Michael's ability to overcome adversity and commicate this in his book is outstanding. If you are thinking about buying this book, purchase the hardback! Family cannot resist the need to read this masterpiece.

Wow! The guy has a lot of gumption; that is, I am touched by his tenacity, courage, and willingness to be what he needs to be to handle what he has to handle. He managed to clearly show his love for his family in this book, and seemed to not hesitate to let us in on the core of his struggles.

All of us have "things" that we need to, and/or wish to tackle earnestly, and all of us have trials to get through. Way to go, Mike. What a great example for all of us, whether it is to change, or a really big mountain to climb, -or both, as you did.

You are an amazing fellow. God's blessings to you,Mike.

Sincerely, Mickey

I received my book in a very short time and it was in perfect condition.

With Michael J Fox's new autobiography now released Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist tracking down this, Lucky Man his original great autobiography may be a bit harder, but you should definitely do so.

Importantly this book is not just about Michael discovering during the filming of Doc Hollywood that he had, and then later dealing with Parkinson's Disease. It would have been so easy to just write the autobiography that way but although the Parkinson stuff is there, it is often only in the background of Michael telling you what else career and family happened with his life from that point. This makes the book a lot more entertaining and to be honest, probably a lot more of the reader is interested in. Plus we also learn about his family and childhood. His decision to take the gamble and pursue acting instead of finishing high school and then the further gamble of turning down steady acting roles in Vancouver to move to LA and see if he could make it there. A huge gamble when unlike Americans who can work in Cafes and so on, all his visa aloud him to do was act.

Those after gossip about fellow other actors may well be disappointed as Michael doesn't play that game in this book. Nor does he go into behind the scenes events to any great depth like you would find on DVD extras of the movies/TV shows he was in. He does tell us how he got the part of Marty Mcfly in Back to the Future a movie he wished he was making instead of Teen Wolf at the time it began filming. Later in the book he tells us how Cher snubbed him at the Oscars due to maybe the fact that she had just made the movie Mask with Eric Stoltz who originally was Marty but Spielberg decided to recast and refilm as Stoltz just didn't bring the character to the screen. Michael tells us how he almost missed out on being Alex P Keaton on Family Ties, how he lived around that time and why he took on acting roles in films which even the actors knew weren't very good. he recounts how his life changed once he became a celebrity for the good such as all the free stuff and the bad, paparazzi stalking his wedding.

Importantly for an autobiography Michael is prepared to criticise himself where he made bad decisions, acted selfishly or treated others not as well as he should have. He even acknowledges that his Emmy for Spin City was obviously awarded as a sympathy vote which I think really shows how honest he was being writing this book. Incidentally this book was published when Spin City was the last thing he acted in.

Of course he talks about the decision to hide Parkinson's from the public and how he feared this would affect his acting career if word got out. He also talks about with hindsight when looking back if those fears were justified.

This is definitely a very interesting and well written autobiography, oh and we learn his middle name is in fact Andrew and why his screen name is Michael J Fox instead of Michael Fox or Michael A Fox.

I was not expecting this book to be so moving. Michael spoke with humor, honesty and insight. Very much from his heart--it touched mine.

I've been a fan of Michael J. Fox for many years and was sad to learn of his Parkinson's disease. I expected this book to be largely about the disease and Fox's coping with it. However, I was pleasantly surprised to read an honest account of all of the ways he had messed up his life before coming to terms with himself as well as with his disease. Although I don't like to read sad stories of drinking spinning out of control, Fox's matter-of-fact tone and willingness to take full responsibility for his actions was refreshing. I felt privileged to be allowed this glimpse into his life and his psyche, and I ended up liking him better after finishing the book than when I started.

Michael J. Fox's memior is deeply moving and incredibly funny. His wry humor and ironic undertone are heartfelt and honest. As someone whose father has Pakinson's, I felt very inspired and grateful to Fox for sharing his story. This book is more than about acting, being a celebrity, or having Parkinson's- it's a triumphant, creative story of the beauty of life and how lucky we all are to be loved. A must read for ANYONE.

Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

This is a very candid and up close and personal look at the real MICHAEL J.FOX. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of his, or who has had a bout with alcoholism, or a life threatening/debilitating illness of any magnitude. This book gives the reader an inside look of the trials and tribulations of Fox's entire life, sharing some of the most funny, touching, as well as tear jerking moments one could possibly imagine. I was amazed and moved as I read about his bout Alcoholism, and how he chose to address his battle Parkinson's. This is truly an amazing story of adversity that will touch your heart, as well as your soul.

LISA LASSITER
WWW.MISGUIDEDPRODUCTION.COM

This book was truely inspiring! It is wonderful to hear the story from Michael's own perspective. He is an amazing person and is admired by more people than he knows. Michael J. Fox is a leader and hero for many, especially others who are fighting their own battle with Parkinsons.

Although I'm a fan of Michael J. Fox's work, I wasn't likely to read his memoir had it not been given to me. It was a tremendously pleasant surprise!!! He presented his story in a touching and captivating way - not just his plight against Parkinson's Disease, but also his early struggles to establish his career, and his family dynamics. I was impressed with the almost reverent way he spoke of his wife Tracy, an actress with whom I have very limited familiarity but now greatly admire for her strength and her support of him.

At times, the PD part of the story got very medically technical, but that held special interest to me as a health professional. It's not just helpful to those suffering from the disease, but also to allow the general public to truly understand what PD patients go through. I also appreciated the unbiased way he explained the stem-cell research controversy, and although he is clearly in favor, I now understand the Catholic church and President Bush's opposition to it (that because they use embryoes created in IVF procedures, there is potential for unethical "farming" and need for stricter control to make sure no one is creating embryoes for the purpose of destroying them for research.)

This book totally exceeded my expectations!

In this powerful memoir, Michael J. Fox takes us on a series of journeys, showing us how - despite his diagnosis with a degenerative, incurable disease - he is a lucky man. After an introductory chapter, he takes us through his childhood, through his time as a penniless actor, on to Family Ties and Back to the Future, and through his diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease.

