No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox

A moving account of resilience, hope, fear and mortality, and how these things resonate in our lives, by actor and advocate Michael J. Fox.

Synopsis -

The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the world’s leading non-profit funder of PD science. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism. His new memoir reassesses this outlook, as events in the past decade presented additional challenges.

In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox’s trademark sense of humor, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses.

Running through the narrative is the drama of the medical madness Fox recently experienced, that included his daily negotiations with the Parkinson’s disease he’s had since 1991, and a spinal cord issue that necessitated immediate surgery. His challenge to learn how to walk again, only to suffer a devastating fall, nearly caused him to ditch his trademark optimism and “get out of the lemonade business altogether.”

Does he make it all of the way back? Read the book.

Review - 

My oldest brother has been living with Parkinson's for over a decade, the reason I was so drawn to read this new memoir by Michael J. Fox. In looking it up, I discovered I somehow managed to start with the third (or fourth) book in his memoir series. However, as my brother is also years down the road in his journey with PD, perhaps this was the perfect title to start with.  No Time Like the Future covers Fox's last decade living with the increasing effects of Parkinson's Disease and how his outlook is changing as he copes with new challenges and limitations. 

This book was an eye opener for me. I live far away from my brother, so really not aware of those small daily challenges he faces.  Fox shares his story with honesty and humor.  It's not a sad "poor me" tale looking for sympathy. It's a door he has opened into his world, the challenges he faces on a daily bases, how it affects his emotions and the amazing support that surrounds him.  Just navigating walking requires super human coordination and a checklist of things to be aware of.  And when he doesn't focus - the consequences are serious.

I believe we all grow and benefit by reading stories shared by real people about their real lives.  It helps us better understand and have empathy for others, and breaks down barriers.  I'll definitely be looking at reading his other books, but this time I'm going to read them in order or release.

Available for purchase at - Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Walmart eBooks, Apple Books, Google Plaly, Abebooks, Book depository, Alibris, Indigo, Better World Books and Indiebound. 

Meet the Author - 

Michael J. Fox is a Canadian/American film and television actor.

His roles include Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990); Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties (1982–1989), for which he won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award; and Mike Flaherty from Spin City (1996–2000), for which he won an Emmy, three Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He also starred in Doc Hollywood and Secret of My Succe$s and the lead voices in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire and in the film Stuart Little and it's sequel.

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, and disclosed his condition to the public in 1998. As the symptoms of his disease worsened, he retired from full-time acting in 2000. He is the author of four books covering his journey with Parkinson's Disease.