I read Michael J Fox's book. Here is my review.
Michael J Fox is a profile in grit in dealing with a horrendous disease, Parkinson’s disease. In his third book on his PD titled No Time Like the Present he writes: “I will go through any amount of pain or pressure to achieve my goal.”
I remember thinking I saw Mr. Fox at the MCI airport in Kansas City. I knew the hospital I was doing an Infectious Disease Fellowship had an excellent Parkinson’s Department. I knew of his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. He was with a much taller blonde woman. I caught Michael’s eye as I passed him and we nodded to each other. He did not seem disabled.
Since then I have loved seeing him on TV. The Good Wife and the Fireman series. He clearly showed his disability in those episodes. He writes about these roles in his third autobiography,
No Time Like the Future.
An Optimist Looks at his future.
His books are autobiographical about his trials and tribulations since being diagnosed with Parkinison’s Disease 1991.
I have not read the previous best selling memoirs. I recently purchased this new third book because it struck me how he used his personal experiences with PD to write the book. I have not been able to find another first person narrative such as myself with Alzheimer’s to document the experience in a diary format.
Early into the book I envied his excellent humor and excellent writing ability.
He writes about his character, Louis Canning, in The Good Wife on page 32. “I know from experience that people have an aversion to anyone who moves differently.”
“Louis Canning succeeded in preempting that reaction by projecting a friendly and forthcoming demeanor.”
People are surprised I have come public with my diagnosis. I think it is similar to the stigma of cancer. I want to reinforce the idea that Michael presents on his “philosophy of less is more on page 33. Despite his decreased motor abilities he has found “there is more to less than I thought”. I want to decrease the stigma of having Alzheimer’s. I am not ashamed of my diagnosis. After 3 years and one month I show that “memory is not all it is cracked out to be’. I think Michael’s movement obstacles would be much more difficult for me to deal with.
Michael says on page 65, “more difficult and difficult to accept is the diminishment of movement”... “it's a lesson in humility”. For me there is no shame and few obstacles to a great life other than returning to work. Learning to control my anger is a challenge.
In many ways I envy aspects of Mike’s life and his personality. His courage and determination to learn to play golf. I gave up golf after too many golf balls last in the lake. His coterie of famous stars that support his efforts are examples. Still I would not change places with him.
Michael often writes people think of Parkinson's disease as simply having tremors. It points out it is much worse. To be frozen from diminishment of movement.
I write that people think Alzheimer’s is forgetfulness, dementia and loss of self. My prior three books try to show it’s not all that bad. AZ is inexorable and there is no cure but there are years of mild cognitive impairment that don’t prevent having a full life with pleasure and joy. As I always write: memory is not all it is cracked out to be.
On page 110, Michael writes “If you don’t take risks, there is no room for luck.” I like that but in my New Yorker contrarian way, that includes a chance for bad luck. However in my fourth year of AZ I am willing to take more chances. I entered into the costly Recode program. Now I read about a promising new drug entering into phase 3 trials.
We made reservations for two months in Europe next summer since Covid vaccine has come out. I’m not sure I want to forgo those plans, since enrolling in a drug trial may require me to have monthly visits.
On page 114 is a Michael’s anagnorisis.
I learned this word on Word Genius this week and wondered how I would ever use this word I never heard before? Here is the definition: “The point in a play, novel, etc., in which a principal character recognizes or discovers another character's true identity or the true nature of their own circumstances.
Michael expresses a new circumstance of his usual optimistic attitude. “I’ve always been confident, positive, doggedly determined; but doubt is beginning to mitigate my conviction.”
On page 160: “Have I oversold hope as a panacea.... My optimism is suddenly finite”
Page 186: “The third fear is like an inner minefield that you traverse as you identify, accept and process truths----such as the inexorable advance of middle age and beyond. It’s the realization that we all have an expiration date, secret but certain.”
Page 187, “In the same “nothing to fear speech, Franklin D. Roosevelt also said, “Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.”
Michael writes, “ I accept the optimism part, but now, I also admit to it’s foolishness.”
I wonder why Michael has not started an anti-depressant?
He seems to help himself with acceptance of his situation. This is the point of anagnorisis for Michael. “While you won’t die from Parkinsonism, you will die with it” Complications from the disease such as the diminished ability to swallow, can lead to aspirating food or pneumonia.” page 201.
Finally Michael comes to realize he can’t golf anymore. More importantly he realizes he can’t act anymore because his speech is so impaired. Page 208.
Not unexpectedly he ends his book on a positive note. I encourage the reader to buy the book and see what it is.
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