The book is a wonderful mix. The stories about getting started in Family Ties and Back to the Future are lots of fun for those of us who remember those programs fondly. Yet this book is more fundamentally about how he has grown as a person as he married, was surprisingly diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's Disease (PD), grappled with an alcohol problem, and learned who he was and who he wanted to be.

I felt like the initial chapters, about his childhood, were less interesting, but the end more than made up for it. This memoir of personal growth is much more than the sum of Fox's film and tv listings. Fox may be rich and famous, but his personal struggles are shared by people from all walks of life.

Another excellent memoir by an actor (but that's not just about show business) is Sydney Poitier's Measure of a Man. And for those who care about this sort of thing, Fox's book does have a significant amount of strong language. It's not everywhere, but it comes up here and there.

I love reading autobiographies and biographies but prefer to stay away from life stories of Hollywood stars. In this instance, I was wrong and I'm glad I picked up this book.

Michael J Fox is very candid in this memoir. He takes the reader on a emotional roller-coaster ride where one laughs, smiles, cries, struggles and rejoices with him. It inspires and gives hope. The parts in the book where he shares about his initial brush, struggles and triumph over Parkinson's Disease, in itself, is well worth the price of the book.

Be prepared to be inspired. Highly recommended.

Between the words in this book, while Michael is happy at times, there is also a saddness in asking why he was all of a sudden one day facing a future where he would try and live with Parkinson's Disease, and how it would not be easy. All through the book, he writes that his wife Tracy whose love for him always keeps him going to live every day to the fullest and to write and speak at events where grants needed to fund research for a cure to this disease, are held, he has an inner strength to him and this book will move you to tears.

Celebrities have an aura about them
They are still only flesh & blood and hurt & laugh like all humans.
Michae J.'s book is a great read since it brings to the fore the human side behind the Alex P. Keaton legacy.
It shows a normal guy, who struggled in between periods of success. A person who was embarrassed about his illness, and how it might interpreted as a weakness. And how he eventually came to terms with it.
I really liked it because it was honestly written with real-life humour and people.

My favorite part in the book was when he realized that the "other shoe" had fallen.

Fox's book is a great read. He tells his biography (his childhood, his work in TV and film, his wild behavior), and how suddenly things began to change when he was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. How he deals with it, and, with the support of his family and friends, learns to live with it, is an inspiring story.

Actor Michael J. Fox tells a personable yet very revealing story not only about his battle with Parkinson's Disease, but with his inner demons as well (i.e. alcoholism, etc.). Reading of his almost meteoric rise to fame and fortune it is easy to see that the title is accurate, Fox is a very lucky man indeed. Blessed not only with great financial success but with a loving wife and devoted family as well, Fox shares how coming to terms with his disease has led to a richer, more emotionally secure life than chasing the dream of fame ever could. Anybody who reads this book will come away feeling like they have spent an evening with a good friend who has shared his most personal and painful battles...and won. Highly recommended.

Michael J. Fox begins his autobiography telling of his discovery one morning that his pinkie was twitching, a discovery that would ultimately change the course of his life when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He then flashes back to his childhood in Canada and his relationship with his parents, siblings and his beloved Nana. Fox talks about his struggles in school (he eventually dropped out of high school) and his success as an actor in Canada which inspired him to move to California where he struggled for three years before landing the role of Alex on "Family Ties". For a while he enjoyed the perks of fame, getting free stuff whenever he wanted, lots of drinking and partying, but his marriage to Tracy Pollan, having children, and Parkinson's helped settle him down.

This is a fascinating look at the life of Michael J. Fox. Readers expecting anecdotes about the filming of "Family Ties", "Back to the Future" or any of his works will be disappointed, as there is little writing of what goes on behind the scenes, in fact, he says he barely remembers filming "Back to the Future". Outside of an unpleasant encounter with Cher, little is mentioned about other actors, even his costars. Instead, he writes about his private life - his childhood, his family, his living the good life as an actor, his heavy drinking, and his love for his wife and children and the effect Parkinson's has had on his life. I liked this approach; the glimpses into Fox's private life made him seem more real. He's not afraid to poke fun at himself, especially recounting how his family reacted to his winning an Emmy. He is also brutally frank about his heavy drinking and the effect it had on his marriage. And he doesn't pull any punches in describing how Parkinson's has effected his life.

This is a good read.

I have been fond of Michael J.Fox and his work for almost 20 years now. It seems as if he's been with me all this time, since I first saw him on the big screen in "Back to the Future" and "Family Ties". He is not only a very talented actor, with sharp, yet down-to-earth sense of humor, but also a profoundly developed human being. I've always seen him as a personality rather than celebrity, and this book proved that I was right from the beginning. If I could see him in person I would like to thank him for sharing his thoughts and the most amusing facts with me, and congratulate on his ability to cope with the less fortunate moments of his life. This book is a must to read. I recommend it with all my heart.

This is the only audio book that I own--I've always enjoyed reading rather than listening to a book being read to me (live readings are an exception of course). But Fox's memoir was recommended to me, in the audio book version rather than the print version. And this is very good. You get the sense that Fox is sitting in the room with you just talking, telling you the story of his life. And what a life it is. It is full of struggle and you realize just how long and how serious his disease is. It is truly an amazing story and I highly recommend this book... in the audio version.

Lucky Man is an interesting and heart-warming book. As the title suggests, Michael J. Fox considers himself to be a "Lucky Man" because he has achieved so much and in spite of his illness. He views his illness, Parkingson's, as a reason to appreciate the things in his life and through his experience he has found meaning and value in life.

The book begins outlining his upbringing and how he struggled to perfect his acting talent and persevere against the odds through a series of auditions and taking on small roles in order to make a name for himself. It progresses to his success in 'Family Ties' and the period of time following, in which he parlayed his tv success into a movie career.

