By Michael J. Fox
Hyperion
Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Abridged) and Large Print Editions

Why should Michael J. Fox pen his memoirs? 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.

Lucky Man Excerpt This is how it happened that when Sam was not quite five years old I taught him that if he saw my hand wiggling he could squeeze my thumb, or twist it slightly to make it stop. "Then," I instructed, "count to five and give it another squeeze or twist, and you can trick it into staying still." He experimented for a few minutes, at first counting aloud, and then in his head, making eye-contact and nodding to let me know it was time to give it a squeeze. I could see his delight in getting the timing down, short-circuiting the wiggle every time. But once he understood that it always came back, I detected a slight look of uh-oh, what have I gotten myself into? "You know, Sam," I assured him," this doesn't mean you have to do it every time. Not like it's your job or anything, only when you feel like it." His face brightened again. ©2002 Michael J. Fox Published with permission from Hyperion

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.

Bookworm's Briefing
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.

Proceeds from Lucky Man go to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.