INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A moving account of resilience, hope, fear and mortality, and how these things resonate in our lives, by actor and advocate Michael J. Fox.
The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson's advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the world's leading non-profit funder of PD science. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism. His new memoir reassesses this outlook, as events in the past decade presented additional challenges.
In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox's trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses.
Running through the narrative is the drama of the medical madness Fox recently experienced, that included his daily negotiations with the Parkinson's disease he's had since 1991, and a spinal cord issue that necessitated immediate surgery. His challenge to learn how to walk again, only to suffer a devastating fall, nearly caused him to ditch his trademark optimism and "get out of the lemonade business altogether."
Does he make it all of the way back? Read the book.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
November 17, 2020 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781250265623
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781250265623
- File size: 2243 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Kirkus
October 15, 2020
In his fourth book, Fox expresses gratitude for the past and looks to the future with a firm grasp on how to be "both a realist and an optimist." Though the actor, activist, and author has lived a blessed life, he has also faced plenty of adversity. In 1991, at 29, following early success with Family Ties, Teen Wolf, and the Back to the Future series, he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease, a devastating blow that would stop many people in their tracks. But Fox continued to work. After his diagnosis, he had roles in Spin City, Rescue Me, Boston Legal, and The Michael J. Fox Show, among other TV show and film appearances. In his latest book, the author, who has recently suffered from a spinal cord issue, is both optimistic and self-reflective: "Have I oversold optimism as a panacea, commodified hope? Have I been an honest broker with the Parkinson's community? The understanding I've reached with Parkinson's is sincere, but the expression of it risks being glib." Fox is refreshingly candid about his latest ailment, which has necessitated frequent use of a wheelchair. He gracefully takes readers on his journey from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for the risky surgical procedure and then New York City for intense rehab, and he praises his compassionate doctors and their top-notch care. The tone of the memoir is not entirely somber; though Fox ponders death, he also shares memories of a safari in Tanzania and a trip to Mount Everest: "Flying over the Himalayas is like housesitting for God." Throughout, the author clearly expresses his love for his family: his wife of 30 years, Tracy Pollan Fox, their four children, and Gus, the family dog. A heartfelt, unselfish book about never giving up that should serve as good motivational material for readers.COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Library Journal
December 4, 2020
Despite a diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson's at the age of 29, iconic actor, author, and philanthropist Fox continued performing, raised four children, and started a foundation that has raised nearly a billion dollars for Parkinson's research. In his fourth book, Fox reflects on his second career of roles that incorporated his physical challenges and revisits memorable moments in his personal life. Facing an empty nest, he adopted a dog named Gus, who quickly became his best friend; golfed regularly with Harlan Coben and George Stephanopoulos; and traveled the world. Then came 2018, a year of loss and excruciating setbacks, beginning with the death of his father-in-law, followed by surgery for a spinal tumor and a fall that led to a devastating arm injury. Rather than wallow in self-pity, he attempts to define his fears, find optimism, and confront his new reality head-on. Fox writes beautifully, with humor and the self-deprecation that defined his on-screen persona. VERDICT Infused with intelligence, honesty, and the perfect dose of optimism, Fox's story will resonate with his fans, including those living with Parkinson's.--Lisa Henry, Kirkwood P.L., MO
Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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