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.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=868993&pid=868992&uts=1271192958

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tvpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

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) >>

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

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

Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Tags: Michael J. Fox, ParkinsonsDisease

Comments

(102)

Friday 16 April

By N2

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

MR. AND MRS. FOX ARE THE BEST. THEY SHOULD BE TOUTED AS AMERICAN ROLE MODLES. THEY ARE WHAT AMERICA WAS AND COULD BE AGAIN. MEDIA TAKE NOTICE, ITS TIME FOR YOU TO START SHOWING WHAT'S GOOD IN OUR COUNTRY. WE DONT CARE HOW MANY MEN OR WOMEN STARS SLEEP WITH OR WHO IS DRUNK, OR WHO CRASHED. WE CARE ABOUT WHATS GOOD, AND THE FOX'S ARE AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

By Jane

Vote down Vote up Report this

distorted information, spews distorted views. deb and all the rest of the ignorant sound-byte fanatics ought to try and think (albeit that it must be hard) before you write or speak. contain your pollution and throw yourself on the dung heap.

By yboc

i,m living the same life but you
have to have faith.

By coburn59

god never puts more on you
that can,t carry.

By Bandjoman

Mr. MJF, I was so sorryful when I heard about your afflicksion. I really enjoyed your work as an actor. I am an outlaw scientist so I related much to your back to the future shows. May I suggest you do a new show with some medical background and use your talent to the best of your ability even with this aflicksion. Anyways good luck to you and may God speed your work.

By Kathy Kronick

I am so grateful to you Michael J Fox. I have Parkinson's Disease and don't know how you maintain such a busy and dedicated schedule.

I couldn't think of a better representative for us Parkinsonians!

You are admired and appreciated.

Carry on!

Kathy Kroncik

By Carol

MICHEAL J FOX HAS CHRONIC LYME DISEASE and should be treated for it. He can be cured. He is cheating is family with his decision.

By Learned One

Hi Carol:

Where did you get your medical degree from? And you're his personal physician and know his medical history?

By Donna

DEB you are a total idiot. Go back under the rock you came from. You make me sick

By cindi

What an amazing person MJF is! EVERYONE should learn a lesson from his bravery, humor and positivity!! I pray that they can find a cure for parkinsons very soon or at least a treatment that really works well for him. the world needs him and we miss him on TV!! God bless you and your family!!!

By Jenny

My aunt has advanced dementia, and if stem cells could've saved her memory and identity, I would've done whatever I could to get them for her. People value one life over another. I don't understand it. What I do understand is that Michael J. Fox is an inspiration, and a sign that God is alive and well; and that his angels are humans more often than not.

Michael you have been an inspiration to my family. My dad suffered with Parkinsons for about 20 years, but he developed it much later in life than you did and was fortunate to have a mild form.....the last three years of his life the symptoms did escalate however....we lost him this past October at the age of 86 - and not due to his Parkinsons, but a sudden heart attack. We have read your books and watched you on TV and perused your website and it gave us suggestions for his doctors and for him! Thank you Thank you and Thank you again for going public with this debilitating disease.....you have no idea how much you have helped families like mine!!

By casaverde100

I appreciate his fight to find a cure for Parkinson Disease. My father is battling it and it is the hardest thing to see someone live through. I had a father that was strong and tough now he is changing back to an infant. He has problems getting out of cars, walking, eating, going to the bathroom, getting out of chairs, walking up stairs, and doing basic everyday skills. He is only 67. Any awareness Michael J. Fox can bring to this disease is wonderful. The book sounds great and I want to buy it now as in the future I will be holding a job hopefully in the education field. it be a great book to share with my students.

I sure feel your pain...we went through the same with my dad - a strong and vital business man for many years....it was very hard to watch.....the info from Michael's books and website were helpful...your dad is younger than mine was when the disease began to affect him.....don't give up....pay attention to the meds his doctors are giving him because some of the side effects are as bad as the disease. It is also important to keep him moving as much as you can...my dad used a cane the last few years and would take short walks up and down the driveway just for a little exercise and we gave him little jobs - sweeping the porch, etc. We were lucky because he was still mobile when we lost him to a sudden heart attack....he moved very slowly and shuffled when tired and couldn't walk far, but he was not wheelchair bound...I hope you will be that lucky.

By diane

What if you don't have health insurance??

By Kim

Once again Micheal touched my heart! It is so wonderful to find others that take life's bumps and turn them into an opportunity to inspire others...God Bless you Micheal and your precious family...thank you for sharing...

Best always

Kim in Texas

By Nora DyJack

To see Micheal with such a positive outlook in life, is such a gift for anyone, and family who has to deal with Parkinson's. My Dad had it for 15 Years and just past away from it Nov 21, 2009.
He too struggled with it, but had such a positive outlook on his life. He taught me no matter how bad things get, you have to enjoy life every day. My Dad did that every day.

By brrrrk

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Unlike others here, I won't stoop to calling you an idiot.... but you certainly are ignorant. Unfortunately these days there's not that much difference.

By R. Boutiere

Yes, Mr. Fox is a big lobbiest for Federally funded fetal stem cell research, which from private research has been a total dry well as far as expected miracle cures. President Bush was often maligned for "banning" embryo stem cell harvesting. That's not the case. He only banned Federal funds for such purposes because of the religious controversy amongst taxpayers of when life begins.
When Fox testified before Congress to promote his agenda, was he "cute and adorable" when he discontinued his medication to manipulate more sympathy? Likewise Dems were shamelessly using Christopher Reeve, saying he could walk again if only Federal dollars would pay for harvesting fetal tissue. From then on, I lost all respect for those trying to fool public opinion into thinking miracle cures were being denied by mean old Republicans. If fetal stem cells have such promise, let the private sector produce what would be hugely profitable cures. Why haven't they? Not because it isn't legal; it just isn't viable. But the issue is still being misrepresented to score political points, abusing the tragically afflicted and giving them false hope.

By Jason Carpp

I've always loved and admired Michael J Fox. He's always been one of my favourite actors, and I love what he's doing for research for Parkinson's Disease. Hopefully, medical science will be able to find a cure for Parkinsons, or even a treatment for its symptoms.

Page 4 of 6