Always looking up The adventures of an incurable optimist

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.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.