The book is interesting for its portrayl of the traps and ins and outs of the Hollywood lifestyle, and I was especially interested in learning all about how it is that stars become conditioned to expect everything to be handed to them. However, the most interesting part of the book has nothing to do with his celebrity and has everything to do with his attitude and his approach to day-to-day life.

The book delves into the turning point in his life, which is his struggle with learning he has Parkinson's. At this point in his life, he begins to treasure what he has instead of always thinking of the next thing he wanted to achieve or thinking of what he couldn't achieve. Michael's discovery of himself ultimately leads him to a life with deeper ties and deeper meaning. It was an inspiring and uplifting story and it brings to light that he is a wonderful role model.

This book was recommended to me and I was pleasantly surprised by how thoroughly I enjoyed it. It seems incongruous that Michael J. Fox has written such a humble memoir when he is best known for somewhat callous, self-centered characters on the screen. Yet throughout the course of his reminiscing, he talks about his choices to leave the 'magical world' of Hollywood for a real life. However, his celebrity status is always there, for better or worse.

Fox begins his book with the tale of how he discovered that he had Parkinson's Disease. He goes through the entire denial process, and 'hides' his disease for so long due to the fact that he hasn't come to terms with it. He needed to accept it as his fate before he could share it with the world. His memoir is broken into segments of his life, and Fox summarily describes his Canadian upbringing, how he dropped out of high school to pursue acting in Hollywood, and the years he struggled until he hit financial and celebrity success with "Family Ties" and the "Back to the Future" trilogy. He takes an unflinching look at his box-office failures, movies he acted in more so for financial reasons than creative ones, and an even starker look at his once overpowering dependency on alcohol to help him mask his fears about having PD. In the end, he recounts why he considers himself to be lucky even though he has an incurable neurological disease, and why he is more than happy to lend his name to finding a cure.

Michael J. Fox has written a witty, poignant memoir, filled with the wry humor that made him a beloved household name. He holds nothing back in his memoir, and never once searches for pity. He is at peace with his fate and the role that he has chosen to play for the rest of his life off the screen - that of an advocate to raise money for Parkinson's research in efforts to find a cure. Here's hoping that he succeeds.

Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton in 1961. Residing in Burnaby, British Columbia, while his father was in the Royal Canadian Army Signal Corps, he recounts growing up with parents, siblings, Nana, and friends. Describing himself in the toddler years, Michael says, "... a handful, a whirlwind... precociously funny in a what-spaceship-dropped-off-this-alien kind of way." Michael's early love of music, specifically the guitar (self-taught), was fruitful as a member in the "Halex" band. His love of drama and art was realized at age sixteen when Michael made his debut as a twelve-year old in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's production of the series "Leo and Me". Fox's American career was launched with Disney in "Midnight Madness". Career credits include the theater screen with "Back to the Future", "Teen Wolf", and "Doc Hollywood"; and popular television series, "Family Ties" (on the set, Michael met actress/wife Tracy Pollan), and "Spin City". With humor Michael describes success, '...those who got, get', i.e., if famous and with fortune, free offers abound. Just the mention of his favorite beer in a conversation, brought a truckload of the beverage to his front door... with a promise of more anytime he wanted it!

Fox's emotional journey in facing the reality of the diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (PD) began in 1990 with the twitching of a finger. In LUCKY MAN, Fox approaches his story with wit, positive attitude and honesty, emotions, and the trials in the continuation of his career. The diagnosis of PD was understandably kept from the public for seven years... shared only with his inner circle of family and trusted associates. Michael experienced the ritual commonly traversed with diagnosis of debilitating diseases including anger, denial and acceptance. Candidly, Fox tells his faults, ups and downs, the highs and lows of life and show biz, his philosophy, and the thrill of playing hockey against Bobby Orr. In admitting his problem with alcohol and the existence of PD, Michael is led to a therapist and engages a permanent neurologist for treatment of his illness.

As an advocate for PD research funding, Fox has testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing. His campaigning efforts, continued to this day, have had a definite effect on raising awareness of PD in the public and private sectors. Specifically, the acknowledgement that PD is prevalent in earlier ages vs. the medical textbooks statement that PD is diagnosed in later ages of 50-65 years. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research has become a passion in his life. To this date, the exact cause of PD is unknown. LUCKY MAN is not only biographical, it is a highly-informational writing with regard to the progression and research of PD. Medications associated with treatment are described, differing in results with each person. Fox says of his release of the diagnosed illness to the public, "Disclosure had allowed me to rearrange life so that I could get more from it."

Michael J. Fox possesses obvious penchant for writing. His exceptional narrative in LUCKY MAN is philosophical, uplifting and insightful. While reading LUCKY MAN, I laughed and I cried. I am in awe of Michael J. Fox for his honesty, humility, compassion, and courage (that includes wife/actress Tracy Pollan and his four children). Review based on paperback edition 2003

[Note: The author's profits from the sale of "Lucky Man" are donated by the author to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Please visit the author's website: michaeljfox.com]

Connected books recommended are: LIFE LESSONS by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; THE WHEEL OF LIFE: A MEMOIR OF LIVING AND DYING by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; SHAKING UP PARKINSON DISEASE: FIGHTING LIKE A TIGER, THINKING LIKE A FOX by A. N. Lieberman, Abraham, M.D. Lieberman

I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. MIKE DOES A GOOD JOB DESCRIBING HIS DISEASE. HE GOES IN GREAT DETAIL WITH THE SYMPTOMS, DENIAL, MEDICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND FINALLY COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET IN DEALING WITH THIS DISEASE. HE ALSO GOES IN DETAIL WITH HIS OTHER BATTLE WITH ALCOHOL WHICH HE NOW HAS SEVERAL YEARS OF SOBRIETY. I FIND MIKE TO BE A PRETTY GOOD GUY WHO HAS FACED ALOT OF ADVERSITY. I LOVED HIM IN THE BACK TO THE FUTURE MOVIES AND AS ALEX KEATON IN FAMILY TIES. A VERY TALENTED AND FUNNY GUY. I GIVE ALOT OF CREDIT FOR FACING UP TO HIS DEAMONS AND COMING PUBLIC WITH BOTH OF HIS DISEASES. A VERY INTERESTING BOOK. ALSO GIVE CREDIT TO MIKE'S WIFE TRACY FOR STAYING WITH HIM THRU HIS DRINKING DAYS. THE ONLY THING I WISHED HE HAD DONE IS THIS BOOK IS TOLD US MORE ABOUT WAS THE MAKING OF HIS BACK TO THE FUTURE MOVIES. THIS IS A VERY SMALL COMPLAINT. A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE.

