Book Description

This winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in physics tells his astonishing life story, a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, eternal skepticism, and raging chutzpah. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Read this book: it's entertaining
If you have ever wondered how a dishonest, drunken, whoremongering, bar-room-brawling junkie can also be a Nobel-prize-winning physicist then this book will provide the answer.

At least Feynman was not boring. Considering how many physicists nowadays are, this is no small thing.

A Interesting Look into Mr. Feynman's Life and Physics
Surely, Your Joking Mr. Feynman is a comical and interesting book about Mr. Feynman's life and his passion Physics. In this book he talks very in-depthly about his life everything from his very early childhood years to his adult life as a professor. The book is very well written with just enough detail to make you interested in all of his adventures, but not too much that you would loose interest. This book does not use complex equations or terms to explain physics terms, but creatively words each concept so that any level of reader and physics explorer could understand what he was doing. Giving this book great word choice and a nice flow that keeps you wanting to read along. Through all of this, the book is comically written and tells about Mr. Feynman's crazy experiments and pranks he played on people. Everything from hiding a door from a member of his fraternity to casually moving around the information for the atomic bomb from safe to safe. Mr. Feynman thrives on crazy adventures through the physics world and does many crazy things along the way to satisfy his hunger for comedy. This book is recommended for anyone who enjoys a good educational book, but also has a good sense of humor and enjoys practical jokes themselves.

coolio book
this is one of the best books ever. being in Geometry and using the pythagorean theorem, deals A LOT with numbers being squared. with the neat little trick i learned in this book, i hardly ever use my calculator if the number is around 50 or any multiple of 50. it has saved a lot of my time and i am not kidding, Mr. Feynman is a genius. WOW!!! =)

Feynman on Audio CDs
I read Surely Your Joking for the 1st time in late 1987. My daughter got if for me at my request for my birthday. Actually I asked her for something by Phillip Morrison but while she was shopping in the San Jose State bookstore she forgot what physicist I was interested and got Feynman's book instead.

I'm glad she made that innocent mistake. Feynman knocked me out. Raymond Todd's reading on the 10 CD audio set is outstanding. I'm buying my daughter a set for herself.

Sometimes, Non-Linear Thinking Shines
Feynman's thinking style is not "linear." This is the reason he was able to break out of the box, and make the profound breakthroughs that were his mark. One anecdote after another illustrates this in a most enjoyable and enlightening way.

For example, as a lad he wanted to learn real mathematics. The librarian wouldn't allow him to borrow advanced math books, so he said they were for someone else, someone older. Reading book after book, he taught himself mathematics. He ended up learning some advanced math uniquely his way. Years later, while still in graduate school, he was recruited to work on the Manhattan project (which developed the atom bomb). When other mathematicians who used conventional math treatments were stumped, Feynman was able to make breakthrough using a math style unique to him-non-linear.

And, by the way, quantum mechanics is not linear, either. This was one of the most enjoyable reads ever. ... Read more

Book Description

From July 1942 until August 1944, a young girl named Anne Frank kept a diary. Keeping a diary isn't unusual. Lots of girls do. But Anne's diary was unique. It chronicled the two years she and her family spent hiding from the Germans who were determined to annihilate all the Jews in Europe.

In this sensitive and thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust and to the life of one of its best known victims, acclaimed author Johanna Hurwitz deftly evokes the background of World War II while capturing the unforgettable spirit and tragedy of Anne's life.

In this sensitive and thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust and to the life of one of its best known victims, acclaimed author Johanna Hurwitz deftly evokes the background of World War II while capturing the unforgettable spirit and tragedy of Anne's life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Anne Frank Life in Hidding
The summary on this book is this is a book about Anne Frank. It tells about her life and her diary. Also it tells about her troubles and her problems. In this book, people are put into concentration camps and poision gas room by the Nazis. If you don't know who the Nazis are, they are a type of group that dosen't like Jews.
Anne was born in 1856.Anne was very adventrous. She liked to write, so at the age of 13, her mom and dad bought her a diary. Anne was very talkative. Sha always got into trouble.
Some problems that she faced is hidding.She was hidding from the Nazis. She was hidding with another family and a dentist. Also another problem she faced is physical changes.
Some ways she solved her problems is by writting in her diary. In her diary she would write about things that were going on in her life. Another way she solved her problem is by hidding. This is a problem solver because if she didn't she would be in a concentration camp.

another breath taking book for such an intimate topic
This is another book about Anne Frank that I get the chance to read. Although there are many biographies about this wonderful human being, this book is the closest one that can answer the questions that all Anne Frank fan has. I did for many years just read the Diary over and over but I wanted more! This book is definetly more! It tells you more about the relationship she had with her family and the rest of the people in hiding. This is a girl who could hardly see the light coming from her window and the only green thing that she could think about was a huge chestnut outside the Annex. This book describes this little things that she cherished and that she no longer had....her freedom. She didn't either had freedom of speach inside the Annex due to the critics about her attitude. This book develops more information about why Anne acted like she did and why she had an open opinion about everything. It also gives you a bigger idea of why she didn't like her mother and develops more about her childhood around her family and her friends. I hope all readers that enjoy the Anne Frank writings will enjoy this description about her persona. Is a total different thing to read her diary knowing more about her life and early aspirations. ENJOY! ... Read more

Book Description

This intellectual biography of Freud presents a fresh and thorough analysis of the whole body of his writings.Each of these is studied in its context, and their chronology is shown to be of great importance. The author demonstrates how Freud's exploratory and sometimes hesitant efforts to explain all that he discovered of mental abnormality are to be properly understood only in light of his quest for a general theory of the mind. This reissue contains a new Preface by Professor Wollheim that takes account of recent critical work on Freud. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Freud's Analytic System of the Mind
Richard Wollheim has made a contribution to the way one can come to understand the life and writings of Sigmund Freud that may go on for years as being unsurpassed. The preface alone is worth the price of the book. It is true that Wollheim does not address the issues Bettleheim does in _Freud and Man's Soul_. Rather, he remains specific to his project, which appears to address solely Freud's views, their emergence, development, alterations, and even their incompleteness in certain cases, as comprising a system of the mind.

