Lucky Man

Like many people, the film Back to the Future brought Michael J. Fox into my life and ever since I've kinda been a fan. I'd like to add here that I dislike autobiographies with `the passion'; of the ten or so I've felt compelled to read, I've always found them mind bogglingly dull. The factual candour irritates me so much that I call them `Alan books', named after Steve Coogan's brilliant alter-ego Alan Partridge. In Partridge's autobiography `Bouncing Back' Alan would seemingly always end a passage with the phrase "....needless to say I had the last laugh." I find this so true of the autos that I've read that I always promise myself "NEVER AGAIN WILL MY EYES FALL UPON AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY!" Sorry to digress there.So there I am wondering what to read next, when my brother hands me MJF's autobiography; when I came around some ten minutes later, I said to my brother "what are you doing with a book?" "I thought you might want this; I thought it would be an interesting read." Well it certainly was folks, but it was also quite shocking. You discover a great deal about Michael's big break in TV and film, his disastrous first encounter with his future wife, how he was snubbed by Cher, his taste for Mousehead beer and of course his battle with PD.Michael wasn't a rich kid, with well connected parents in Hollywood's casting corridors; instead you'll find something that's quite the opposite. The book is not dreary, it's quite educational and a real eye opener into what PD has done to enrich this great actor. I recommend this book for two reasons: how the human spirit can overcome adversity and what it means to have people around you in times of great anxiety. Speaking from personal experience I can completely relate to both.A lot of autobiography's will be a waste of your time, but this one will leave you richer and wiser.

This is a candid memoir and account about Michael J. Fox's career and struggle with Parkinson's disease which has affected his career and life so profoundly. Michael was the prime star in the television series Family Ties and the Back to the Future movies to name some of his work. He concealed this disease from the public until 1998 when he revealed the news after a seven-year secret battle with it.He details his first symptoms of Parkinson's disease that eventually led to early retirement from his show, Spin City. His Canadian background, marriage to Tracy Pollan and his four children are exposed with pride. Michael has considered the last ten years as his most happiness despite the fact he has this incurable disease. He manages the struggles with a sense of humor and acceptance.This self-described army brat who loves hockey, a strong drink and creative writing exhibits his witty persona in this memoir. Fox's main plight now is raising awareness and funds to combat Parkinson's disease.I found this book to be an intimate and touching acocunt of the ups and downs of his career and coming to terms with the dieasese. Reading about his strength and his weaknesses in such an open mannor is almost intimate in a way and for me I found it a truely worthwhile read which sits with me still now. I will be getting his seocnd book in due course and it just goes to show you never truly know what people are dealing with on a day to day basis.

I have never read a more detailed, true autobiography before this book. Michael goes into detail about his childhood, his hectic life in the 80s and the diagnosis of Parkinson's. I really felt I understood more about his life after reading this. What he went through in the 80s, taping Family Ties and filming BTTF plus his partying days. Even the press hounding him for a picture on his wedding day! A great book. Would recommend.

Very interesting and a book that once read you want to pass on to friends and family

The thing that struck me about this memoir is how well Fox writes. Usually you can tell when it's been ghost written or the celebrity has a go and it lies awkwardly on the page but Fox has an easy flowing style that lets you in to his very personal struggles and challenges. There is little whitewash and his brutally honest expose of his frailties is refreshing and never sentimental. A very good read and a window on many worlds.