I've been a huge MJF fan since 1982 when I was only 8 but I never would have guessed this guy was such a talented story teller. His writing is also way beyond expectations. The appeal of this book, however, isn't his stardom or dealing with PD, but the over all story of his life. It's inspirational and entertaining in many different ways. I believe this book has mass appeal and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good biography or just a good story. I know this is the "Michael" he's willing to show us, but I must say, I have more than just a fan's admiration for him now. He is a tremendously good person who is not only entertaining America, but doing such important work through his foundation. Thank you Michael! I hope more and more success and happieness continues to come you way!

I have always liked Michael J. Fox since his days as Alex P Keaton. In this book he shares his life story--the good, the bad and the ugly story. The book talked a lot about his parkinson's disease and what he deals with on a daily basis with this disease. My grandmother had parkinson's and it was interesting to see the disease from his perspective and know what my grandmother felt. He talked about his treatments and how ironically enough, brought him closer to his family and even learned who he really was. MJF also tells stories of his acting days, of his family in Canada, and of his lovely wife and children. It's a very-well written book. I highly recommend this book to anynone--MJF fan or not!

This is a wonderful memoir by a beloved actor. I have always been a fan of Michael J. Fox, as he always seemed so likable in every role in which he has been cast. His book is no different. His wit, charm, and self-deprecating humor resonate throughout this intensely personal memoir of his life. He is not only likable, he is a fine man who has come to terms with the hand with which he has been dealt and is making the most of it.

The book traces his beginnings as a Canadian army brat, his father having been in the military. He tells the reader about growing up in Canada, part of a closely knit, working class family. He credits his short stature with helping him get his start in the theatre and film business in Canada, as it enabled him to play children's roles. From there, he did a segue into the United States, where he eventually won the coveted role of Alex P. Keaton in the hit situation comedy "Family Ties.". From then on, he was on the path to fame and fortune.

Alas, the path to fame and fortune is not always an easy one. His take on his celebrity status is astute, and he describes the impact that it has had on his life, both good and bad. He details some mistakes that he has made while growing up, such as the drinking binges that were out of control and threatened to derail his life. He also discusses some of the good decisions he has made, such as his marriage to the intelligent and lovely Tracy Pollan. He also details where these mistakes and choices have taken him and how they have shaped him into the man he is today.

The specter of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease has overshadowed his life since 1990, when he first noticed the physical manifestations of the disease by an uncontrollable trembling and twitching of his left pinkie. At the time, he was still in his twenties. He would go on to live in a state of denial for some time. When denial was no longer an option, he spent years hiding his disease from everyone except for his immediate family. When he finally did the television series Spin City, he let the people with whom he worked closely in on his secret., until the day came when it could be kept secret no more.

In 1998, Michael J. Fox decided to go public with his diagnosis and prognosis and share with the general public his experiences with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. He has been liberated by doing so. The book details how he has come to terms with the disease and how it has impacted on his life. He describes the disease in detail, as well his involvement in Parkinson's advocacy. He has certainly been an ardent spokesperson, directing his efforts to research fundraising in an attempt to find a cure for this disease. His celebrity status has served to put the spotlight on this debilitating and, eventually, fatal disease.

This is a very well-written, compelling memoir by a very fine man, intelligent and introspective. He is a family man who has a deep appreciation for his beloved and loyal wife, who has stood by her man through thick and thin. He is also a devoted father to his two children. Though he has met with much material success in life, Michael J, Fox has managed to remain grounded and true to himself. This no-holds-barred book reminds me as to why I have always liked Michael J. Fox. He is, indeed, a lucky man.

Like many children of the 1980's, I grew up watching Mr. Fox on Family Ties and Back to the Future, both of which intentionally projected a 'boy next door' look which was pretty hard for others to duplicate no matter how hard they tried on screen (and believe me others followed). In the 1990's due to a combination of aging out of roles, being able to be more selective about the roles he did take...etc Fox appeared in less but I adored the seasons he was on "Spin City".

Usually not impressed by celebrity books, I was intrigued by advance publicity to request this title for a Christmas gift. The medium sized book is a non-airbrushed portrait of a man who is simutaneously closer and farther away from his on camera image than the public may have initally realized. There is some general commentary on hollywood simply because that was the source of his and Tracy's paycheck but the meat of the book is ultimately soul-baring conversations.

Revealing the imperfect truth behind the public facade (the massive drinking!) the autobiography expertly avoids the easy trap too many other celebrities (especially those dealing with chronic illness) plunge headfirst into while on the road to selling their story. People with disabilities ARE vibrant active HUMAN people whose condition is only one facet of their total experience and contribution to the human society.

Even if he did not intend this while filming the project in the mid 1980's, I had ironically looked to Fox's "Teen Wolf" for cultural inspiration how to handle being a youth with disabilities when I was the only 'different' person in my family/neighborhood/school and wanted to know this discrepancy was cool. It was bittersweet irony therefore when I read the text indicating he was not as initially as accepting of his own body and the resultant adjustments which were made such as having to see a neurologist and take medication to keep some of the symptoms from showing themselves in public.

Pictures of referenced people and/or events would have been interesting, but reading a word-only celebrity book was more intimate. Not only would it invade the person's privacy, but the same oft-used concept would divert attention from the story AND mood, creating an experience that was no different from most of the other titles currently on the market. Due to my own challenging life, I rarely cry while reading/viewing something, but the sheer honesty of Fox's perspectivr had me constantly reaching for the Kleenex and experiencing a genuine sense of awe.