Wollheim reinforces the stronger feeling, that it is in the original writings that kernals of brilliance and understanding are to be found. He applauds the Standard Edition. The bibilography he provides, for the most part, appears to circumscribe the issues more commonly sought for by readers of Freud who relish in, and ascribe, mis-interpretations and construals that more or less support the avoidance of the very issues Freud was most concerned with.

In perhaps a way that is his most valuable contribution, Wollheim reveals the personality and disposition of Freud in a manner that is totally convincing: that Freud's works are for the most part either ignored, falsely attacked, or misunderstood. Further, Wollheim shows that throughout Freud's lifeÑmore particularly demonstrated by the way he continued his life until its endÑof how his life is a paradigmatic demonstration of consistently rewarding labor and of irrefutable courage.

Wollheim causes one to appreciate Freud even further, in that while being almost continually challenged, ignored, and even despised, Freud fought to reveal for us the hidden pathways of the mind. It is in virture of this effort and bequeathal, that being Freud's corpus, his literary genius, a quest for a knowledge of the truth, and his intention to be able to skillfully lead and guide us through our defenses and our darkened fears, that we are able to gain and accept a deeper understanding of ourselves and of others. It is this that consists of Freud's heroic legacy. ... Read more

Book Description

An Epic Battle of Generations

It is commonly believed that Henry Ford was a dynamic, innovative visionary who ran his company with an iron hand and an eye to the future–while his son Edsel was a weak, if dutiful, heir and an uninspired manager, who followed his father’s orders.Henry and Edsel, the first biography to focus on both father and son, turns that common belief on its ear.

Offering a daring new perspective on the human drama that changed the shape of Ford Motor company, author Richard Bak explores the ongoing friction between Henry and Edsel over adapting to a changing competitive environment and lays bare the stark contrasts between the two men.Henry emerges as a complex and self-contradictory man who was not entirely comfortable in the new world that he had done so much to create, while Edsel is revealed as a gifted, levelheaded, and imaginative businessman with a keen sense of where the market was headed.Among the many issues examined in this fascinating history are:

• The years-long conflict over modifying the Model T
• Edsel’s successful development of the Lincoln Continental
• Henry’s hatred of labor unions and the rise of Henry Bennett
• Edsel’s relentless struggle to modernize and transform the company
• The climactic struggle between Henry, Edsel, and Henry Bennett for control of the Ford empire

Reviews (2)

A Good Read!
Richard Bak is a long-time resident of Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan, and doubtless absorbed much of the Ford legacy simply by growing up in a place that Ford formed. This book is not exactly a corporate history, not exactly a biography and not exactly a tell-all celebrity book, but it has elements of each. The most interesting pieces include the extended reminiscences by people who lived and worked closely with the Fords, and especially with Edsel's family. He has long lingered in the shadow of his famous father and it is somewhat surprising to discover that he had some fine qualities. These reminiscences have poignant moments that establish the veracity of any number of proverbs on money, happiness and the foibles of the great. The book is reasonably well written and fairly concise. It recapitulates the essentials of the Ford story, though it glances over the evolution of management and organization at the company. We assure you that you'll get the full Ford saga here, though you may have to extrapolate the business lessons it teaches for yourself.

Well documented.
HENRY AND EDSEL offers insight into the characters of Henry and Edsel Ford and what it was that compelled them. The book presents a strong sense of time and the Fords' presence in and contribution to the events around them. The book is filled with interesting anecdotes. The best part for me were the several chapters called "rearview mirror" -- accounts written by eyewitnesses who recorded their version of important events: Edsel's death, the riots, etc. The author also introduced us to some of the hard workers and bright people Henry surrounded himself with in order to get to the top. One person CAN change the world -- but almost never alone. ... Read more

Book Description

Einstein's Dreams meets Tuesdays with Morrie in Leonard Mlodinow's touching memoir about the guidance granted him by his mentor, the brilliant physicist Richard Feynman. For some, it was that special connection with a grandparent or a football coach, a boss, or a cleric. For Leonard Mlodinow, as a young physicist struggling to find his place in the world, the relationship that would most profoundly influence his life was with his mentor, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Drawing on transcripts from his many meetings with Feynman during their time together at Cal Tech, Mlodinow shares Feynman's provocative answers to such questions as "What is the nature of creativity?" and "How does a scientist think?" At once a moving portrait of a friendship and an affecting account of Feynman's final, creative years, FEYNMAN'S RAINBOW celebrates the inspiring legacy of one of the greatest thinkers of our time. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The search for muse...
When Leonard Mlodinow was hired into the auspicious physics department at CalTech, he found himself with an office down the hall from some of the greatest minds in the field. When Nobel laureates Richard Feynman (quantum electrodynamics,1965), Murray Gell-Mann (quarks, 1969) and the man on the path to figuring the "big picture", John Schwarz (string theory) are all in one department, it is understandable that a new recruit might feel a little overwhelmed. Feynman's Rainbow is the story of that overwhelming feeling and of the quest for inspiration.

