debrajoy87's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book and I really did love parts of it, but on whole, I just didn't. The parts about his life with his disease were touching and real but the HUGE section of the book that he used as a political statement was boring and hard to relate to.
I really do admire Michael J. Fox, for pushing through his disease and for using his celebrity status and money to help find a cure for Parkinson's. A large portion of the book is dedicated to his support of stem cell research, so if you have a problem with that, you might not love this book. Even if you are the biggest fan of stem cell research, you still probably aren't going to love this book.
It doesn't seem real to me. I wanted more family, more life, less politics. I wanted to be inspired but instead felt flat after finishing this book. I know there have been plenty of people who loved this book. I wasn't one of them. I liked it, it was alright but I never plan on reading it again.
I really do admire Michael J. Fox, for pushing through his disease and for using his celebrity status and money to help find a cure for Parkinson's. A large portion of the book is dedicated to his support of stem cell research, so if you have a problem with that, you might not love this book. Even if you are the biggest fan of stem cell research, you still probably aren't going to love this book.
It doesn't seem real to me. I wanted more family, more life, less politics. I wanted to be inspired but instead felt flat after finishing this book. I know there have been plenty of people who loved this book. I wasn't one of them. I liked it, it was alright but I never plan on reading it again.
manadabomb's review against another edition
4.0
Fox intrigues me simply because he went the opposite direction with his Parkinson's diagnosis than my dad did with his. After reading this book, I'm more impressed than ever. Fox began exhibiting symptoms of PD when he was 29 but brushed them off as overexertion. The actual PD diagnosis brought a some depression and a time of keeping it to himself. He continued to act on Spin City until the symptoms just couldn't be contained anymore.
This book is divided up into 4 sections: Work, Politics, Faith, Family. These are the 4 areas of his life that keep him going. The Work section describes his decision to give up his acting career and basically step aside. What he didn't know at the time was that he would create a Foundation that would take the place of his acting career. Fox created the Michael J Fox Foundation to fund research to cure PD. He eventually wants his Foundation to go out of business because that would mean that PD was cured.
The Politics section describes how he placed himself in the area to advocate on the behalf of the millions of PD patients and the millions of other patients who could benefit from stem cell research. He has crisscrossed the country backing politicians who support stem cell research without regard for party lines (he can safely take a stand as the MJF Foundation receives no government funding. Chris Reeve couldn't because his Foundation did receive government funding). Most people will probably remember the Rush controversy, ie. Rush making an ass of himself by mocking Fox's commerical for Claire Gaskill and saying that Fox is acting or deliberately not taking his medicine. I remember being pissed because I knew how bad PD is WITH medicine. How Fox looked in his commerical looked like a good day.
The Faith sections expounds on Fox's childhood religious views (there weren't many) and how things have evolved since marrying Tracy, who is Jewish. They raised their children as Jewish but Fox has kept an open mind about all regligious aspects, being more curious than anything.
The last section delves into his Family. He talks about his kids, how they bond and how they handle "Shaky Dad".
Fox is a good storyteller and makes you laugh about the issues he has had to deal with having PD. It's a nice change because as I said, my dad has taken the opposite tack. No humor with lots of self-pity.
Fox's story is inspiring and the work he has done for stem cell research is amazing. His Foundation, in the short time it's been open, has done more for stem cell research and PD research than any other Foundation or government-sponsored program. With Obama as POTUS now and having lifted the ban on stem cell research, Fox may get his wish of having to close his Foundation down.
This book is divided up into 4 sections: Work, Politics, Faith, Family. These are the 4 areas of his life that keep him going. The Work section describes his decision to give up his acting career and basically step aside. What he didn't know at the time was that he would create a Foundation that would take the place of his acting career. Fox created the Michael J Fox Foundation to fund research to cure PD. He eventually wants his Foundation to go out of business because that would mean that PD was cured.
The Politics section describes how he placed himself in the area to advocate on the behalf of the millions of PD patients and the millions of other patients who could benefit from stem cell research. He has crisscrossed the country backing politicians who support stem cell research without regard for party lines (he can safely take a stand as the MJF Foundation receives no government funding. Chris Reeve couldn't because his Foundation did receive government funding). Most people will probably remember the Rush controversy, ie. Rush making an ass of himself by mocking Fox's commerical for Claire Gaskill and saying that Fox is acting or deliberately not taking his medicine. I remember being pissed because I knew how bad PD is WITH medicine. How Fox looked in his commerical looked like a good day.
The Faith sections expounds on Fox's childhood religious views (there weren't many) and how things have evolved since marrying Tracy, who is Jewish. They raised their children as Jewish but Fox has kept an open mind about all regligious aspects, being more curious than anything.
The last section delves into his Family. He talks about his kids, how they bond and how they handle "Shaky Dad".
Fox is a good storyteller and makes you laugh about the issues he has had to deal with having PD. It's a nice change because as I said, my dad has taken the opposite tack. No humor with lots of self-pity.
Fox's story is inspiring and the work he has done for stem cell research is amazing. His Foundation, in the short time it's been open, has done more for stem cell research and PD research than any other Foundation or government-sponsored program. With Obama as POTUS now and having lifted the ban on stem cell research, Fox may get his wish of having to close his Foundation down.
mlottermoser's review against another edition
3.0
Michael J. Fox is an optimist. Having to deal with Parkinson's is no walk in the park but he smiles as he fights for a cure. I found his book interesting, informative, and inspiring. Though I have to admit his rambling style and organization choices were not my favorite.
emsley7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A great follow up to lucky man.
hookinemme's review against another edition
4.0
interesting, held my attention. left me wanting more.
abstract_amber77's review against another edition
5.0
Very uplifting...great insight into the way MJ Fox thinks! Definitely worth your time. I recommend reading his first book, "Lucky Man," before reading this one.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this one as much as [b:Lucky Man|133729|Lucky Man|Michael J. Fox|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1398617130s/133729.jpg|2166070] or [b:A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future...: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned|7558692|A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future... Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned|Michael J. Fox|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1441390625s/7558692.jpg|9871315]. In both those books, Fox wrote as if he was talking to a friend, not the usual way autobiographies are written but this made it even more enjoyable. This book was written as a standard autobiography is, which is't bad, but not as fun or interesting as the other two were.
wordsbetweenlines's review against another edition
4.0
4⭐️
I did this one as an audiobook.
I think I like doing memoirs as audiobooks, I find I am connecting with them more when the author narrates it.
My love and knowledge of Michael J Fox prior to this was his arc on Scubs (tied for my top tv show of all time) and that he has Parkinson’s.
This memoir had more political references than I expected but really I had such a small reference prior to listening.
Michael J Fox is incredibly inspiring and if you like memoirs add this to your list. It was fascinating, thought provoking and inspiring.
hillarya's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sorry, I couldn't make it through the 2nd chapter, so I just skimmed the rest. I was really expecting more on having a positive attitude than about politics. I learned a lot about stem cell research, though, and what it really entails. I really do admire Michael J Fox and all that he has had to endure. I know everything he is doing is for betterment of this world and to find that during these times is refreshing.