Lucky Man: A Memoir [Paperback]

Michael J. Fox (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 9, 2003

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, humor, 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.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Michael J. Fox is donating the profits from his book to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is dedicated to fast-forwarding the cure for Parkinson's disease. The Foundation will move aggressively to identify the most promising research and raise the funds to assure that a cure is found for the millions of people living with this disorder. The Foundation's web site, MichaelJFox.org, carries the latest pertinent information about Parkinson's disease, including:
--A detailed description of Parkinson's disease
--How you can help find the cure
--Public Services Announcements that are aired on network and cable television stations across the country to increase awareness
--Upcoming related Parkinson's disease events and meetings
--Updates on recent research and developments

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The same sharp intelligence and self-deprecating wit that made Michael J. Fox a star in the Family Ties TV series and Back to the Future make this a lot punchier than the usual up-from-illness celebrity memoir. Yes, he begins with the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the incurable illness that led to his retirement from Spin City (and acting) in 2000. And yes, he assures us he is a better, happier person now than he was before he was diagnosed. In Fox's case, you actually might believe it, because he then cheerfully exposes the insecurities and self-indulgences of his pre-Parkinson's life in a manner that makes them not glamorous but wincingly ordinary and of course very funny. ("As for the question, 'Does it bother you that maybe she just wants to sleep with you because you're a celebrity?' My answer to that one was, 'Ah...nope.'") With a working-class Canadian background, Fox has an unusually detached perspective on the madness of mass-media fame; his description of the tabloid feeding frenzy surrounding his 1988 wedding to Tracy Pollan, for example, manages to be both acid and matter-of-fact. He is frank but not maudlin about his drinking problem, and he refreshingly notes that getting sober did not automatically solve all his other problems. This readable, witty autobiography reminds you why it was generally a pleasure to watch Fox onscreen: he's a nice guy with an edge, and you don't have to feel embarrassed about liking him. --Wendy Smith --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

A popular actor recounts his life. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (April 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786888741
• ISBN-13: 978-0786888740
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (417 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Parkinson's Disease

More About the Author

Michael J. Fox is best known today for his hit Channel Four sitcom Spin City that he also produced. In the eighties he became an international mega-star, first through TV shows such as Family Ties, then through the record-breaking Back To The Future movies.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 142 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, lively, VERY candid -- and highly touching April 8, 2002

By Joel L. Gandelman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Michael J. Fox has always been known as a nice guy. So what has he been DOING in Hollywood? In Hollywood nice guys often finish last. But in Fox's case, he beat the odds.

It's no secret that some of the Powers That Be weren't entirely enamored when, as a young Canadian "unknown," he was cast in the role as Alex, in NBC's hit t.v. comedy Family Ties. But when the show debuted he proved that he had that certain "something" -- that rare talent to link up with an audience. Call it "charisma," or likeability but it, plus
his considerable acting talents, drove the ratings -- and his show biz career -- sky-high.

Now Fox has written one of the most genuinely honest, touching and moving show biz bios ever, Lucky Man. But it is MORE than a show biz bio, because it deals with how his life was impacted by Parkinson's disease, how he coped with it, accepted it and how he wants to help others.

Lucky Man should be titled Lucky Us, because anyone who reads it can't help walking away from it a mite richer, inspired, and more appreciative of the fact that the upsides and
downsides of life sometimes coincide...but, overall, it can be a joyous ride.

Fox did NOT have this ghost written and it certainly reads like an autobiography written by an actor known for his great sense of irony and sense of humor.... All the usual
biographical "boilerplate" material is there about his early years (a military brat who had a normal, well-centered childhood) quick rise to fame (Family Ties was a smash hit, largely of Fox's charisma -- which he is too modest to mention), and glimpses of the REAL show biz world behind the scenes (his account of how Cher snubbed him at an Academy Awards ceremony has already become an instant classic -- about how someone way up there in Hollywood's pecking order seemingly considers someone else not as famous and therefore perhaps not as
worthy).

But aside from his natural humor, honesty, and the inside Hollywood tidbits, what's going to make this a book that will long be remembered -- and ultimately be turned into a
wide-screen or television movie -- is how he coped with news about his illness, emerged from denial, and decided to dedicate his life to look for a cure for and to increase public
awareness about the disease.

Some chapters may make you cry. For instance, I never knew until I read this that Fox KNEW he had Parkinson's when he signed on to do Spin City. It was only when he felt he had to quit the series to spend more time with his family and his new cause that he did so.