Fox is never going to be a master thespian, but he will always be one of the world's good people who tried to leave it in a better condition than he found it. That is real star power in my book.

Makes you wonder if you would have the courage displayed by Mr. Fox. He shows how he came to this decision but it has to be more than that. His love for his wife and children are greatly shown and his love for life follows in order. I hope his courage and commitment will be seen by all and this dreaded affliction will be counquered in the near future.

Reading Michael J. Fox's memoir, Lucky Me, was a complete joy. He tells his life story in a funny, friendly, and exceptionally modest way, as if he were sitting and chatting with his best friend.

Michael grew up in a Canadian military family that moved around a lot. He got his first acting job as a teenager, then dropped out of school to try his luck in Hollywood. The tv series Family Ties brought him stardom, and the rest is history. This is not a Hollywood insider's kiss-and-tell book, however. Indeed, there is no name-dropping or gossip about the rich and famous. He focuses, instead, on how the love of his parents, siblings, wife, and four children has kept him grounded, helped him overcome alcoholism, and now gives him strength in his battle with Parkinson's disease.

Fox loved his work, and faces life without acting, because of the increasingly debilitating symptoms of PD. He is hopeful for a cure, takes an active part in educating people about it, and helps raise money for research. This is a quick read, engagingly written, short on self-pity and long on gratitude for his career and his family. I recommend it to his fans and to those who want to learn more about Parkinson's disease.

I was always curious about Fox's story when the news of his disease broke out. In this book, he goes completely in deep about his background from when he was a child to pretty much current day.

As you've probably read, it starts out with the twitching of his pinkie quite some time ago (roughly 10 years) and after he is definitely diagnosed with having Parkinson's, his story takes a huge step back -- all the way to before he was born and then the story completely begins.

We learn about his very heartwarming family and about how he grew up in Canada as a smaller-than-usual child. Fox had such a youthfulness about him as well as his shorter height, that he was cast as a 12-year-old in a Canadian sitcom when he was already 16. From there, it moves onto his trip to Hollywood where he and his father drove down from Canada and hoofed it around Tinsel Town looking for agents.

He talks about his experiences with "Family Ties," "Teen Wolf" and of course "Back to the Future," which I'm sure most of you would like to know about (as well as his Parkinson's.) His journey from struggling actor selling off pieces of his couch one-by-one in order to have money to eat moves to the BTF explosion and how he skyrocketed into stardom.

He not only goes into his marriage to Tracy but how his excessive drinking (accompanied by his denial of Parkinson's) actually suffered his marriage to the point where he quit drinking completely. Fox never comes out and says that he was an alcoholic, but he definitely compares himself to one.

His Parkinson's is well illustrated for those out there who know nothing about it. He describes the symptoms, his treatments, what happens when he doesn't take his medication and actually goes into great detail about his brain surgery that was performed while he was awake.

Fox didn't have a ghost writer and says that only his brother-in-law helped him with writing the entire book. If this is the case, he is quite the natural writer, never really straying from his outline and not only writing with incredible detail but very funny quips and comments. He's a great writer.

I'm only giving this four out of five stars because Fox left out some information in his life. One in particular would be his big, long-time romance, now good friend Nancy McKean. They were so heavily publicized in the 80s that I'm surprised he never mentions her at all.

The other reason would be because he pretty much says that although fame was surreal and it was easy to get caught up in, he never lost his head and appreciated his fans. This for a fact, I know is bull. I had known a boy who was a huge fan of his, to the point where he emulated himself after his Marty character down to the type of skateboard he had. Well, he had an opportunity to meet Fox here in Chicago when he was filming "Light of Day" and when he did he said that Fox was so nasty to him that he cried that night and threw out his skateboard. So obviously, Fox hasn't been that great to all of his fans. I know it seems small, but I'll never forget how upset this guy was and when I read about Fox's "appreciation" for his fans, it bothered me enough to write this in the review.

With that, I suspect that Fox left out a number of things in his memoir to be private. Yes, of course celebrities need their privacy, so I suppose that that's why there's lots left out and probably because Fox wanted to concentrate on his disease in the book rather than tabloid fodder. (Oh, and he goes into great detail about how they treated him during private moments as well.)

Good book. Well written. Hope he finds what he's looking for.

It is hard to remember or belive now, but in the 1980's, Michael J. Fox was a huge celebrity with a top-ranked TV show and several blockbuster movies. This is his story of a life transformation brought about by a debilitating condition, young onset Parkinson's disease.

Michael divides the first 40 years of his life into four chapters. In the first, and to me least interesting, he is a typical lower-middle class Canadian Army brat, who has minor success in local TV and theatre productions, while struggling with schoolwork (he never finishes high school) and normal adolescent social and relationship problems.

Things pick up a little in the second chapter, where he decides that his minor success in Canada is the stepping stone to a Hollywood career. Michael nearly starves for three years in a run-down LA apartment, waiting for agents and producers to call, until the phone and the power are turned off for non-payment.

By a near miracle, Michael lands the job on Family Ties and begins the third chapter, noted by excessive drinking, hard work, major career success, a string of going-nowhere relationships, and rampant spending on homes and cars. Halfway through this chapter, Michael is diagnosed with PD, but decides to keep it a secret for nearly a decade. Michael pops pills at just the right time to keep his symptoms hidden, while sneaking off to weekend medical consultations and procedures in hidden locations. He learns to sit on his hands to hide the shaking if the meds are not timed just right.

Finally, the fourth chapter begins. Michael has a family, a loving and beautiful wife, and a committment, ultimately fulfilled, to quit drinking, reel in his other excesses, and confront his PD. Michael's doctors had earlier told him that his PD would limit his career to about 10 years.

