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A review by spinesinaline
No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I’ve read a lot of memoirs so far this year, not necessarily intentionally, but this is the first by someone I knew before I read their book! I really like Michael J. Fox as an actor and person so I was excited about this release.
I haven’t read any of Fox’s other books (so many memoirs) so I don’t know how this one fits into his memoir series thus far. This one mostly focuses on his medical experiences in 2018 following a fall, with lots of flashbacks to his diagnosis with Parkinson’s, his acting career, life with his family, and more recent experiences as an activist to provide context.
Sometimes celebrity books don’t work out so well but this was really funny and flowed well. From these pages, Fox is very clearly an optimist. I will say that this is very much his story – his experiences with disability and the access to care that he’s had in his life. In some parts he does recognize the privilege he has in being able to retain top doctors across the country but many won’t have access to these kinds of hospitals and rehab that he describes in much detail.
I haven’t read any of Fox’s other books (so many memoirs) so I don’t know how this one fits into his memoir series thus far. This one mostly focuses on his medical experiences in 2018 following a fall, with lots of flashbacks to his diagnosis with Parkinson’s, his acting career, life with his family, and more recent experiences as an activist to provide context.
Sometimes celebrity books don’t work out so well but this was really funny and flowed well. From these pages, Fox is very clearly an optimist. I will say that this is very much his story – his experiences with disability and the access to care that he’s had in his life. In some parts he does recognize the privilege he has in being able to retain top doctors across the country but many won’t have access to these kinds of hospitals and rehab that he describes in much detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Chronic illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism