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Lucky Man: A Memoir [Paperback]

Michael J. Fox
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (159 customer reviews)
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Book Description

April 9 2003
A funny, highly personal, gorgeously written account of what it's like to be a 30-year-old man who is told he has an 80-year-old's disease.

"Life is great. Sometimes, though, you just have to put up with a little more crap." --Michael J. Fox

In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease -- a degenerative neurological condition. In fact, he had been secretly fighting it for seven years. The worldwide response was staggering. Fortunately, he had accepted the diagnosis and by the time the public started grieving for him, he had stopped grieving for himself. Now, with the same passion, humor, and energy that Fox has invested in his dozens of performances over the last 18 years, he tells the story of his life, his career, and his campaign to find a cure for Parkinson's.

Combining his trademark ironic sensibility and keen sense of the absurd, he recounts his life -- from his childhood in a small town in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television which made him a worldwide celebrity. Most importantly however, he writes of the last 10 years, during which -- with the unswerving support of his wife, family, and friends -- he has dealt with his illness. He talks about what Parkinson's has given him: the chance to appreciate a wonderful life and career, and the opportunity to help search for a cure and spread public awareness of the disease. He is a very lucky man, indeed.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Michael J. Fox is donating the profits from his book to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is dedicated to fast-forwarding the cure for Parkinson's disease. The Foundation will move aggressively to identify the most promising research and raise the funds to assure that a cure is found for the millions of people living with this disorder. The Foundation's web site, MichaelJFox.org, carries the latest pertinent information about Parkinson's disease, including:
--A detailed description of Parkinson's disease
--How you can help find the cure
--Public Services Announcements that are aired on network and cable television stations across the country to increase awareness
--Upcoming related Parkinson's disease events and meetings
--Updates on recent research and developments

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Lucky Man: A Memoir + Always Looking Up: The Adventures Of An Incurable Optimist + A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned
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The same sharp intelligence and self-deprecating wit that made Michael J. Fox a star in the Family Ties TV series and Back to the Future make this a lot punchier than the usual up-from-illness celebrity memoir. Yes, he begins with the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the incurable illness that led to his retirement from Spin City (and acting) in 2000. And yes, he assures us he is a better, happier person now than he was before he was diagnosed. In Fox's case, you actually might believe it, because he then cheerfully exposes the insecurities and self-indulgences of his pre-Parkinson's life in a manner that makes them not glamorous but wincingly ordinary and of course very funny. ("As for the question, 'Does it bother you that maybe she just wants to sleep with you because you're a celebrity?' My answer to that one was, 'Ah...nope.'") With a working-class Canadian background, Fox has an unusually detached perspective on the madness of mass-media fame; his description of the tabloid feeding frenzy surrounding his 1988 wedding to Tracy Pollan, for example, manages to be both acid and matter-of-fact. He is frank but not maudlin about his drinking problem, and he refreshingly notes that getting sober did not automatically solve all his other problems. This readable, witty autobiography reminds you why it was generally a pleasure to watch Fox onscreen: he's a nice guy with an edge, and you don't have to feel embarrassed about liking him. --Wendy Smith --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

A popular actor recounts his life. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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I woke up to find the message in my left hand. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Aug 3 2006
By TCL
Format:Paperback
In my youth I had my first celebrity crush on Michael J. Fox. This books validates all my feelings. He is humble and honest about his past mistakes. His sincerity and general appreciation for his role in life is communicated thoughtfully as well as intelligently.
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Format:Paperback
READ THIS WHEN IT ORIGINALLY WAS RELEASED SEVERAL YRS. AGO AND THIS YOUNG CANADIAN'S BRAVERY SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY HIS FANS DAILY.
Was this review helpful to you?
Format:Hardcover
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

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Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Some parts more interesting than others.
Although the condition he intends to hilight & bring predominately to the forefront in his novel is his Parkinson's Disease; it's amusing that it unintentionally becomes clear... Read more
Published on Dec 11 2009 by The Unpopular Opinionist
5.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD READ FROM MARTY MCFLY
I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. MIKE DOES A GOOD JOB DESCRIBING HIS DISEASE. HE GOES IN GREAT DETAIL WITH THE SYMPTOMS, DENIAL, MEDICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND FINALLY COMING OUT OF THE... Read more
Published on Jun 6 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!!
Short and Sweet, this book is great. I listened to the book-on-Cd which Michael J. Fox read, and it was a fantastic voyage through his life.
Published on April 20 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars I have never been so touched
I Usually do not read books at all, but when I passed by the book store in the mall and i saw this book on display, it grabbed my attention immediatly. Read more
Published on April 7 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars Who knew!
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. Read more
Published on Mar 27 2004 by R. Ekker
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and interesting book
I have always liked Michael J. Fox since his days as Alex P Keaton. In this book he shares his life story--the good, the bad and the ugly story. Read more
Published on Feb 1 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars A FINE MAN...
This is a wonderful memoir by a beloved actor. I have always been a fan of Michael J. Fox, as he always seemed so likable in every role in which he has been cast. Read more
Published on Jan 23 2004 by Lawyeraau
5.0 out of 5 stars A book that touched me like no other
I have been a fan, and will continue to be, of Michael's for about a little over 10 years now. (I am now 20y/o. Read more
Published on Jan 16 2004 by K. L. Stephens
5.0 out of 5 stars A childhood fave is still going strong
Like many children of the 1980's, I grew up watching Mr. Fox on Family Ties and Back to the Future, both of which intentionally projected a 'boy next door' look which was pretty... Read more
Published on Dec 28 2003 by Robin Orlowski
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for any Michael J. Fox fan!
As a Michael J. Fox fan of 17 years and still going, this was a great book. I've been a fan since the age of 9 and this book just proved what a great guy he really is. Read more
Published on Dec 26 2003
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