Fresh out of his Ph.D., Mlodinow needed focus in research and in life. His graduate thesis was very well accepted and he was lauded as a bit of a wunderkind... but what was he going to do for an encore? Centering around transcripts of taped conversa-tions he had with Feynman, and incorporating his musings with the other members of the CalTech physics department, Feynman's Rainbow is as much about the beauty in physics as it is about the search for muse. Whether the quest is for quantum mechanics, avant garde poetry or the perfect chocolate cake, inspiration is an elusive quality (as Mlodinow discovers). Feynman's Rainbow offers insights into what drives us to succeed and what compels us to search after new information and new discoveries. For students of physics, Feynman's Rainbow will validate and enthuse, but even for those who know very little about the hard science itself, this book provides enough science to pique the curiosity and enough human drama to satisfy the soul.

Fun Reading, thought provoking, and IN-ter-ES-ting
I greatly enjoyed reading this one! Of course the author's encounters with Feynman are wonderful, and make this book attractive. However, in addition to that, we are given some insights to other notable scientists (e.g. Gell-Mann, Schwarz, Wolfram). Plus, the author's writing is just plain fun to read! He interjects his own bit of humor, coupled with his curious thoughts on everything from his own self-doubts to theoretical physics! As for some of the other reviewers that feel misled by the title of this book...I do not! This book is not about Feynman per se, it is about a person's struggle (Mlodinow's) with various problems in his life and how others have helped him along his journeys in life. Feynman does play a significant role indeed, although he is not the entire focus of the book. Anyone who enjoys reading about Feynman or science, should enjoy this one! In the end, you will understand why Mlodinow calls this "Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and in Life."

Includes Gems of Feynman's Words in His Last Years
In the winter of 1981, Mlodinow became a post-doctoral fellow at Caltech, where two Nobel Prize winners, Richard Feynman and Murray Gell-Mann, had offices down the hall. The author wanted someone to help him emerge from his creative drought, and figured that it would be his idol Feynman. One day he knocked on the door to Feynman's office, and was welcome ... This is the story of the author's young days as well as Feynman, Gell-Mann and the world of the physical theory named string theory in its beginning.

In an early chapter we learn that Feynman used to say there were two kinds of physicists, the Babylonians and the Greeks. The former focused on the phenomena, and the latter, on the underlying order. Gell-Mann was a Greek, and Feynman considered himself a Babylonian. Echoing this, the author understandably writes in a later chapter, "Feynman scorned string theory, Murray championed it. That was Feynman and Murray - attracted by each other's genius, repelled by each other's philosophy."

I have found the following gems of Feynman's words told to the author: "An important part of the creative process is play." "The scientist's imagination always is different from a writer's in that it is checked." "She (Arlene, Feynman's wife in his first marriage) taught me that one has to be irrational sometimes." You might find some more you like in this book.

In the last chapter the author thinks of Feynman in this way, "If there is one thing he taught me, it is the importance of being truly committed to whatever it is we are striving for." This small and readable book would a good addition to the bookshelf of the fans of the People's Physicist Feynman. It is to be noted that "Some Time with Feynman" is not a different book by the same author but the European title of this book.

Lite and Loving
A short, light memoir by a student of Feynman (Research fellow, Berkeley Ph.D.). This book says more about the self-importance of the author than about Feynmann, nevertheless it has some very good points. My favorite is the contrast of Feynman with his colleague Murray Gell-Mann (Babylonian vs. Greek). Also, ultimately Feynmann cuts through all the philosophical introspection about "why one does science." His answer--it feels good. Notwithstanding the academic background, the author here is a screenwriter for StarTrek: Next Generation and other things. He seems to have learned a certain versatility from Feynman. The writing is smooth, tight, enjoyable.

Not a bad book, but quite misleading
This is a reasonable book. It is a good read, and it is entertaining, especially to those interested in the daily workings of a major physics departments. The advice Mlodinow received from Feynman on life and work is very useful to everyone who reads it.

However the book is also quite misleading. First, the title and back cover suggest strongly that this is a book about Feynman. It isn't. It is about a junior faculty member who on occasion would talk to Feynman. Second, the book itself goes into great detail describing the people at Caltech, but then has a disclaimer that except for the exact quotes from Feynman, most of the characters and stories are not accurate. Several people have been combined to produce characters, others sound fictional.

The third criticism is that Mlodinow hypes himself too much. Throughout the book he talks about his great research into infinit dimensions and quantum optics. He talks about being well known for his graduate thesis, and for correcting mistakes in well known theories. However amongst other physicists who were active at the time, almost no one has actually heard of him. And looking through citations in research papers from the era reveal very few references to his work.

It is worth reading, but as a biography of Mlodinow, not as an accurate historical portrayal of Feynman, Gell-Mann, or Caltech. ... Read more

Book Description

Terry Fox, the one-legged runner from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, made an indelible impression upon people across Canada and around the world. An outstanding athlete with a stubborn and competitive spirit, he lost his leg to cancer at 19, but said “nobody is ever going to call me a quitter.”

On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox set out from St. John’s, Newfoundland to begin the run across Canada that he named the Marathon of Hope. His ambition was to raise a million dollars for cancer research. It wasn’t easy. Initial support from communities varied from terrific to nothing at all. His prosthetic leg was painful to run on, and there were always traffic and extreme weather conditions to deal with. But, by the time he reached Ontario – a journey of more than 3,000 kilometres – word of his achievement had spread, and thousands cheered him and followed his progress. Terry’s spirits soared, and now he hoped to raise $22 million dollars – one dollar for every Canadian. He succeeded in this ambition, but the Marathon of Hope ended near Thunder Bay, Ontario on September 1, 1980. The cancer had spread to his lungs, and, after running 24 miles in one day, on the next he could run no further.

