A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future
Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned
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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future
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Narrated by:
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Michael J. Fox
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Written by:
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Michael J. Fox
About this listen
Michael J. Fox abandoned high school to pursue an acting career, but went on to receive honorary degrees from several universities and garner the highest accolades for his acting, as well as for his writing. In his new book, he inspires and motivates graduates to recognize opportunities, maximize their abilities, and roll with the punches - all with his trademark optimism, warmth, and humor.
In A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, Michael draws on his own life experiences to make a case that real learning happens when “life goes skidding sideways”. He writes of coming to Los Angeles from Canada at age 18 and attempting to make his way as an actor.
Fox offers up a comically skewed take on how, in his own way, he fulfilled the requirements of a college syllabus. He learned economics as a starving artist; an unexpected turn as a neophyte activist schooled him in political science; and his approach to comparative literature involved stacking books up against their movie versions.
Replete with personal stories and hilarious anecdotes, Michael J. Fox’s new book is the perfect gift for graduates and fans.
©2010 Michael J. Fox (P)2010 HyperionYou may also enjoy...
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 334
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 284
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Story5 out of 5 stars 283
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5 out of 5 stars
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 8
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
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It’s hard to imagine anyone else being able to make understanding the grieving process...well, funny, while also being genuine and compassionate. As always, Faith nails it. This zine contains words of solace and helpful wisdom for when you’re dealing with grief…but most of all it’s full of helpful advice for when you are trying to figure out how to support someone else in their grief and what to say. Grieving is a natural part of life, and having the space to do it the way you need to is vital.
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A widowed doctor with a potty mouth who says what we’re all thinking and explains things in terms everyone can understand! ❤️
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Written by: Faith G. Harper PhD LPC-S ACS ACN
-
Always Looking Up
- The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
- Written by: Michael J. Fox
- Narrated by: Michael J. Fox
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 25
Always Looking Up is a memoir of Michael's past decade, told through the critical themes of his life: work, politics, faith, and family. The book is a journey of self-discovery and reinvention, and a testament to the consolations that protect him from the ravages of Parkinson's. With the humor and wit that captivated fans in his first book, Lucky Man, Michael describes how he became a happier, more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Disappointed
- By Linda McClure on 2021-05-12
Written by: Michael J. Fox
-
Lucky Man
- A Memoir
- Written by: Michael J. Fox
- Narrated by: Michael J. Fox
- Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 111
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 98
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 98
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. Fortunately, he had accepted the diagnosis and by the time the public started grieving for him, he had stopped grieving for himself.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
My hero
- By Anonymous User on 2018-10-17
Written by: Michael J. Fox
-
No Time Like the Future
- An Optimist Considers Mortality
- Written by: Michael J. Fox
- Narrated by: Michael J. Fox
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 334
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 284
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 283
The entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future; as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties; as Mike Flaherty in Spin City; and through numerous other movie roles and guest appearances on shows such as The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Diagnosed at age 29, Michael is equally engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping find a cure through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the world's leading nonprofit funder of PD science.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Canadian Hero
- By Dr4star on 2021-04-07
Written by: Michael J. Fox
-
If You Ask Me
- (And of Course You Won't)
- Written by: Betty White
- Narrated by: Betty White
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 145
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 142
It-girl Betty White delivers a hilarious, slyly profound take on love, life, celebrity, and everything in between. Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty's candid take on everything....
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
100% Authentic Betty White
- By Paula Allan on 2023-08-07
Written by: Betty White
-
What's So Funny?
- My Hilarious Life
- Written by: Tim Conway, Jane Scovell, Carol Burnett - foreword
- Narrated by: Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Dick Hill, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
Six-time Emmy Award-winning funnyman Tim Conway, best known for his characters on The Carol Burnett Show, offers a straight-shooting and hilarious memoir about his life on stage and off as an actor and comedian. In television history, few entertainers have captured as many hearts and made as many people laugh as Tim Conway. There's nothing in the world that Tim Conway would rather do than entertain - and in his first-ever memoir, What's So Funny?, that's exactly what he does.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
“Tommy”Conway A most genuine human being turned funny man
- By Robert W. IRONSIDE on 2023-07-23
Written by: Tim Conway, and others
-
Unf*ck Your Grief
- Using Science to Heal Yourself and Support Others
- Written by: Faith G. Harper PhD LPC-S ACS ACN
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
It’s hard to imagine anyone else being able to make understanding the grieving process...well, funny, while also being genuine and compassionate. As always, Faith nails it. This zine contains words of solace and helpful wisdom for when you’re dealing with grief…but most of all it’s full of helpful advice for when you are trying to figure out how to support someone else in their grief and what to say. Grieving is a natural part of life, and having the space to do it the way you need to is vital.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A widowed doctor with a potty mouth who says what we’re all thinking and explains things in terms everyone can understand! ❤️
- By Anonymous User on 2024-10-11
Written by: Faith G. Harper PhD LPC-S ACS ACN
What listeners say about A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marty Woodcock
- 2025-01-13
Inspirational
though he didn't give much advice, his life story is pure inspiration. I'm in my 50's and just starting out again. I needed to hear this, to get my ass in gear.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- RN RN
- 2024-09-14
interesting stories
interesting stories and quite inspiring. I found the reading was a bit rushed at times. a slower more thoughtful pacing would have been better.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Math Devil
- 2019-11-06
A quick read filled with good advice
This book is a written version of a graduation speech. If you have read Michael J. Fox's other two books, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, you will not get any new information here, but I found it to be a really nice summary of the lessons shared in those other books.
Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's makes it harder for him to read slowly and clearly, but I didn't find his reading to be distracting, and I would much rather hear him read his own book himself.
If you're looking for a quick read full of good, graduation-type advice, this book will fill the bill.
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