In the passages that show him battling alcohol, and coping with his illness, not a word is there for dramatic effect. It's all sincere.

I will be forever haunted by the passage where his he teaches his five-year-old son, Sam, how to stop his Dad's involuntary thumb movements, by squeezing his thumb or
twisting it, then counting to give and doing it again. Fox writes of how he saw his son's delight "in getting the timing down, short-circuiting the wiggle every time" but once Sam
realized it came back again he "detected a slight look of "Uh-Oh, what have I gotten myself into?"

And I admit getting teary-eyed when he concluded after his hopes that surgery would help him were dashed that (his problems returned fullforce) that the Parkinson's was "just doing what it's supposed to do" and that he he was going to "just show up and do the best that I could do with whatever lay in front of me."

On every page Fox's talent, humanity and decency shine through. Michael J. Fox titled it Lucky Man, because of the love and support of his friends and family. But we're the Lucky Ones for having Fox write such a poignant, sincere and touching book. Read more ›

146 of 155 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely surprise April 2, 2002

By A O Cazola

Format:Hardcover

Starting into any celebrity memoir is always a little harrowing. Will Star X check their ego at the door?
Will the sugarcoating be too much to bear?
Who is going to be the target of the revenge-inspired smear campaign?

That's why Lucky Man is so refreshing. Michael J. Fox has told the story of his life and, more importantly, of his struggle with Parkinson's Disease. LUCKY MAN, though, is no sob story. Fox sees his diagnosis with PD as an opportunity to help.

"The ten years since my diagnosis have been the best ten years of my life, and I consider myself a lucky man." this quote sums up the feel of the whole book. Warm, funny and painfully honest, Fox lets us into his life both before and after PD. We learn about his family, his drinking problem and life in Hollywood, but not in the lurid way that some stars tell it. His writing is down to earth and real.

Michael J. Fox has crafted an inspirational and important book without relying on cookie-cutter tear-jerking cliche or obvious pity ploys. LUCKY MAN is the best memoir I've read in a long time.

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Book about Fox, Parkinson's and life's lessons... April 8, 2002

By emt0402

Format:Hardcover

I always have an admiration for those who write autobiographies. It seems you are opening yourself up, letting everyone see who you are, learn about your mistakes, but best of all, allow people to see you are human. Michael J. Fox has done an extraordinary job with "Lucky Man". He begins the book by telling of his childhood in Canada, all leading up to his career. He talks then about his insecurities as an actor and a person. If Michael J. Fox has an ego, he leaves it checked at the door. From then, he talks about his diagnosis with Parkinson's. From his feelings that this was his punishment for not being the person he thought he should have been, through denial, anger and finally acceptance, Fox tells the world, that while he is not perfect, he is indeed lucky.

I found this book to be inspiring for anyone. It shows that things in life can either change you for the better or completely take over, but ultimately, the choice is yours. Throughout, I laughed, cried and above all, I hoped. For anyone who has ever been diagnosed with Parkinson's, for anyone, anywhere, Fox can teach us all a major lesson in life. And it is even for a good cause. I would give this book my highest recommendation.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Courage to Be Yourself August 7, 2008

By A Reader

Format:Paperback

Michael J. Fox's memoir "Lucky Man" is a great and inspiring read. One thing I admire about Fox is that he's basically an average guy who was dealt some wild cards and has managed to thrive in life - including, not in spite of, his circumstances. One thing I found consistently striking and inspiring is Fox's courage throughout all of his life experiences to be true to himself. In some instances, this meant following his natural instincts in his career, and in others it meant hiding his disease from the public as a delicately-timed and balanced lifestyle. His honesty and lack of pretension is also refreshing; he talks not only of the Hollywood lifestyle he had when his career took off, but also of his self-doubts and fears.

If you were also inspired by this honest perspective on enjoying life to
the fullest, I highly recommend the books Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, as well as Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Can Instantaneously Transform Your Life, by Ariel & Shya Kane. The Kanes talk specifically about living in the moment as a way of discovering magic in your life - how to do it, how to not do it, and how it is easy and effortless. In his book, Fox talks about how "his 'job' is whatever he happens to be doing at the moment - whether it's giving a speech, changing a diaper, writing a book," etc. If you'd like to discover a sense of truly being here for each moment and living your life as wholly as possible (without having to experience a major tragedy or disease), look no further than these wonderful books.