Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
by Michael J. Fox
Adult Nonfiction
Listed at $17.50 hardcover / $10.11 paperback on Amazon.com
279 pages
An enjoyable and illuminating read
I tend to stay away from "celebrity penned" books. I'm generally uninterested in being a voyeur into the lives of the rich and famous since they have little in common with my own. However, for this book I made an exception since Mr. Fox suffers from Parkinson's disease and the book addresses the trials and tribulations of living with that particular burden. I have a personal interest in his views because my paternal grandmother dealt with Parkinson's and although I was a child when she passed on, my memories still paint a vivid portrait of her physical difficulties. I also recall the fact that she never complained, actually, she never even spoke about the affliction, choosing instead to cope in silence. So I very much wanted to read Mr. Fox's first hand account of his battles, strategies, and victories. It did, indeed, offer me a window into the hurdles that my own relative had to overcome, as well as the emotions she may have felt but never shared.
The book is divided into four sections: Work, Politics, Faith, and Family. All sections, save politics, were openly revealing in a personal sense. His descriptions of side effects were frequently punctuated with amazing humor. He takes you along on the journey as he moves into a new chapter of his life, finding fresh purpose, daunting challenges, encouraging mentors, and supportive loved ones. The section on politics seemed to decelerate the reading but is necessary given the fact that stem cell research has become a "hot-button" political issue with the power to propel or retard any headway that might end the suffering. Stick with it, there's very important foundational information here for those who may misunderstand the core methods of this approach to finding a cure. Also investigated are the efforts of some to deliberately cloud the stem cell issue in order to create more fervent opponents to the movement.
Always Looking Up gave a warm and private insight into the life of a public figure adored by probably everyone for his deft character portrayals in television and film. He is likewise widely admired for his fight against this devastating disease. I did notice while reading, that there were times when I felt I could clearly hear a second "voice" in the writing style. A little beyond the halfway mark of the book Mr. Fox acknowledged his writing assistant, Asher Spiller. I also enjoyed the way his story came full circle and closed, in essence, the way it had begun. Overall, the book both entertains and instructs -- worthy goals for any manuscript.
Recommended for anyone who wants to see Parkinson's disease vanquished and confined to the pages of medical history books.
That's my five cents worth. I give the book a "4 nickels rating."