When cancer finally claimed his life in 1981, Canada mourned the loss of a hero, but the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope lives on. The Terry Fox Foundation raised more than $17 million in 1999, and support for the event nationally and around the world is growing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A good biography
"Terry Fox: His Story" tells of the life of a man who needs little introduction the world over. Terry's one-legged run halfway across Canada in 1980 is a story of great national pride here, and indeed many countries have caught on to the spirit. Terry's tragic, heroic story is commemorated every year with the fundraising "Terry Fox Run", held around the world, with the proceeds going towards cancer research.

"His Story" succeeds in providing a comprehensive, if not overly personal, look at Terry's life. I was also impressed by the dynamic and care given to the run itself, as it progressed from one location/town to another. Not every city was as enthusiastic as the last one, for instance, and the author takes care to show how Terry learns to respond to these varying regional reactions, and learns to become a very capable public speaker. The author also takes great care to show that the running was not easy work for Terry, that on many days he simply physically could not accomplish what he set out to do. It makes what he did accomplish all that much more impressive.

All in all, I was left with a new respect for Terry as a result of reading this book. As an occasional runner myself, I know how difficult it is to get up, on two legs, and go. Which makes you wonder, if Terry Fox could jog nearly a marathon every day for six months on one leg, by comparison, what excuse has anybody else got to not do anything?

Matthew D. Johnston ... Read more

Book Description

The outrageous exploits of one of this century's greatest scientific minds and a legendary American original. In this phenomenal national bestseller, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman recounts in his inimitable voice his adventures trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek, painting a naked female toreador, accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums and much else of an eyebrow-raising and hilarious nature. A New York Times bestseller; more than 500,000 copies sold. ... Read more

Reviews (156)

They don't make mad scientists like they used to . . .
This autobiography is a joy to read.

Usually books from physicists suffer in their attempt to make the language of mathematics understandable to the public by means of analogies that confuse the issues even more.

This book will not confuse the layman. But it'll befuddle anyone lacking in a sense of humor.

Perhaps the most important question it poses is what constitutes genius? Or a man of genius? How does a brilliant mathematician go around taking wild leaps in logic and landing on his feet?

Apparently having a soul, a sense for the absurd, and a taste for babes really helps.

That's an interesting counter to all the 'self evident' sermonizing about genius being 99% hard work , the capacity for taking infinite pains, etc, etc.

Of course, one could argue that learning to pick up and score with women in one night by means of letting THEM buy YOU drinks or hanging out with the Nick the Greek in Las Vegas to fathom how he made a fortune in spite of the house odds IS very hard and painstaking work.

What can one say? Feynman had a blast. So will the reader.

Odd Source of Inspiration
When I was in high school, my Dad called me up one night to tell me about a NOVA episode he'd seen. "This scientist wrote this theory called QED, and you'll love it!" he said. I got my hands on a copy of QED, but didn't understand a word of it! A year or so later, I spotted "Surely You're Joking" on a bookshelf at school, and recognized the name. Was this the same scientist who'd written about the photons and path-integrals and other confusing mathematical nonsense? It was indeed!

This book details, in Feynman's own words, various anecdotes which should more properly be termed 'misadventures'. This nobel laureate relates tales of lockpicking safes at the Manhatten Project, of stealing doors from dormitories, and leaning how to draw as an excuse to see naked women. It shows that even our greatest scientists can be just regular guys like you and me.

Feynman is regarded by the scientific community as one of the greatest minds of our time, on a par with Einstein. Yet amidst this, he managed to teach me a lesson that helped me become the man I am today: "What do you care what other people think?" I never knew the man, but his influence is there now in every aspect of my life.

This title is recommended for anyone who gets singled out, feels different from people around him, or simply likes a good story! Love you, Dick!

Just plain hilarious!
I can't see why so many idiots give Feynman's books bad reviews and say "the guy is OVERRATED man!" These people are probably just jealous because Feynman was UNDOUBTEDLY the coolest smart-person who ever lived. Moreover, this is the book which provides conclusive proof of that fact. Anyone who says Feynman was overrated is blatantly wrong -- In fact, I have been interning at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, where I met a man named Don Thompson who actually met Feynman when he did his post-doctoral work at Caltech. As Don says, "Feynman was just as funny, brilliant, and vibrant as all the books and accounts say he was." So, buy this book, and don't believe all the idiots who give it bad reviews.

Wonderful!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It really gave dimension to a man I've heard so many stories about from my father in law. My husband got a kick out of seeing me read the book too. He had read it a few years ago and after I would finish a chapter he'd want to chit-chat about what I had just read.

Greatest autobiography ever!
The book is just great. It has a great humorous and adventurous side and shows the reader what an interesting character Richard Feynman was, totally different from the awkward sterotype by which people relate to scientists. Feynman is very candid and speaks his mind, and the book is a very colorful account of his adventures and experiments with different circumstances. I'll recommend the book to everyone, not just those who are interested in science. The book really shows how much a person can do in one life. Even if one bit of Feynman's personality rubs off on you, this book would be twice worth itself.

Comparing this book to 'A beautiful mind' about John F. Nash, I can see a big difference in the fact that I didn't keep this book down for even a second, while 'a beautiful mind' (a boring description of the boring life of a generally boring person) is lying somewhere gathering dust ever since I read the first chapter. ... Read more

Book Description

In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease - a degenerative neurological condition.In fact, he had been secretly fighting it for seven years. The worldwide response was staggering, particularly to him.Fortunately, he had accepted the diagnosis and by the time the public started grieving for him, he had stopped grieving for himself.Now, with the same passion, humor, and energy that Fox has invested in his dozens of performances over the last 18 years, he tells the story of his life, his career and his campaign to find a cure for Parkinson's.