Particularly interesting are the decisions he makes about how to best use these ten last productive years. Michael attempts to break out of the hopeless typecasting that he has been pigeon-holed into by appearing in Woody Allen films and other roles. Finally accepting that due to his height and looks, he has no chance to age gracefully like fellow sit-com stars Woody Harrelson or Tom Hanks into leading man roles, Fox pursues directing and accepts that he does not need to take every role to continue earning as he did in the 1980's. A string of box-office failures brings this point home in the 1990's.

Michael Fox has put together a fascinating autobiography, that everyone should read to get some perspective back in their life. It is not particularly well written, as Fox likes to jump around almost randomly, nearly skipping major sections such as the Back to the Future sequels, and dwell endlessly on minor characters and incidents from his youth. It is a honest reflection on how life and one's expectations and objectives change from youth to mid-adulthood.

Lucky Man is a stylishly written, self-deprecating memoir that will be irresistible to Michael J. Fox fans and those who have a loved one suffering from Parkinson's disease. The book has the same witty approach that you would have expected from any of the comic characters Mr. Fox played during his distinguished career.

I was drawn to the book both because I admire Mr. Fox as an actor and because my father recently was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease. I thought this book would help me understand more about the disease and how to cope with it. My high expectations for learning more about Mr. Fox and his acting career, and understanding more about the experience of Parkinson's disease were vastly exceeded.

Mr. Fox begins the memoir with the experience of discovering his first tremor. He was recovering from an alcoholic binge the night before, a frequent occurrence in that stage of his career, and was inclined to think that somehow the two were connected. That's just the beginning of a long period of denial during which he avoided working with a neurologist, even after he accepted the diagnosis.

From there, the book travels backward to his youth in Canada and the frequent moves that his family made because of new assignments his father received while in the military. You find out how a kinetic, precocious and diminutive youngster found himself frustrated by high school and dropped out before graduating to take on the challenges of television. Not surprisingly, his meteoric career left him unprepared to handle the new challenges and responsibilities. Mr. Fox candidly describes the various bad decisions he made without wallowing in them. He had a series of epiphanies throughout his life to date that have informed him of what he was doing wrong. He has had the courage to act on those epiphanies, and has been rewarded for taking those actions.

The memoir's main theme is how Parkinson's disease turned out to be a blessing in disguise, forcing him to address many of the weaknesses in his life, which included boozing, delegating the details of day-to-day responsibilities, being over-focused on the commercial side of his career, not being enough of a family presence and not facing his demons.

If you have liked Mr. Fox on the screen, you'll probably like him better after reading this fine memoir. He has a strong sense of family, and you will meet a remarkable one in the Foxes through him. His wife, Tracy, is very special too, and you will see the kinds of support that can really help a patient with Parkinson's disease.

The disease and its potential for a cure are well described. All of us should be grateful to Mr. Fox for taking on a public role as an advocate in which he has been willing to let us all see the deterioration that the disease has brought to his neurological control over his body's movement. In fact, I decided to read this book after seeing a television interview that Mr. Fox did during the NBA playoffs this year in which he unconcernedly chatted on in an amiable way while his body twitched and jerked uncontrollably. It was a remarkable example of true grace and poise. Through his visibility, Mr. Fox's foundation has raised millions and helped accelerate the use of many more funds to speed the developement of a cure.

I agree that he's a lucky man. More importantly, he's a fine man. I'm glad he shared his story in this outstanding and open way.

I also wish him well in finding that cure, and being able to use it in his own life.

Where in your life has a setback turned out to be a blessing? What are you struggling with today that could be helpful to you? What are you not facing up to yet? Those are the questions that this memoir will and should raise in your mind.

One of my favorite shows growing up was Family Ties. Naturally, I was sadden to hear of Michael J. Fox's illness. In his Memoir, Fox discusses his childhood, which led to the beginning to his career. He further details his career through its end which largely resulted from his illness.

Lucky Man is a fun and heart-warming book. The wit demostrated by Fox reminds me of his character on Family Ties, Alex. P Keaton. The humor effectively adds dept to the stories. The stories from his childhood can bring a smile to anybody's face as hey recall memories of their childhood. The story of his acting career reads like many actors before him, but ends differently. Despite this, Fox does not want you to feel sorry for him. His illness created within him the opportunity to discover his true self. For that, he is grateful. It is in the face of tradegy that many people discover their true self. In this book the reader discovers not only a quality entertainer, but a great human being.

The one flaw I find in the book is that it is hard to follow at times because it does not follow a chronological order. However, this will not be a problem if you read it in a short period of time. I had a great deal of trouble putting the book down.

I read the book in 2 days; couldn't put it down. Haven't seen the Back to the Future Series, nor much of Family Ties. However, Doc Hollywood(movie) is one of my favorites. How PD has changed his life, and the consequent choices that he and Tracy have made, was engrossing. Very well written and moving.

Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox is an inspiring biography. Fox shares with us his life story starting with childhood and his early days as he tries to make it in Hollywood. All the way through Family Ties, Spin City, the Back to The Future movies and as he starts his family. It is inspiring to read how he deals with his Parkinson diagnosis, first trying to hide it, then finally publicly admiting it.
The biography is very well written and a very easy read. Even if you did not follow Fox's tv shows and movies, you will find his story inspiring and moving.

Because his story is more fascinating than most Presidents.'

Fox begins with the first twitch he felt in his left hand back in 1990. He titled this chapter, "A Wake-up Call," but even he admits he went through long periods of doubt, denial and even self-destruction on the road to accepting Parkinson's Disease as part of his daily life.

Even though Fox goes into great detail about his battle with Parkinson's, he also takes you back to his childhood and all the way up to modern day. His words are candid, straight from the heart and he doesn't sugarcoat his autobiography to be a self-serving tool.

The love of his family clearly shows throughout the book as he talks about his brother, three sisters, parents and his beloved grandmother, Nana. And, of course, he doesn't leave out his home life with wife Tracy and their four children.

From his "escape artist" days as a two-year-old in Canada where neighbors labeled him as a real "charmer," to his decision to go public with his disease, Fox bares his soul in these pages. This includes how he got started in showbiz in Canada, crossing over to Hollywood success and even living the glamorous lifestyle.

