'At the turn from my bedroom into the hallway leading to the kitchen there is an old full-length mirror in a wooden frame. I can't help but catch a glimpse of myself as I pass, and turning myself towards the glass, I consider what I see. This reflected version of myself, wet, shaking, rumpled, slightly stooped, and pinched, would be alarming if it were not for the self-satisfied expression pasted across the face, I would ask the obvious question, 'What are you smiling about?' - but I already know the answer ...it just gets better from here.' Struck with Parkinson's - a debilitating, degenerative disease - at the height of his fame, Fox has taken what some people might consider cause for depression and turned it into a beacon of hope for millions. Now, 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 the humour and wit that dazzled fans and reviewers alike in his bestselling memoir, Lucky Man, Fox shows how he became a happier, more satisfied person by recognising the gifts of everyday life.

Reviews

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.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Fox (www.michaeljfox.org), whose 2002 memoir, Lucky Man, was a No. 1 New York Times best seller, here continues his story, sharing the personal philosophy that has carried him through life and presenting touching accounts of, e.g., his sister's death, a cross-country car trip with his youngest son, and his struggle with Parkinson's disease and its effect on his family. Through all the pain and joy, Fox stays positive, never slipping into self-pity. This successful abridgment will appeal to fans of Fox and people dealing with Parkinson's disease. [Audio clip available through www.hyperionbooks.com; see Major Audio Releases, LJ 3/15/09; the Hyperion hc, published in March, was a New York Times best seller.-Ed.]-Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.