Combining his trademark ironic sensibility and keen sense of the absurd, he recounts his life - from his childhood in a small town in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television which made him a worldwide celebrity.Most important, however, he writes of the last 10 years during which - with the unswerving support of his wife, family, and friends - he has dealt with his illness.He talks about what Parkinson's has given him - the chance to appreciate a wonderful life and career and the opportunity to help search for a cure and spread public awareness of the disease.He is a very lucky man indeed.

Michael J. Fox began his career as the lovable Alex P. Keaton, the star of the popular sitcom Family Ties.Since then his career has been a nonstop success story, with blockbuster movies like Back to the Future, The Secret of My Success, Doc Hollywood and most recently as the lead voice in the animated film Stuart Little.In the summer of 2001 he was the lead voice in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire.Michael has won numerous awards, including four Golden Globes, four Emmy awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, GQ Man of the Year, and the People's Choice Award.He retired recently from his award-winning role on Spin City, where he portrayed Michael Flaherty, New York City's favorite deputy mayor. ... Read more

Reviews (153)

A book that celebrates life
Most people know that Michael J. Fox is a talented and charismatic actor,
but what you realize when you read "LUCKY MAN" is that he is also an
amazing human being. His experience with Parkinson's Disease is obviously
a major theme of this book, but you never feel sorry for him, nor does he
ever complain about what has happened to him. In fact, he does just the
opposite and explains how he actually found his life and his vitality when
he came to terms with his circumstances. His honesty and vulnerability in
describing his life leading up to his diagnosis and coping with the reality
of an (as yet) incurable disease has helped and will help many thousands of
people lead happier lives. After reading this book, I find myself inspired
by the possibilities life has to offer and grateful that Mr. Fox chose to
share the intimate details of his and his family's journey so that
everyone, not just those afflicted with Parkinson's Disease,
can lead lives as their own master, as creators of an extraordinary life for themselves.

While reading "LUCKY MAN", I kept wishing I could recommend "WORKING ON
YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane to Michael J. Fox and the
Parkinson's community he discovered. Anyone who is touched by his outlook
on life, who is looking for something magical, who wants to discover the
moment-by-moment joy of being alive should read this book also. In "LUCKY
MAN", I found empathy, compassion and admiration for Mr. Fox and those who
suffer from PD (or other debilitating diseases). In "WORKING ON YOURSELF
DOESN'T WORK", you will find the road map to loving life, no matter what
your circumstances.

Why should Michael J. Fox pen his memoirs?
Because his story is more fascinating than most Presidents.'

Fox begins with the first twitch he felt in his left hand back in 1990. He titled this chapter, "A Wake-up Call," but even he admits he went through long periods of doubt, denial and even self-destruction on the road to accepting Parkinson's Disease as part of his daily life.

Even though Fox goes into great detail about his battle with Parkinson's, he also takes you back to his childhood and all the way up to modern day. His words are candid, straight from the heart and he doesn't sugarcoat his autobiography to be a self-serving tool.

The love of his family clearly shows throughout the book as he talks about his brother, three sisters, parents and his beloved grandmother, Nana. And, of course, he doesn't leave out his home life with wife Tracy and their four children.

From his "escape artist" days as a two-year-old in Canada where neighbors labeled him as a real "charmer," to his decision to go public with his disease, Fox bares his soul in these pages. This includes how he got started in showbiz in Canada, crossing over to Hollywood success and even living the glamorous lifestyle.

Heart-warming tales are scattered throughout and you can't help but laugh, cry and feel like Fox is a member of your own family.

You're embarrassed for him when he meets with an agent in the late '70s who thinks he has a physical handicap because he's wearing platform boots with four-inch heels and two-inch soles, which he thought were in style. As he speaks about becoming a man on his 18th birthday, the sense of being an adult since he's now legal age, you'll laugh outloud when he says he blew out the candles on his Mickey Mouse birthday cake.

You witness the growth of his relationship with Tracy that ultimately lead to marriage and the start of his own family. You shudder when you realize the pain and turmoil he and his family endure as he has undergoes brain surgery, being awake during the entire process.

And you watch the evolution of this man come full circle as he leaves the partying behind to dedicate himself to his family and to the search for a Parkinson's Disease cure.

Michael J. Fox is not just an award-winning actor, he's a devoted family man and an activist for research-funding and finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease. With "Lucky Man," Fox also proves he is an outstanding author. The book has topped the New York Times bestseller lists and the audio tapes have been nominated for a Grammy.

More than a bio, ten stars plus, a must read by all,
Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton in 1961. Residing in Burnaby, British Columbia, while his father was in the Royal Canadian Army Signal Corps, he recounts growing up with parents, siblings, Nana, and friends. Describing himself in the toddler years, Michael says, "... a handful, a whirlwind... precociously funny in a what-spaceship-dropped-off-this-alien kind of way." Michael's early love of music, specifically the guitar (self-taught), was fruitful as a member in the "Halex" band. His love of drama and art was realized at age sixteen when Michael made his debut as a twelve-year old in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's production of the series "Leo and Me". Fox's American career was launched with Disney in "Midnight Madness". Career credits include the theater screen with "Back to the Future", "Teen Wolf", and "Doc Hollywood"; and popular television series, "Family Ties" (on the set, Michael met actress/wife Tracy Pollan), and "Spin City". With humor Michael describes success, '...those who got, get', i.e., if famous and with fortune, free offers abound. Just the mention of his favorite beer in a conversation, brought a truckload of the beverage to his front door... with a promise of more anytime he wanted it!

