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Book Review of Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (Audio CD) (Abridged)

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (Audio CD) (Abridged)
BethDavis avatar reviewed on + 55 more book reviews


Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
By Michael J. Fox Reviewers Purchase 5 Stars
In Always Looking Up, Michael J. Fox shares all aspects of his life, before and after Parkinson's disease. I am amazed by his beautifully optimistic perception of life; as he shares personal stories from his career as an actor, life as a husband and a father of 4. Readers and fans see the genuine Michael J. Fox, as he passionately shares his stance on Stem Cell Research, political views, religious beliefs, and friendships ups and downs; including a few stories including personal friends we recently lost, Robin Williams to depression, and Mohamad Ali to Parkinson's disease.
MJF shares stories about his friends, also fellow celebrities, as real people. He talks about how they spend their free time, and money, to support their beliefs, and the many charitable organizations; helping everyone from all walks of life, with a variety of unfortunate diagnosis, or life situations. He brings everything to light in a positive way, with his wonderfully humorous personality; he even throws in a few jokes about his own "short comings" in several different ways.
I particularly liked a story he shared about an interview he had with Katie Couric to speak for Stem Cell Research. His purpose for going on the show was to explain the difference between the Stem Cell Research he's promoting and the research some extreme religious groups believe to be an abomination. His interview seems as though it may be shadowed by an insensitively rude comment recently made by an outspoken radio talk show host whom MJF hasn't even given a thought to. (in my opinion, this radiohost has never really had an opinion of his own, but seems to have made a career of simply bashing the opinions and beliefs of others.) Instead of wasting time on him and his comment, Michael simply moves on to more important statements he wants to share. That's class and professionalism at its best.
I also personally related to later in that same interview with Katie; in speaking with of his symptoms, he admits it's not pretty when he's having a "bad day" but he's had his time of being pretty, all the teenage girls that had his picture on their walls gave him enough time of being pretty. I have to admit, I was one of those teenage girls; yes, I was into short guys back then. Just look at all my formal dance pictures for proof.
There's so much more I can say about Always Looking Up, but instead I'll just sum it up by saying. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book; it's a HUGE 5 Stars for me. I'm going back to get all his other books, and I'm not just saying this because of my teenage crush on him either. He is a beautiful person; after this book, I have a completely new respect for Michael J. Fox, and his family.