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True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal--and How Nearly Dying Saved My LIfe Audiobook
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(4.03) - 158 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
On television, as the star of the popular Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Kevin Sorbo portrayed an invincible demi god. He relished living the part—putting in 14-hour days on set, doing his own stunts, and relentlessly working out at the gym. Until one day it all came to an abrupt end. Now, for the first time, Sorbo shares what viewers didn’t know: he suffered three strokes from an aneurysm in his shoulder that had been radiating blood clots throughout his body, likely for months. He was left partially blind and entirely incapacitated at just thirty-eight years old. Appearances are everything in Hollywood, so Sorbo and the production studio hid the full details of his condition from the media. After all, how could the strongest man in the world be…fragile? To continue filming Hercules, the number-one worldwide syndicated TV series at the time, they frantically reworked scripts and revamped production to allow for the star’s severely limited involvement. But as the effects of the strokes persisted—with painful, mysterious, debilitating symptoms—and physicians could offer few answers, Sorbo grew increasingly despondent. What happens when your entire identity vanishes? True Strength is the story of how one man faced the unimaginable and ultimately found the real measure of success. With tongue-in-cheek humor and an unfailingly candid voice, Sorbo reflects on his childhood in Minnesota, his early modeling and acting days, and his hard-charging charmed life in television. He recounts the onset of his stroke symptoms, the frightening hospitalizations, his battle with depression, and fighting for a recovery that defied medical expectations. And how through it all, love conspired to save him from missing out on what matters. With this refreshingly honest account of celebrity, personal tragedy, and the power of letting go, Sorbo aims to blaze a trail for anyone who may have suffered a serious setback in life and is struggling to find their way forward.
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"This was an amazing and cathartic read. I did not think after reading "My year off", by Robert Mccrum or "The diving bell and the butterfly", by Jean-Dominique Bauby, I would be able to relate to the journey of someone whose means and lifestyle is so different than mine. This book showed that despite playing a larger than life character on T.V. Kevin Sorbo is still human and rather Midwestern. I was a huge fan of Hercules during my teen years, but it has only been recently that I have learned of his health struggles. Seeing my own reactions in journey through recovery is an amazing thing. Strokes do happen to the young and recovery is not something that should be given a deadline. His story really highlights the unique struggles a young stroke survivor goes through. To go from an energetic, athletic person to someone who is exhausted after a conversation is a hard thing to come to terms with. Kevin's straightforward writing style and the inclusion of outside perspective tells a story of recovery and survival that even those who have not had a major health scare can relate."
— Shira (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A gripping account of Sorbo’s illness and gradual recovery.”
— Huffington Post -
“A powerful testimony, this deserves ongoing attention and recommendation.”
— Midwest Book Review -
“[A] compelling memoir.”
— Booklist -
“Sorbo is candid about the hopelessness and resentment that characterized his slow recovery, his frustration with contradictory medical advice and holistic therapies of varying effectiveness and the stress his condition placed on his new marriage.”
— Kirkus Reviews
True Strength Listener Reviews
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" Wow. That is all I can say. Wow. "
— Kim, 2/14/2014 -
" Truly inspiring. I read it at a time when I sorely needed inspiration, so thank you Kevin for putting yourself out there in this way. "
— Catherine, 2/6/2014 -
" Ok, I didn't read the book. I listened to it in audio format. Glad I did! Both Kevin Sorbo and his amazing wife, Sam, took turns reading chapters. Not only are they both actors (Kevin portrayed Hercules in the late 1990s TV series of the same name; he met his wife on set when she guest-starred in a role) but they make excellent audiobook readers. Kevin, the consummate actor / body-builder / always-on-the-go guy was dealt a wild blow when he developed an aneurysm in his shoulder, which produced hundreds of blood clots, 3 of which traveled to his brain and caused strokes. Suddenly everything about who he was, his career and his future hung in the balance. Kevin was a likeable guy before his bout with blood clots and strokes. His brush with death allowed him to reprioritize his life and appreciate the common, everyday "ordinary-ness" of life that mighty, mythical men like Hercules charge right past. This book is better in audio format than in print. Just my humble opinion. "
— Carol, 1/29/2014 -
" True strength is a great book! It reminds us all that life is short and fragile and that all isn't always as it seems. And how greatly the choices and sacrafaces that we as individuals make effect our lives. Kevin does a great job relating to the reader his feelings, pain and suffering. The book takes you though Kevin's life in interveals as they relate to him dealing with his illness. It also opens your eyes to the fact that stardom is not all glamour & glory & how quickly we as outsiders forget that & expect our TV/movie heros to walk in "character" at all times. A MUST READ!! "
— Susan, 1/25/2014 -
" Kevin Sorbo seems like a good guy, and I'd really like to say I enjoyed reading this, but I didn't. "
— Julie, 1/13/2014 -
" As an avid Hercules fan I had no idea this was going on with him. This book is so well written ! done Mr. Sorbo. "
— Beth, 12/30/2013 -
" I felt like I found out a lot of "stuff" in this memoir. It came across as honest and true. And while I found it a bit hard to keep up with the timeline (it jumped around a lot) it was a moving story. So glad Kevin continues to recover and that he has a loving wife and their three kids! "
— Gail, 12/28/2013 -
" Great book on how a health crisis saved Kevin's life and changed how he viewed and lived each day. i very much appreciate his honesty about the challenges that providentially came his way and how his God, wife, faith and hope carried him through. "
— Akhet, 12/14/2013 -
" A very down to earth tale of how a strong man was forced to take it a bit slower than he wanted, and through that, got a much richer life. "
— Shrike98, 12/4/2013 -
" As a fan of Kevin Sorbo and hearing him tell his story of his near death was heartbreaking. His wife Sam also tells about the whole thing..from going to the hospital to coping to his recovery. I cried, laughed and was amazed by both their strength to overcome. Bless him and his family! "
— Shawn, 11/22/2013 -
" Not great writing, but good story of growth and learning to trust. "
— Deb, 10/15/2013 -
" Rewarding listen. Wisdom & strength in the face of adversity. "
— Leslie, 5/15/2013 -
" Great story of an amazing guy who never gave up the fight. I had no idea about the health issues he had/has. He is an inspiration to all. "
— Shani, 1/23/2013 -
" Really inspiring - and surprisingly Kevin Sorbo is hilarious! Thoroughly enjoyed this :) "
— Shannon, 1/26/2012
About Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo is an actor, producer, and director, best known for his leading roles on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Gene Rodenberry’s Andromeda. He lives with his family in California.