Fox's emotional journey in facing the reality of the diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (PD) began in 1990 with the twitching of a finger. In LUCKY MAN, Fox approaches his story with wit, positive attitude and honesty, emotions, and the trials in the continuation of his career. The diagnosis of PD was understandably kept from the public for seven years... shared only with his inner circle of family and trusted associates. Michael experienced the ritual commonly traversed with diagnosis of debilitating diseases including anger, denial and acceptance. Candidly, Fox tells his faults, ups and downs, the highs and lows of life and show biz, his philosophy, and the thrill of playing hockey against Bobby Orr. In admitting his problem with alcohol and the existence of PD, Michael is led to a therapist and engages a permanent neurologist for treatment of his illness.

As an advocate for PD research funding, Fox has testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing. His campaigning efforts, continued to this day, have had a definite effect on raising awareness of PD in the public and private sectors. Specifically, the acknowledgement that PD is prevalent in earlier ages vs. the medical textbooks statement that PD is diagnosed in later ages of 50-65 years. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research has become a passion in his life. To this date, the exact cause of PD is unknown. LUCKY MAN is not only biographical, it is a highly-informational writing with regard to the progression and research of PD. Medications associated with treatment are described, differing in results with each person. Fox says of his release of the diagnosed illness to the public, "Disclosure had allowed me to rearrange life so that I could get more from it."

Michael J. Fox possesses obvious penchant for writing. His exceptional narrative in LUCKY MAN is philosophical, uplifting and insightful. While reading LUCKY MAN, I laughed and I cried. I am in awe of Michael J. Fox for his honesty, humility, compassion, and courage (that includes wife/actress Tracy Pollan and his four children). Review based on paperback edition 2003

[Note: The author's profits from the sale of "Lucky Man" are donated by the author to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Please visit the author's website: michaeljfox.com]

Connected books recommended are: LIFE LESSONS by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; THE WHEEL OF LIFE: A MEMOIR OF LIVING AND DYING by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross; SHAKING UP PARKINSON DISEASE: FIGHTING LIKE A TIGER, THINKING LIKE A FOX by A. N. Lieberman, Abraham, M.D. Lieberman

A GOOD READ FROM MARTY MCFLY
I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. MIKE DOES A GOOD JOB DESCRIBING HIS DISEASE. HE GOES IN GREAT DETAIL WITH THE SYMPTOMS, DENIAL, MEDICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND FINALLY COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET IN DEALING WITH THIS DISEASE. HE ALSO GOES IN DETAIL WITH HIS OTHER BATTLE WITH ALCOHOL WHICH HE NOW HAS SEVERAL YEARS OF SOBRIETY. I FIND MIKE TO BE A PRETTY GOOD GUY WHO HAS FACED ALOT OF ADVERSITY. I LOVED HIM IN THE BACK TO THE FUTURE MOVIES AND AS ALEX KEATON IN FAMILY TIES. A VERY TALENTED AND FUNNY GUY. I GIVE ALOT OF CREDIT FOR FACING UP TO HIS DEAMONS AND COMING PUBLIC WITH BOTH OF HIS DISEASES. A VERY INTERESTING BOOK. ALSO GIVE CREDIT TO MIKE'S WIFE TRACY FOR STAYING WITH HIM THRU HIS DRINKING DAYS. THE ONLY THING I WISHED HE HAD DONE IS THIS BOOK IS TOLD US MORE ABOUT WAS THE MAKING OF HIS BACK TO THE FUTURE MOVIES. THIS IS A VERY SMALL COMPLAINT. A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE.

Great read!!
Short and Sweet, this book is great. I listened to the book-on-Cd which Michael J. Fox read, and it was a fantastic voyage through his life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mr. Streissguth includes unusual with expected.
Mr. Streissguth's work is a welcomed effort to begin someone on the path to understanding Dr. Franklin.Though brief, Mr. Streissguth includes many salient points often left out of simple biographies.Points include the difficulties he faced in politics, the failures he knew, the mistakes made.Although written for the young reader, he writes with thoughtfulness and respect. The book never has the "baby-talk" voice found in some young reader books.
This biography allows the reader to understand Dr. Franklin was a real person living in difficult times. One of the better mini-bio's on Dr. Franklin I have read with 98% accuracy on the details of his life and accomplishments.
G.Robin Smithben@ben-franklin.org ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Step-Up Series provides entertainment and education
As a homeschool mother, I want my child to enjoy the learning process. I have been delighted with the Step-Up series and Benjamin Franklin has been no exception. They are written in an straight forward, but not dumbed down, manner. My daughter and I got the high points of Franklin's life, as well as the ideals he stood for, in a lively, interesting format.

I would have preferred more pictures; but that's just me!

Meet Benjamin Franklin
This is a great book for any child from 2nd grade to 4th grade to read. It is in large print which makes it easy for children to read. This book highlights all the main accomplishments and events of Benjamin Franklin's life. It is very interesting and will hold a young child's attention from the begining until the end of the book. I really enjoyed the way it covered his whole life, not just when he started making great inventions, like most books. It was one of my favorite books when I was in elementary school. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Diario de Ana Frank by Anne Frank
Excellent book. I teach mostly Hispanic students. We read the English and Spanish version simultaneously. It really helped them understand. I always tell them it only takes one person to change the world, even a little 14 year old German girl. Now they understand.Well written, clearly translated.

