Michael J. Fox Chats About New Book, Dropping Out of School

By Nicki Gostin Posted Apr 13th 2010 05:20PM

Michael J. Fox didn't graduate high school like a lot of us. Then again, not many of us have traveled through time in a DeLorean or fought a two-decade battle with Parkinson's Disease and managed to stay full of life and positivity. Fox, who authored a best-selling memoir, 'Always Looking Up,' is releasing a slim yet lovely new book called 'A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned.' Filled with inspirational stories and life lessons, the book is the perfect gift for a graduate or anyone yearning for the power to stay positive in the face of adversity.

Here, Fox chats with PopEater about dropping out of school, his hopes for a cure for Parkinson's and why "life gets really good when things get terrible."

This new book seems geared to impart lessons. What's the most important one?
Life gets really good when things get terrible. We all make plans, and somewhere along the way, life will create holes, and we can fill them in ways we didn't plan or expect.

You are so positive.
I'm having a good time. My life is richer because of the holes.

How did this book come about?
After I did the last one, I vowed to never write another book, because it's so much work. But my publisher came to me with the idea of writing a sort of primer geared toward students graduating from high school and college. I loved the irony of it, because I'm a high school dropout. I retold some stories from the first book and came up with some ideas. I actually had a lot of fun. As a parent putting four kids through school, I'm very familiar with a classical education, but also the idea of an informal education. You can learn economics from school or in life, by going broke. You can learn physics in school or when you fall down and bump your nose. Lessons can be learned in a structured or unstructured way. Then there are teachers in the formal sense and mentors in the informal sense. I mulled over all those things. The book is not a prescriptive -- I'm just sharing these stories.

You're a high school dropout. What would you do if one of your kids said they wanted to drop out?
My son is in college, my twins are in ninth grade, and my youngest is going to be the president of the United States. I don't think any of them would drop out, but I would take them seriously. When I left school, it wasn't because I had a problem with it, it was because I was in pursuit of a career. I did go back after 15 years and get my GED. My dad was great when I told him I was dropping out. He drove me down to Los Angeles. He lost his s**t, but he came through. I hope I would do the same thing.

Could you have imagined you would be such a positive person before you were diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease?
I don't think I could have imagined the other things that have come into place. If I didn't have Parkinson's then my life would have been more of the same -- acting, traveling and being away from my family. My illness forced me to spend time with my family, to work on my foundation, and my life is so much richer because of it. It's altered my reality is such a positive way.

Are you hopeful about finding a cure with your foundation?
I think so, but I'm also realistic about what it takes. For every breakthrough there are so many failures. What I want to do is embody hope for a cure. People know we are out there and actively working for a cure and we are making lots of strides in bio markers and promoting stem cell research.

Can you imagine your life without your wife Tracy Pollan?
No, not in a million years. She's amazing. She's uncomfortable with the notion that she's a rock for me -- she doesn't view it that way. She sees us as pretty blessed in a lot of ways. She's a great mom and partner.

I think the best part about being married to Tracy is you're also related to Michael Pollan, her brother.
Yes, the Carl Sagan of food. He has become quite a figurehead. He taught me a lot, personally, about how to write and how to think about writing. And of course he's taken the subject of food into the realm of politics and made us all think about where our food is from.

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Michael J. Fox Snapshots

Actor and activist Michael J. Fox speaks during the closing ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics on February 28. Check out some recent pics of Fox (hint: he can swim) >>

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Michael J. Fox Snapshots

In this photo provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau actor Michael J. Fox receives the Distinguished Service Award during the National Association of Broadcasters show at the Las Vegas Hilton, Monday, April 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Las Vegas News Bureau, Darrin Bush)

Michael J. Fox Snapshots

Michael J Fox taking a last dip before leaving St Barth March 13, 2010 EXCLUSIVE

Michael J. Fox Snapshots

Michael J Fox taking a last dip before leaving St Barth March 13, 2010 EXCLUSIVE

Michael J. Fox Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM ***NO CANADA RIGHTS*** Michael J. Fox and wife Tracy Pollan take a splash in the waters during their vacation in St. Barts. NON-EXCLUSIVE March 9, 2010 Job: 66539EX Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Michael J. Fox Snapshots

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Comments

(102)

Tuesday 13 April

By Ben

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

God bless you Michael. You suffer with the greatest dignity and it's been my pleasure to have watched and known you for so many years. I am somewhat older than you and a Vietnam veteran. I was exposed to Agent Orange and have developed Parkinson's because of it. It's not bad yet but I am not looking forward to it. My faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will sustain me. Again, God bless you sir.

Friday 16 April

By coolmamajan

And He will Ben. I could tell you amazing stories out of my chemo experience. Keep your faith and remember that "All things work for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes". Gid will use you to help others. Thank you for yoru service and good luck. God Bless!!!!!

By Keith

God Bless you also Ben along with Michael and his family. A smile and a positive outlook can go a long way. I hope we will see a cure or at least an effective treatment in the near future.
Keep fighting my friend...