Heart-warming tales are scattered throughout and you can't help but laugh, cry and feel like Fox is a member of your own family.

You're embarrassed for him when he meets with an agent in the late '70s who thinks he has a physical handicap because he's wearing platform boots with four-inch heels and two-inch soles, which he thought were in style. As he speaks about becoming a man on his 18th birthday, the sense of being an adult since he's now legal age, you'll laugh outloud when he says he blew out the candles on his Mickey Mouse birthday cake.

You witness the growth of his relationship with Tracy that ultimately lead to marriage and the start of his own family. You shudder when you realize the pain and turmoil he and his family endure as he has undergoes brain surgery, being awake during the entire process.

And you watch the evolution of this man come full circle as he leaves the partying behind to dedicate himself to his family and to the search for a Parkinson's Disease cure.

Michael J. Fox is not just an award-winning actor, he's a devoted family man and an activist for research-funding and finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease. With "Lucky Man," Fox also proves he is an outstanding author. The book has topped the New York Times bestseller lists and the audio tapes have been nominated for a Grammy.

...and I always enjoyed the characters Michael J. Fox played-- always enjoyed him as an actor. But after being introduced to the man behind the mask, I have to say my respect for him has risen. Lucky Man is an open, personal account of MJF's highs, and lows. A frank, matter-of-fact presentation of his life and disease that invites empathy, not sympathy from the reader. A fantastic read!

If you like watching Michael on TV, as most people do, you'll probably also enjoy this book. Michael writes in a humble, humorous, and candid manner as he reveals his rise to prominence, as well as some of the problems that accompanied it. I suppose an obvious theme of the book is that luck may have played somewhat of a role in the good things that happened to Michael, that if a break or two hadn't gone his way, we may have never heard of him. However, I like to think that he has such a great personality that he would have eventually succeeded anyway. The book provides a lot of juicy details that make this required reading for any of his serious fans. It is highly entertaining and touching, too. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Before I bought the very popular book "Lucky Man" Michael J. Fox was just the person from Back to the future - trilogy. How wrong I was. His book that is so vivid, and informative makes me feel that I know Michael J. Fox in person as I got to know so much about him now thanks to his excellent pleasant extremely intellegent and funny writings.

Michael takes us everywhere he's been and makes us see everything he's done. From the bottom to the top of the mountain, he has achieved to climb.

You really should read this book and find out why Michael feels he's a lucky man despite all that happened to him with that bloody incurable parkinson disease.

Seeing I was a girl who grew up in the 1980's during the Back to the Future and Family Ties craze, I have always loved MJF. The fact that he was from Western Canada only made him that much better. I had MJF posters on my walls from all the teen magazines always hoping I would meet some one as cool as Marty McFly and live happily ever after.

Reading Lucky Man showed me the other side of Mr. Fox. It exposed to me to all the ups and downs he went through when he was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's disease. It took extreme courage to write this memoir and made publicly known how hard it is to sometimes accept what happens in life. MJF has helped bring awareness to Parkinson's disease it is just too bad that it took some famous to turn people's attention to this disease.

I read two memoirs over the weekend, this one and Carol Channing's "Just Lucky I Guess." Though Fox's book is far superior, these two people have more in common than you might think. Both used the word "lucky" in their titles. Both had strong, supportive fathers whom they loved. Both had serious diseases, though Fox's is fatal and Channing's was an apparently curable cancer.

The big contrast between the two books is in the quality of the writing, the depth of emotion, and the self-understanding. In spite of the fact that Fox was a high school dropout (though he later got his GED) and Channing spent two years at Bennington College, Fox's book is wonderfully well written while Channing's is just as gushy as you would expect if you've ever seen her on or off stage.

Michael J. Fox has been through a lot. He had the good sense to get himself help for his alcoholism and his emotional problems and to profit by that help. Now that he's exposed his Parkinson's, he shows no signs of sniveling or begging for sympathy but is out there beating the bushes for money for research to help everyone with PD now and to come. He's not embarrassed to let the world see what PD is doing to him and to others. Underneath the shallow exterior he exhibited in his TV and movie roles, this guy is as solid as a rock.

Fox also had the intelligence and maturity to see the showbiz world for the unreality that it is and not to fall victim to it or let it overwhelm him. Another contrast with Channing is that the parts Fox sees as unreal appear to be the only "real" life Channing has.

You've really got to admire this man.

I'm still looking at the title page, the back of the dustjacket... anywhere, for the name of a co-author... but there isn't one. No, this is pure Michael J. Fox. As he says on the next-to-last page "I knew from the outset that I would have to write this book myself. The story was too personal for it to be told in anyone's words but my own."
It's just amazing that someone so skilled as an actor should be equally skilled as an author. His memoir is so well-written.
I got it as a Christmas gift, and spent my holidays devouring it (in between actual turkey-feasts). Trust me, once you start reading the story, it's really difficult to put the book aside.
As my review title suggests, Fox does not opt for a straight-ahead chronological approach to his story. Maybe it was even written in a DeLorean! He begins by detailing his earliest experiences with Young-Onset Parkinsons Disease in 1990, then jumps back in time to his formative years growing up in various parts of Canada (1960's-70's)... then follows up with his meteoric (albeit arduous) rise to fame in Hollywood in the early 80's and beyond. It's this latter three-quarters of the book that is filled with flashbacks, relevant happenings, here's and there's, like puzzle pieces selected not neccessarily in chronological order, but definitely neccessary for a complete picture in the end.
The reader is never lost in this real-life maze, and Fox's skill as a writer can hardly be exaggerated. Some of the most moving sections are those which deal with his marriage to actress Tracy Pollan, to his battles with alcohol indulgence, his brain surgery in 1998, to his love for family (his real-life Family Ties)! Of course, Michael's behind-the-scenes (and in-front-of-the-scenes) struggle with Parkinson's is front and center as the main motivation for this memoir. [Incidentally, all author's profits from the book are being donated to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is yet another reason to pay the current Hardcover price!]
The book is sobering, it is deadly serious, and yet it is every bit as witty as Fox's television and movie persona.
In the last chapter, he says "Illness is a scary business, and somewhere deep inside, or maybe not so deep inside, we're all wondering if it could happen to us, and how we would cope if it did."
This book is about how Michael J. Fox copes. Gut level, it's all played out curtains and cameras aside!
If you expect a depressing, downtrodden story, you will be disappointed. This is not the story of an unfortunate man. It's the story of a lucky man.

