Book Review #414 - Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. Fox

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, humour, 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.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Michael J. Fox is an actor that I didn't know that much about before reading this book. I am a fan of the Back to the Future movies which is the reason I picked up this book.

Not only does this book give great insight into what it was like for him being diagnosed with such a crippling disease but is also gave insight into what it is like being famous and the advantages and disadvantages that come with that.

It amazed me to what lengths he had to go through just to keep his tremors away from the public eye. From having to move his hand every four seconds to timing his medication to perfection.

He lived two very different lives. He kept his personal life and his celebrity life completely separate and the lengths he went to to keep it that way were also very interesting.