A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned
The Book Critics | Aug 22, 2010 | Comments 5
Product Description
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 eighteen 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.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned
Filed Under: Art & Music
This tiny volume– barely bigger than a Poptart — will only take a half-hour or so to read. Author Michael J. Fox of television and movie fame has penned this classic little book for graduates, and it’s chock full of insight, humor and interesting stories from his life.
Right up front high-school-dropout Fox poses a question to the reader: “What the hell were you thinking?” He has since earned a GED (General Equivalency Degree) and several honorary college diplomas, but all in all Fox has learned much more in Life 101: “an amazingly comprehensive education, albeit unstructured, and often unbidden.”
After listing other accomplished people who also bailed on formal education (including the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and Ben Franklin), Fox dives into stories from his youth. For example, Fox learns economics through his experiences as a teenage actor, before being cast in Family Ties, dealing with agents and taxes. Later he learns deeper lessons as a recovering alcoholic, family man and as a person stricken with Parkinson’s disease.
The overall impression is of a grateful and self-deprecating man with hard-won wisdom, writing with a light touch.
Another good book for a recent grad is Dr. Seuss’s incomparable Oh, the Places You’ll Go!.
Here’s the chapter list:
Prologue: Finally… The Beginning
Part One
Two Schools
When Am I Ever Gonna Use This Stuff?
Part Two
Economics
Comparative Literature
Physics
Political Science
Geography
Part Three
Pay Attention Kid, You Might Learn Something
Part Four
Victims of Pomp and Circumstance
The Beginning… Finally
Rating: 5 / 5
In “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future,” Michael J. Fox recounts his learning experiences in life, applying the lessons learned to subjects in school, while providing some Hollywood tales and student advice along the way. The tome is really small and easy to carry around. This book would probably make a good gift for not only Fox’s legions of fans, but any new graduates looking for some simple insight into life.
Fox applies his early life in L.A.–the life of a starving artist, a high school drop-out, and an optimist willing to risk everything for the life of his dreams–into subjects he would have learned, if he had gained this knowledge through a university education, rather than from his life. For instance, Fox compares his lessons in acting (the rules of supply and demand), in addition to poor money management during his first years in the U.S., to Economics. In a different section, he compares learning Comparative Literature, to going through tons of scripts for TV/movie projects. Other “subjects” included (compromised solely on Fox’s life experiences with them), include Physics, Political Science, and Geography.
The writing is witty, and entertaining. I especially like the last two sections of the book, part three “Pay Attention Kid, You Might Learn Something” and part four, “Victims of Pomp and Circumstance.” Fox’s voice comes across as meaningful and easy to relate to, and some parts are especially touching. This book proves that ultimately lessons learned in life, are more lasting than anything learned in school. A recommended read.
Rating: 5 / 5
I wish Amazon didn’t consider 3 stars “critical” because I really liked Michael J. Fox’s little book. It’s just a slim little thing, probably would amount to about a half-hour speech if it were a script. It is impossible to not like this guy. He’s engaging, sincere, self-deprecating, intelligent, deep, funny, classy, courageous, human, honest, warm..I could go on but then my review might be longer than the book!
In “Funny Thing…,” which reads like an address to graduates, Michael J. Fox reveals a bit about his own life, dropping out of high school not just to further his acting career, but because he was learning disabled and struggling terribly in school, although he’s obviously bright as a button. He gives some general advice to graduates, inspirational and thoughtful but general.
Smart release at graduation time, this makes the perfect vehicle for a heartfelt inscription and a nice check for your favorite graduate. I like it a lot.
Also recommended: Lucky Man, Mike’s memoir up to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s and the beginning of his recovery from alcoholism. For that book, five stars.
Rating: 3 / 5
I really enjoyed this book. It made laugh out loud as I was reading it. This is the second book that I have read by Michael Fox and have enjoyed both. He is an engaging author and I look forward to his next book.
Rating: 5 / 5
Whether you’re watching one of his movies or tv shows or reading one of his books, Michael J. Fox is one of those rare celebrities/ public figures who you feel like you know well. This book contains quotes and ideas that will stay with you for a long time, especially the ones about anticipating the worst situations and not living in the moment. While this book is supposedly written for newly graduated high school seniors, all ages will be able to find a personal connection and inspiration from the illustrative stories Mr. Fox has written. In a time when many of us feel powerless about so many issues, his stories illustrate just how much power we actually have. Children of the 80s like myself, who can quote just about every APK or Marty McFly line, will love taking a trip down memory lane as well.
Rating: 5 / 5