Very well written
I thought that this book was very good. Ana (Anne) Frank expresses how she feels and copes with living in the "Secret Annex". It was amazing how she didnt't lose her mind from being stuck in a room all day and notbeing able to move or make a sound. She confesses every thing in thisdiary,and is trully a terrific, great book. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

About the Book
I read the book Memories of Anne Frank by Alison Leslie Gold as an assignment for school. I usually like to read but this book was very average but I am definitely not saying that this book is not a good one. Its just really is not style of book. The book was focused mainly on Anne Frank's childhood friend Hannah Goslar and Hannah's family. The book was not very factual, it did not give many important dates, and it stayed mostly from one point of view. The story was mostly based around memories that Hannah had of Anne's and her childhood friendship and the families friendship when thing were all fine and before the Nazi people came. The book I would probably recommend this book to a girl over a boy because the main character, Hannah, is a girl and boy and girls interpret thing differently most times. Mainly I did enjoy the book but it was not one of the best books I ever read.

Memories of Anne Frank a review by Trevor
Memories Of Anne Frank

Will Hannah be able to survive during the Holocaust? This book has many mixed emotions during the story. "Dad are we going to die in this dreadful camp." Alison Leslie the author of Memories of Anne Frank taught many people, throughout this book, that life really isn't that bad. Hannah, the protagonist, of the story tells her life as it really was.
As Hannah lived in these camps, she never knew where her next meal would come from. She thought of it as dark as the midnight night but knew she had to be as positive as the light of day. As long as she lived she never would give up hope for that one special day.
Then, that one special day finally came. Her best friend, Anne, who also is the protagonist, meets her. Anne is across the fence in another camp. Even though Anne had a high spirit, she died sometime before liberation day. Finally, that day came where Hannah got to leave the prison camp with the rest of the full spirited prisoners. Hannah went to Berlin with her little sister to try to find someone they knew.
Would Hannah ever be able to move to America where her family first wanted to live? Would she and her little sister, Gabi, even find some good food to eat and a nice home with foster parents? I insist that you come join the adventures in Memories Of Anne Frank.

Awesome!
Wow! this book was so GREAT! I couldn't put it down. I read it after I read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, which I absolutely loved, too. I enjoyed learning more about Anne Frank and her life. I also liked the pictures. This is one of my favorite books. You have to read it!

Very Touching (G.G.Y.)
I am a student 5th grade...

This story takes place in Amsterdam, Germany in between the 1940's and 1950's. A Jewish girl whose name is Hannah Elizabeth Pick-Goslar tells everything she remembers about her best friend Anne Frank and her true-life story. Everyday before World War 2 began Hannah and Anne would walk to school together. Until, one day like always Hannah was up and ready for school she walked to the Frank's house (which was across from)
And knocked on the solid rock door, no one was home! The house was stripped down bear! Hannah panicked, she ran to the next door neighbors house to ask if he knew where the franks were? The neighbor replied saying that they escaped to go to Switzerland from the Nazis.
After Hannah had heard the news she quickly ran to her house telling her parents what she had heard about the Franks. Her parents freaked out wondering if the Nazis were looking for them. But, Hannah wondered if she ever will see Anne again.?
Through the story Hannah is exported to concentration camps with her mom, dad, grandfather, grandmother, and even her little baby sister who is only 2 years old! Will Hannah's family survive? Will she ever meet Anne again? Read the book to find out!

Amazing Tale
For once a look behind Anne. Her best friend Hannah Goslar was a heroine as well. Anne and Hannah were both amazing young women, and I think that all people interested in the entirety of the Holocaust should read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Named "Businessman of the Century" by Fortune Magazine, Henry Ford is well known for his automotive accomplishments. His achievements extend far beyond this, including induction into five national halls of fame and donation of nearly one-third of his life's fortune to philanthropic efforts.

Henry Ford: A Hearthside Perspective presents a unique view of the life of Henry Ford, looking at his homesites, historic landmarks, and charitable contributions as well as his relationships with family and friends. Through history, pictures, songs, and interpretive biography based on 16 years of research, author Donn P. Werling, director of the Ford Estate, offers the reader powerful insight into the life and thoughts of this remarkable man. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Could use a good edit
Donn Werling writes about little-known aspects of Ford's life, especially his home life, so for "Fordophiles" the book is interesting. But it assumes a lot of knowledge about Ford, and often does not explain rather obscure references. The writing is inconsistent, sometimes rambling. If you are looking for a basic history of Ford's life, this is not the book for you. If you are an enthusiast who wants to know more interesting factoids, and are willing to wade through to find them, then get this book.

Henry Ford - a different type of view
Donn Werling's book presents a different view of Henry Ford.This book presumes a working knowledge of Henry Ford and all of what he was about.It is a "thinking man's" perspective approach.Mr. Werling is the director of the Henry Ford Estate and takes his approach to Henry Ford as not just a job, but as a truly interested person.It is well worth the investment of your money in buying the book and of your time in reading it.
Rich Jonas-Schererville, IN

Fresh outlook on a unique life
Wirling masterfully writes of a historic man whose life affected each of ours.Utilizing one of Ford's favorite places, the hearth, Wirling spins this industrialist's story around song and story recreating history in a simple, yet profound way.

Ford is ever the energetic industrialist, yet his agriarian roots constantly play out.Wirling's style of writing this book fits so well this orientation of Mr. Ford.Delightful read which displays the many interests of this man who was so prominent in many disciplines besides the auto sector that so prominently bears his influence.Delightful work.

Henry Ford: Americanavisionary with a social conscience
I have just read a facinating book on Henry Ford. What makes this book unique is it's unusual social context, interpretative history, and experiential presentation. As Americans we have a picture of Henry Ford,his industrial accomplishments and short comings; however we have neverbeen taught his social commitment to working people, his fellow workers,and communities.

This book allows you to visualize a camping trip withHenry Ford, an ardent conservation and preservationist,John Burroughs,America's esteemed naturalist, Harvey Firestone, a rubber industry magnate,and Thomas Alva Edison, America's true genius inventor. A social time-linetechnique is used which allows the reader the opportunity to easily followsuch events as Ford's committment to education from industrial tradeschools to Tuskegee Institute.

