15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational and informative, despite its short length, October 29, 2002
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE is a slender book, but its size does not matter. A book doesn't have to be weighty to contain a good story or a powerful idea --- and author Christopher Reeve has both.
The first part of Reeve's story is familiar enough; he experienced a fall from a horse that rendered him suddenly unable to even breathe on his own due to a spinal
cord injury. His physical abilities nothing like the Superman we have come to equate him to. However, Reeve's disability did not overshadow his abilities. He eventually was able to return to work and a productive life directing one movie and starring in another.
The unique part of the story would come later, and that is the story that is chronicled in NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
After undergoing an initial period of rehabilitation for his injuries, Reeve started on an aggressive regimen of physical therapy, involving exercise and electrical stimulation. Unlike many people with spinal cord injuries, Reeve had the financial resources available to continue physical therapy after the period stipulated by his health insurance policy.
Generally, people with spinal cord injuries may experience some improvement shortly after their injuries, but little improvement years after. By using a stationary bicycle and a specially designed table allowing his body to tilt to an upright position, Reeve hoped to regain some level of functionality, and perhaps even walk again.
The results so far have been extraordinary. Reeve recovered to an extent that doctors thought would be impossible so long after his injury; regaining feeling and sensation over a large part of his body, and moving the index finger on his left hand independently. These small steps show large amounts of progress for Reeve, and may result in new thinking about treatments for others with spinal cord injuries. This is a story that, by now, is almost familiar due to the concentrated media coverage the media has devoted to Reeve's progress.
However, this story is only a small part of NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. Only one chapter in the book is devoted to Reeve's recovery, with the rest of the book discussing other issues such as the role of humor in his life, and his experiences parenting his children. As Reeve has spent considerable time and energy in
advocating for stem-cell research and insurance reform, there are long stretches of the book that deal with his efforts to work with members of Congress to reach these goals. And for such a thin book, there is a surprising amount of information about Reeve and his evolving religious beliefs --- including his wry retelling of two visits from purported "faith healers".
There are two very common errors that people make when writing about disability. The first is to treat people with disabilities as objects of pity; passive victims in a world they never made. The second is to treat people with disabilities as heroes; crediting them for immense amounts of courage and valor for doing things that others take for granted. Reeve, as you might expect, falls into neither trap. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE is written completely without either corrosive self-pity or false vanity. In many ways, it is a completely ordinary book --- and that may be its greatest strength. Its greatest weakness, however, is that the book is perhaps too small to tell Christopher Reeve's extraordinary story as it deserves to be told.
--- Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds ....
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
10 star home run......., October 28, 2002
When it comes to celebrity books I usually avoid them like the plague. But Christopher Reeve and Michael J Fox have been the exception and for a good reason. Because I wanted to read how they came to terms with the medical/physical challenges they have and what lessons they have learned along the way. Because the fact is they are mortal humans like the rest of us with hopes, fears and uncertainties and with a life history that set the foundation for how they would cope when faced with major life changing events.
My husband is disabled with head injuries, from being hit by a drunk driver. My mother in law who was a great woman and a positive example in my life died last year (Sept 01) from Parkinsons. And we have a son who was born with juvenile diabetes.
So reading how Christopher Reeve and his family took each day at a time, and how they dealt with each new lesson and how they took a negative and opted to make it a positive and in doing so get involved with science and how it could and can help those with injuries and neurological issues was so fascinating as well as helpful.
I personally appreciated the total honesty, and how he talks about his weaknesses and failings and not just the upside of his life. And how he evolved in his belief about God. My husband was intrigued with the notation that former Senator Bill Bradley the ex basketball star, had been Christopher Reeve instructor in church as a kid. And how now he and his family attend a Unitarian church (a favorite of ours) which is inclusive of all.
I also like his views on the value of humor in everyday life and especially for those who are caregivers or patients. Humor has gotten us thru some major valleys.
And alas I was so impressed with his remarks on stem cell research and how those he mentioned who are against it, often didn't even know the scientific facts. I don't want to say any more but want you to read the book to see who the hot air elected officials were/are.
And his son Matthew did such a wonderful job with the many images or photographs. Oh and the chapter on Parenting is something that made me cry and then cheer. How he loved being a father and feared immediately after his accident that he would no longer be able to be a real father anymore. Then he discovered that he and his children began to have these wonderful conversations that they had never had before and a whole new world of parenting opened up. One I believe is more important and all the material benefits we can give our children.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reeves writes with passion and compassion about hope, May 10, 2006
In this little book, Christopher Reeve principally seeks to show the value of hope. He talks about the surprising progress he made in recovering as a quadriplegic after a terrible accident. (Long after doctors believed recovery was possible, Reeve began to show improved movement.) He also talks at length about the politicization of stem cell research and how that has likely stymied further progress on relieving many human disabilities. Despite his clear feelings on the issue, Reeve is sympathetic to people with deep religious reasons for opposing stem cell research, just not those who do so as political posturing.
Along the way, Reeve talks about his brush with Scientology (a fascinating glimpse of a religion that's been so much in the news), his other religious searchings, his initial thoughts of ending his life after his accident, how he and his family have dealt with his quadriplegia, and his work as an advocate for health research.
This is a quick and enjoyable read. Reeve's insights on the nature and role of hope will be strengthening to people who struggle with any of a range of issues from physical to emotional to spiritual. Reeve himself reads the unabridged audio CD version; I recommend it.
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