Lucky Man: A Memoir

Lucky Man: A Memoir – Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox became one of the most beloved actors of his generation, starring in the television series Family Ties and the Back to the Future films. But at the age of thirty, at the height of his success, he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease. In Lucky Man: A Memoir, he tells the story of his life and of how he came to terms with his illness.

Fox describes growing up in Canada in a military family, his early love of acting and his decision to move to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue his dream. He recounts the struggles of his early career, his big break on Family Ties, and the whirlwind of fame that followed with Back to the Future and other films, along with the excesses and pressures that came with celebrity.

He then writes candidly about the diagnosis that changed his life, his initial denial, his years of keeping the disease secret while continuing to work, including on the series Spin City, and his eventual decision to share it with the public. He describes the support of his wife, Tracy Pollan, and his family, and how his experience led him to become an advocate for research, founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Written with warmth, humor and remarkable honesty, the memoir reflects on gratitude, resilience and the unexpected gifts that can come from adversity.

Inspiring and moving, Lucky Man is a compelling read for fans of Michael J. Fox, readers affected by Parkinson’s disease and anyone who enjoys memoirs about courage and hope.