By Gammy

Ben, God bless YOU, you sound like a wonderful human being.

By Janie

Michael J. Fox is one of the few actors who is smart, adorable, multi-talanted, and has so much integrity. How many Hollyweirds can you say that about.
Thsnk you for all of the great entertainment, and your fight for Parkinsins. You're amazing.
jlhmc-

By Carrie-Lee

Well said.

I'm a huge Michael J. Fox fax, one of the very few people in Hollywood I actually give a damn about.

By helas

Michael is awesome - talented, inspirational, and still funny as hell! He's the type of guy that gives me a little faith in humanity when all the rest of the news is so bad. God Bless 'im.

Wednesday 14 April

By dhobbs1951

Michael, What can anyone say? Hollywood, famous, admired, a blessing in Family Ties - what a cast!, a real long term marriage as such, all you have LIVED, but the GREATEST of them all was marrying TRACY POLLAN!

Actually, I had never watched Family Ties until the second episode when you said, “I love you, I love you, I love you, there I said it, got to go, bye” and Tracy, “Ellen” said, “I love you to”…. I never missed an episode after that. I know you two were not said to be attracted to each other then, but if you weren’t -- you sure played a good part.

Thank you for being an icon for so many of us, and Tracy for the great movies she was in, PLEASE STAY TOGETHER, don’t lose it now, ha ha

ENJOY LIFE

By wayne

I'm one of your biggest fans. Keep doing what your doing. God be with you.

By tshambe

Michael and Tracy, you are a insparation to me, and I love you both for that, I pray that everyone can learn from you instead of always running to divorce court,you are a blessing to me and my family, keep your head up and keep reaching for the stars...

By C

Now here is a REAL HERO for kids to emulate.

Monday 19 April

By JennyJ

Vote down Vote up Report this

I agree. I remember watching the back to the future movies with my dad growing up. Michael, you are the vision that the kids today need to idolize. Not Kate Gosselin or any other celebrity that is bringing nothing but drama to the table. You may have had your ups and downs but all in all, you have been a wonderful person and icon for all of us around the globe. May God bless you with a cure, and keep your head high. You have your family there to support you, including us... the people of the world. Stay strong because we all believe in you :-)

By Debbie

Amen C. These are the kinds of stories we should be focusing on. Not the trash they usually put on here. I don't have to name names because we all know who they are.

By dave

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Absolutely C,
Exactly the type of role models our children need in their lives. Michael is a great person, great husband and father and an inspiration to us all. God Bless Michael and Tracy and their family.

By EDITH SCHMIDT N.J. NORTH BRUNSWICK

i,m a fan of yours michael and god bless you with everything you do and i watched your old movies over and over back to the future .i cant how many times .i,m glad youre helping others with your fundraiers .

By Blueeyeslisa39

Michael J. Fox is the best, amazing, adorable, talented, and smart actor and husband. He have a beautiful family and his wife Tracy Pollen is a very beautiful woman and I am so glad that they got together and they are meant to be together and they do have beautiful children. I'm sorry about his illness and I hope they will find a cure for Parkinson's Disease and help him and other people. I love his movies and I watched alot of his movies in years and he is a very good actor. I have always loves him and my family loves him too and watched alot of his movies. Thank you for all for the greatest entertainment and you fight for Parkinson's Disease. I will pray for you and your family and hope to find the cure for the Parkinson's Disease. Good Luck!!!! God Bless You and Your Family!!!! Enjoy Life!!!!

By Bella

I love and admire Michael J. Fox. He is certainly one of my heroes and so is, even moreso, his wife. But let's get real here: it's easier to be 'positive' in adversity when we have enough or a lot of money. I have worked with people who are chronically physically ill, mentally ill, or dying, and they are homeless (and for a lot of them, none of this was their choice, regardless of popular opinions about the homeless). It's a little harder for them to be positive. Mr. Fox is not exactly wanting for anything, including the best health care. However, God knows, if it weren't for the rich, who are usually generous, regardless of their reasons, the poor wouldn't have anything at all. None of this means I don't love and admire him and his wife. It just means that maybe he wouldn't be quite so 'up' if he were poor.

By Jane

I love Michael J. Fox.
He's definitely one of a kind, a person who helps so many people by sharing his life. He's great. Everytime I see him or read about him, I am in awe of his positive attitude. Always smiling.
God bless him and his family.

By Lori Uribe

I have had alot of problems in my life to, you can either use them as stumbling blocks or stepping stones. Michael, whenever I see him inspires me to be more positive, he has taken things that would perhaps devestate aperson and used them for good, he is a stepping stone man.He is funny and smart and very inspirational, he is a good eample to all,like me that may be struggling. Keep it up Michael and keep your chin up as you always do, knowing that your positive outlook inspires many.May God bless and keep you and yours.

By Fred

How a vile drug addled despicable creep like Rush Limbaugh , could choose such a stand up guy to pick on , is truly beyond me . But I forgot ; that's what that 'party' does . So they think it's alright , because they speak for all of America ?

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