(This review refers to the abridged audiobook.)

He's one of America's favorites - a fine, funny actor and runner up in the Mr. Niceguy World contest. We watched him grow up in the movies and on TV, successfully reinventing his carreer before our very eyes. Little did any of us know of his behind the scenes struggles with the progressive, dabilitating disease that is Parkinson's, but also his struggles with the trappings of fame, excess, and a whole lotta partying.

Though this memoir opens and closes with his fight against the insideous Parkinson's Disease (PD), Mr. Fox doesn't begrudge us other fun (and sometimes not-so-fun) and interesting details of his life. Mr. Fox opens up his life for the public to view, and he does it with grace, candor, and a refreshing heap of fun. He doesn't hesitate to poke humor at himself and his foibles, and gives his audience a remarkably colorful taste of what it's like to be him. He evenhandedly details his trials and triumphs about being a good father, husband, son, and sibling while juggling his suddenly "new" public persona. For instance, when he reminisces about having a "parking lot" in his driveway by age 25, one can nearly hear the 20/20 hindsight as he shakes his head in near disbelief. (Still, with the understanding that all things being equal, most Americans would probably do the same thing.) These stories are often followed by equally interesting tales of how his wife and family kept him grounded on earth.

HEARING this book brings the experience into a new dimension. Mr. Fox delivers each section with colorful naration and a wide range of expression, but a slight waver in his voice is a constant reminder of his minute-to-minute struggles with PD. This recording may have been a monumental effort, and I applaud him for it. (A closed circuit message to Michael J. Fox: You sound GREAT, MAN!) To hear the man tell this story in his own voice is remarkable. For that reason, I highly recommend snaring a copy of the audiobook. Audio or no audio, this is an entertaining, thought-provoking memoir.

Although most people think they "know" Michael J Fox, this book is a real eye-opener.

I found him to be inspirational, courageous, honest, humorous, and still as loveable as ever. What more can I say? I could not put the book down. I hope he writes a sequel.

Good luck to you and your beautiful family Mr. Fox.

It's difficult to imagine not liking Michael J. Fox; he's the kind of guy you want to hug, laugh and shoot the breeze with. His winning personality comes through in this unforgettable account of his life from childhood to fame to his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. He understands that everyone is special, and that everyone has a story to tell. His story, despite all his adversities, is inspiring in the true sense of the word. The world is a better place because he has written such a funny, sensitive and touching memoir. Lucky for all the P.D.-affected individuals that he has written it, and lucky for the rest of us too. I cherish every minute I spent reading this book. If you ever see him, give him a hug for me.

Mr. Fox has eloquently recounted his journey through his debilitating crisis. He has exemplified in his memoir how to transform his curse, his anathema to a gift of discernment. He has graciously shown in his book his long road to gratitude and happiness in life. After reading through it, you will feel happy and thankful for Mr. Fox for the wisdom gained.

THE BOOK WAS VERY INSPIRATIONAL. MICHAEL'S POSITIVE
ADDITUDE IS REFRESHING! :)

IT'S GOOD TO SEE A PRODUCT OF HOLLYWOOD CRITICIZING SOME OF ITS MOST DESTRUCTION ELEMENTS. IT'S AN HONEST ACCOUNT OF A MAN WHO WANTS TO BE A GOOD MAN. HE SEES THE GLASS HALF-FULL.

Touching, funny and heart warming. You can almost hear Michael reading the words to you. Easy and enjoyable to read. I had problems putting it down. Finally got it back after passing it round my work colleagues. People who do not like Michael J Fox as an actor will still like this book. I found myself laughing out loud at some bits.

The early chapters are not so good. One gets the impression that Fox is a bit conceited. But later on, especially when he writes about dealing with Parkinson's, the book gets much better. I was not impressed with his characterization of his wife: he paints her as alternating between a suffering saint and a super-supportive sycophant. I don't feel as though I got a three-dimensional picture of Tracy Pollan, who is obviously the most important person in his life. I wanted to like the book more, because I like Fox a lot. And I respect what he has done in going public with his Parkinson's Disease. So, if you don't have time to read the whole thing, go directly to the last couple of chapters where he talks about being famous, having the disease, and how the two situations interact in intersting ways.

I read this book only because I saw Michael J Fox on Charlie Rose. During the show, parts of the book were read out loud, and I just had to read the rest. Still, I really didn't know what to expect. Generally, I hate books written by celebrities, with or without ghost-writing help. I hate the "look at me" aspects of most of these books, the superficiality, the gloss.

This book has none of those features. This is a book written by a man who has gone (and continues to go) through a series of wildly implausible adventures. From his early, almost accidental, startdom, through his marriage which has somehow defied all the odds for a Hollywood marriage, through his diagnosis with early-onset Parkinson's disease, nothing in this man's life could have been predicted.

Michael J Fox has dived deep into his own psyche and come back to tell us what he found there. With compassion for himself and for the other people he has known in his life, he describes what it was like to be so successful, to experience fame as a drug (almost) that distanced him from some levels of reality, and then to have it all taken away. And he did it himself. This book was not ghostwritten, and the beauty of some passages makes it hard to believe that the author is not a professional writer. The fact that the prose was not mediated by a ghost-writer also makes the book more immediate and accessible.

I do not have words to do justice to the honesty, the compassion, and the courage that I found in this book. All I can say is what I have been saying to people ever since I read it: "I know, I know, it's a celebrity autobiography. Read it anyway."