Michael J. Fox abandoned high school to pursue an acting career, but went on to receive honorary degrees from several universities and garner the highest accolades for his acting, as well as for his writing. In his new book, he inspires and motivates graduates to recognize opportunities, maximize their abilities, and roll with the punches—all with his trademark optimism, warmth, and humor.
In A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, Michael draws on his own life experiences to make a case that real learning happens when “life goes skidding sideways.” He writes of coming to Los Angeles from Canada at age eighteen and attempting to make his way as an actor. Fox offers up a comically skewed take on how, in his own way, he fulfilled the requirements of a college syllabus. He learned economics as a starving artist; an unexpected turn as a neophyte activist schooled him in political science; and his approach to comparative literature involved stacking books up against their movie versions.
Replete with personal stories and hilarious anecdotes, Michael J. Fox’s new book is the perfect gift for graduates.
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"This book may have been intended as a gift book for graduates, but there is something here for everyone. In a straightforward manner, Fox shares with us the ups and downs he experienced when he first was out on his own. We learn what worked, what didn't, and what he might have done differently, had he only known. With a touch of humor, Fox, a high school dropout, illustrates clearly how he learned about economics, physics, political science, literature, and geography all while trying to succeed in his chosen career. He eventually got his GED as well as more than one honorary doctorate, along with a distinguished career in acting. Though a small book, it is filled with good advice, including this quote: "None of us is entitled to anything. We get what we get, not because we want it or we deserve it or because it's unfair if we don't get it, but because we earn it, we respect it, and only if we share it do we keep it."
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Mayda (5 out of 5 stars)