new book by an amazing man
Review: I highly recommend Christopher Reeve's new book, Nothing Is Impossible. It is an easy, fast read and straight forward. I could well relate to certain life experiences he has had and his conclusions about certain things. It helped me clarify certain issues too which was of invaluable worth personally. I also have seen Reeve's recent tv interviews on Charley Rose and 20/20 in which Reeve handled himself superbly. Everyone should read his book and all that his book can offer many readers. Reeve is a man of worthwhile, powerful social change in a stubborn system. His book gives very important evidence and clues into how the human mind. body and spirit can and does work. Superman is someone we should all pay attention to and he has some very sound ideas and reasons. His book is now among my most selective works and for future rereadings. Great book cover too!
Rating:
Summary: Another touching, thought-provoking book by Reeve
Review: I loved Christopher Reeve's autobiography, STILL ME . . . it was
both touching and thought-provoking . . . so is his latest book, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. This is a collection of stories from his own life, interweaved
with excerpts from speeches and interviews he has given . . . there are also moving pictures, taken by his son Matthew. Reeve contends that we are all capable of overcoming
seemingly insurmountable hardships . . . also, he teaches us
that life is not to be taken for granted--but to be lived fully
with zeal, curiosity and gratitude. Reading this had me laughing at times . . . yet it also
had me teary . . . I do recommend it . . . strongly. There were many memorable passages; among them:
* Occasionally I hear from people with spinal
cord injuries who have been sitting in a wheel-
chair for as much as twenty-one years. Some
tell me that there is no point in searching for a
cure; others even say they are happy with life
the way it is and don't want to be cured. It's
difficult for me to understand their point of
view, but I completely respect those individuals
as long as they don't try to interfere with
progress. Less than a generation ago it would
have been almost irrelevant to ask a patient
with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, muscular
dystrophy, ALS, or a spinal cord injury not to
stand in the way of progress, simply because
there wasn't much. Today all that has changed.
Since the time of my injury, scientists all over
the world have been steadily moving forward,
although they are not progressing as rapidly
as many patients would like. At least they have
been saying publicly, and most of us believe
privately, that it is no longer appropriate or
necessary to use the word "impossible." * I remember thoroughly embarrassing another
nurse her first day on the job. I had been treated
for a skin breakdown in the sacral area, which had
plagued me for months but finally healed. Lying on
my left side I asked her, "How's my butt?" She replied,
"It looks great to me." I said, "I know that. But what
about my skin?" She turned crimson. For a moment
I thought I'd lost her, but thankfully she came back
for her next shift, and after all these years she's still
here checking out my butt on a daily basis. * We spent most of the time talking. I quickly realized
that we'd never really done that before. When Matthew
and Al flew over from England to be with Dana and
me for at least a part of every vacation, I usually picked
them up at the airport in Boston. Then it was a three
hour drive across Massachusetts to our home in the
Berkshires. I remember listening to the radio together
on one of those trips when they were about nine and
five. We tuned in to a variety of stations that played
classical music, rock 'n' roll, contemporary top forty
and oldies. I asked them to identify the meter: Was the
piece in 1 / 2, 3 / 4, 4 / 4, 6 / 8, or something else? How would they describe the tempo of the classical
pieces: adagio, andante, allegro, or something else?
In the rock 'n' roll and contemporary pop selections
could they distinguish between the main melody and
the bridge, also known as the middle eight? Somewhere
along the mass Pike, Al piped up in her chirpy English
accent. "Do you know, Daddy," she said, "this is the first
time in such a long time that we've had a real conversation
about something?" I realized that she was right. Not that
we didn't talk, but usually it was while doing something
else. Now I gave them my full attention, and I soon learned
to listen more than talk. That began a process of discovering
that, in bringing up children and relating to others, some-
times being is more important the doing. I was also to
learn that even if you can't move, you can have a powerful
effect with what you say. One special day in Will's life is a good example. When he
was six, he was still afraid to ride by himself without the
training wheels on his bike. Dana spent hours killing her
back as she bent over to hold his seat as he pedaled
around timidly in front of our garage. I decided to see if
I could help. I told him to start with his left foot on the
ground and to set the right pedal in the fully raised
position. I told him to grab the handlebars, push hard
on the right pedal, and then put his left foot on the other
pedal and keep going, being careful not to over-steer. I
said if he kept his hand steady the bike wouldn't wobble
so much. He listened carefully and got into the ready
position. Then he froze, afraid to make that first push.
I told him to take his time, but added that I was prepared
to sit in the driveway all afternoon until he did it. I
reminded him that I would never ask him to do anything
too scary of too difficult. He didn't complain; he just sat
there for quite a long time assessing the situation. Then
I announced that on the count of three he should start.
I made it a long count, but after three I said, "Go," and
he did it. He pushed down, the bike moved forward,
he got his other foot on the pedal, and off he went. On
his first run he made a complete circle around the
driveway. As he came past my chair the first time, his
face was a study in fierce concentration. The second
time he came by, he was smiling. For the next fifteen
minutes he kept riding around our circular drive, gradually
picking up speed. After that he wanted to go down the
steep hill toward our mailbox, but we saved that for
another day.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational!
Review: I picked up this book at my school's library and started glancing through it. It's possibly one of the most motivational and inspirational books I've seen! Reeve recounts all of his trials and how he learned to function again. Throughout it all, he stayed strong with his wife Dana, who supported him through everything. A must read!
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