A unique facination of this work forthis author-publisher was the perfect placement of text and correspondingphotos. This layout allows for maximum visualization of the content. Afamily can read this work together and then choose to experience theworking powerhouse on site at the Henry Ford Estate---Fair Lane, or visitthe Upper Peninsula site of the Pequaming Mill and school on the shores ofLake Superior, or enjoy the Grand Ole Opry that Henry Ford helpedestablish.

This is experiential learning at its best. A blueprint tointerpretive history of many unknown facts and stories and musical verseabout Henry Ford. Once you read this work, you will want to share yourexperience with many others. Awards and recognition for creative style andhistorical context will be forth coming!

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D.,Author-Publisher of gamesbygrube.com - Ann Arbor, Michigan ... Read more

Book Description

Selected and annotated by the author of the acclaimed Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, this collection of Franklin's writings shows why he was the bestselling author of his day and remains America's favorite Founder and wit.

As a twelve-year-old apprentice in his brother's print shop, Benjamin Franklin taught himself to be a writer by taking notes on the works of great essayists such as Addison and Steele, jumbling them up, and then trying to recreate them in his own words. By that method, he recalled in his Autobiography, he was encouraged to think he might become a "tolerable" writer. In fact, he became the best, most popular, and most influential writer in colonial America. His direct and practical prose shaped America's democratic character, and his homespun humor gave birth to the nation's unique brand of crackerbarrel wisdom.

This book collects dozens of Franklin's delight-ful essays and letters, along with a complete version of his Autobiography. It includes an introductory essay exploring Franklin's life and impact as a writer, and each piece is accompanied by a preface and notes that provide background, context, and analysis. Through the writings and the introductory essays, the reader can trace the development of Franklin's thinking, along with the birth of the nation he and his pen helped to invent. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Collection of Franklin Papers
I am a big fan of Benjamin Franklin's work. After reading Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson, I eagerly seeked out more. I bought the cheap autobiography, but it didn't have many extras. This edition is more extra than autobiography, with 400 pages of other Franklin papers including the Silence Dogood letters of his younger years. Throughout the book are notes and long sections written by the editor Isaacson which are quirky and intelligent like his book Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. A really great collection of Benjamin Franklin's letters and papers! A must read for any history buff! ... Read more

Book Description

A lively guide to the life and work of the father of psychoanalysis

From Anna O. to Zionism, this uniquely accessible A-to-Z reference presents a comprehensive overview of Freud’s ideas, family, colleagues, patients, writings, and legacy. Mixing humor, passion, and knowledge, each of the more than 100 fascinating entries offers a revealing look at some aspect of Freud’s world, be it a description of his famed pillowed office at Berggasse 19 or an account of his intense feud with former student Carl Jung.

Sharon Heller, PhD (Boynton Beach, FL), is the author of three popular psychology books. ... Read more

Book Description

Richard Feynman tells some of his most infamous stories: Chief Research Chemist, I Want My Dollah, 13 Times, and Judging Books by Their Covers.All from the original recordings made by Ralph Leighton and edited with assistance from Tohru Ohnuki.You're read these stories in his books Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman and What Do You Care what Other People Think, now hear them just as "The Chief" told them! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Can't wait to get vol. II
"Surely Your Joking, Mr. Feynman!" is based on these tape recordings. Given his particular style of giving out ideas, it is always a better idea to listen to him 'in action' than just to read books. Included in a ``secret track'' is his unique experience with carbon tet. This story has never been published before.

A purist won't grant something else for Feynman's Stories
Though Feynman died a pretty long time ago, an interesting phenomena, may be unique to him, is that he is constantly writing and publishing new books! That's because Feynman's bestsellers--the set of lectures given at Caltech, "Surely you're Joking", "What do you care?", "QED", and some others--were not written by him, though he is recognised being the author by everybody, including himself for those books published before he died. Actually as you certainly know, these books were edited by other peoples from audio tapes, which tapes were recorded for such or such occasion, lectures, TV, or for private use. That means Feynman told something that has been recorded, and somebody else rearranged it, added, cut, modified the grammar and the speech, moved the text around, to make a book out of it.

For that matter, no one feels peculiarly wrong when editing books signed Richard P. Feynman, books he never knew he had written. It may seems fair as long as the editor stays close enough to Feynman's ideas, and most often it's okay in this regard... but some will always feel uneasy with somehow translated text.

Feynman encouraged it when he was alive, and as an author of much success, they're keeping up the good work, till exhaustion of lost lectures it seems. Whether one feels this is morally good or wrong, there remains these original unarguable sources of this sounding fake literature. It happens you can get some of theses tapes! For those who have enjoyed the books, for you all, this is incredibly enough _better_ stuff.

This one record, Feynman Volume 1, has been home recorded by Ralph Leighton after sessions of drumming with Feynman, pieces of which are incidentally included. In this first volume, we hear Feynman telling theses four stories that are entitled in "Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman" as "The Chief Research Chemist of the Metaplast Corporation", "I Want My Dollar!", "Thirteen Times" and "Judging Books by Their Covers". Stories as they're told sometime differ radically from stories as they're written. Those episodes that are hundred of pages separated in the book are actually recounted in an uninterrupted one hour and a minute delightful story, of a true Feynman _unedited_.

Praise that audio sources from Feynman will keep on being released. If peoples feel the need for a book coming with them, they're welcome (and most often when it's technical, yes, it's necessary). But books without their actual source, and even though it's the way Feynman was "writing". should be disregarded. ... Read more