Always Looking Up : The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist

SUMMARY: There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Star. Husband. Father. Activist. But one word encapsulates everything he stands for, everything he's accomplished: Optimist. Struck with Parkinson's at the height of his fame, Fox has taken what some might consider cause for depression and turned it into a beacon of hope for millions. In Always Looking Up, he writes about the personal philosophy that carried him through his darkest hours, and speaks with others who have emerged from difficult periods with optimism to spare. With humor and wit, Fox shows how he became a happier, more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life. SUMMARY: There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Star. Husband. Father. Activist. But one word encapsulates everything he stands for, everything he's accomplished: Optimist. Struck with Parkinson's at the height of his fame, Fox has taken what some might consider cause for depression and turned it into a beacon of hope for millions. In Always Looking Up, he writes about the personal philosophy that carried him through his darkest hours, and speaks with others who have emerged from difficult periods with optimism to spare. With humor and wit, Fox shows how he became a happier, more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life. EDITORIAL REVIEW: There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Actor. Husband. Father. Activist. But readers of \*Always Looking Up\* will soon add another to the list: Optimist. Michael writes about the hard-won perspective that helped him see challenges as opportunities. Instead of building walls around himself, he developed a personal policy of engagement and discovery: an emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual outlook that has served him throughout his struggle with Parkinson's disease. Michael's exit from a very demanding, very public arena offered him the time-and the inspiration-to open up new doors leading to unexpected places. One door even led him to the center of his own family, the greatest destination of all. \*\*\*The last ten years, which is really the stuff of this book, began with such a loss: my retirement from Spin City. I found myself struggling with a strange new dynamic: the shifting of public and private personas. I had been Mike the actor, then Mike the actor with PD. Now was I just Mike with PD? Parkinson's had consumed my career and, in a sense, had become my career. But where did all of this leave Me? I had to build a new life when I was already pretty happy with the old one.\*.\*\* \*Always Looking Up\* is a memoir of this last decade, told through the critical themes of Michael's life: work, politics, faith, and family. The book is a journey of self-discovery and reinvention, and a testament to the consolations that protect him from the ravages of Parkinson's. With the humor and wit that captivated fans of his first book, \*Lucky Man\*, Michael describes how he became a happier, more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life. At the turn from our bedroom into the hallway, there is an old, full-length mirror in a wooden frame. I can't help but catch a glimpse of myself as I pass. Turning fully toward the glass, I consider what I see. This reflected version of myself, wet, shaking, rumpled, pinched, and slightly stooped, would be alarming were it not for the self-satisfied expression pasted across my face. I would ask the obvious question,'What are you smiling about?'but I already know the answer:'It just gets better from here.'There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Actor. Husband. Father. Activist. But readers of Always Looking Up will soon add another to the list: Optimist. Michael writes about the hard-won perspective that helped him see challenges as opportunities. Instead of building walls around himself, he developed a personal policy of engagement and discovery: an emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual outlook that has served him throughout his struggle with Parkinson's disease. Michael's exit from a very demanding, very public arena offered him the time--and the inspiration--to open up new doors leading to unexpected places. One door even led him to the center of his own family, the greatest destination of all. The last ten years, which is really the stuff of this book, began with such a loss: my retirement from Spin City. I found myself struggling with a strange new dynamic: the shifting of public and private personas. I had been Mike the actor, then Mike the actor with PD. Now was I just Mike with PD Parkinson's had consumed my career and, in a sense, had become my career. But where did all of this leave Me? I had to build a new life when I was already pretty happy with the old one.Always Looking Up shares the critical themes of Michael's life: work, politics, faith, and family. The book is a journey of self-discovery and reinvention, and a testament to the consolations that protect him from the ravages of Parkinson's. With humor and wit Michael describes how he became a happier, more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life.

There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Actor. Husband. Father. Activist. But listeners of Always Looking Up will soon add another to the list: Optimist. Michael writes about the hard-won perspective that helped him see challenges as opportunities. Instead of building walls around himself, he developed a personal policy of engagement and discovery: an emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual outlook that has served him throughout his struggle with Parkinson's disease. Michael's exit from a very demanding, very public arena offered him the time and the inspiration to open up new doors leading to unexpected places. One door even led him to the center of his own family, the greatest destination of all.

Always Looking Up is a memoir of Michael's past decade, told through the critical themes of his life: work, politics, faith, and family. The book is a journey of self-discovery and reinvention, and a testament to the consolations that...

Publishers Weekly

Considering that this audio book opens with the author detailing the laborious steps necessary just to get out of bed, it's miraculous that Fox's voice sounds just as charming, stalwart and nearly as steady as it did during his long film and television career. There are no frills of any kind with this recording, but none are needed; Fox's tale is engrossing on its own. He pulls no punches describing the hardships—both physical and emotional—that accompanied his diagnosis with Parkinson's, but listeners are quickly reminded that for every challenge the disease brought, Fox trained himself to find the silver lining. The first CD is enhanced with five photos (both viewable and printable) featuring Fox; his wife of two decades, Tracy Pollan; their children; and his eponymous foundation—photos are accessible by using the embedded PDF or via a Web link. A Hyperion hardcover. (Apr.)

Title Page......Page 3 Dedication Page......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Prologue......Page 7 Part One......Page 13 Into the Great Wide Open......Page 15 Shaking but Stirred......Page 30 Permanent Vacation......Page 35 Our Ms. Brooks......Page 59 Climbing Aboard......Page 62 Rope-a-Dopamine......Page 66 Part Two......Page 75 Talking the Walk and Walking the Talk......Page 77 Christopher Moved......Page 88 Who Do You Trust?......Page 93 Vineyard 2001: A Shot Across the Bow......Page 97 Vineyard 2006: Groundhog Day......Page 106 The High Road to the Campaign Trail......Page 117 Ad hom·i·nem (hom' e-nem')......Page 125 Vox Populi......Page 157 Part Three......Page 163 Hell Hath No Fury......Page 165 Tikkun Olam......Page 187 Brothers and Sisters......Page 206 Part Four......Page 217 Lucky in Love......Page 219 Love and Squalor......Page 220 Why I’m Still with Tracy and Shaky When I’m Not......Page 229 The Family Plan......Page 233 Are We There Yet?......Page 247 Are We There Yet?—Redux......Page 254 Epilogue......Page 269 Acknowledgments......Page 283 About the Author......Page 286 Also by Michael J. Fox......Page 287 Credits......Page 288 Copyright Notice......Page 289 The popular film and television actor evaluates the personal philosophy that has enabled his positive outlook in spite of his battle with degenerative Parkinson's disease, in an uplifting account that considers how he has become a happier and more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life