Rating:  -
IM VERY INTERSTED IN READING THIS BOOK. I HAVE ALOT OF COMMENTS BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK AND WOULD ALSO LOVE TO ENJOY IT. ONE LITTLE PROBLEM , I WOULD PERFER IT IN SPANISH . I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A SPANISH VERSION OF STILL ME . SO I CAN ENJOY THE PLEASURE OF HIS WORDS ,OF MY YET TO BE FAVORITE BOOK.
Rating:  -
Still Me is a look into the life of Chritopher Reeve, both before and after his injury. Although Reeves best accolade is not writing, he does gives the reader an honest look into the adversity that he has encountered. I read this book out of personal interests and found it to be both interesting and encouraging. He recalls the events leading up to the moment of his accident, and also take us through the emotions he felt as he began to understand the depth of his injury, his experiences in rehab, and the ongoing adjustment process. Reeves also shares some delicately humorous moments...sure to make you laugh and cry. The reason I gave it four stars is that he also goes into great depths about his acting career...something that may not be of interest to everyone...but I can certainly understand his doing so. (I did come to learn the depth of his schooling as an actor, which I didn't know.) We all revel in our "glory days," and I'm certain it was (is) bittersweet for Reeves to do so. I can totally relate to that myself. But, this takes me to another point. Although Reeves shares the devastating heartache he, his wife Dana, and their family has endured, he also offers hope and inspiration. What a beautiful example of love they both share. So many couples call it quits when petty problems arise, but Chris and Dana show us what "in sickness and in health" really entails. Reeves is also doing a service for all of us who are in wheelchairs, by whatever cause, through his Foundation to raise funds and awareness for medical research that will lead to a cure for, not only spinal cord injury paralysis, but for many neurological diseases, such as MS and Parkinson's. He has and continues to use his 'public eye persona' to draw attention to this matter.
One of my favorite parts of the book is this.... "When the first Superman movie came out, I (Reeves) was frequently asked, 'What is a hero?' I remember the glib response I repeated so many times. My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences - a soldier who crawels out of a foxhole to drag his injured buddy to safety. And I also meant individuals who are slighty larger than life: Houdini, Lindbergh, John Wayne, JFK, and Joe DiMaggio. But now, my definition is completely differnt. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to perservere and endure in spite of overwhelming circumstances...."
Bravo Christopher!
Rating:  -
I probably read this book expecting too much. I should start by saying that I did enjoy the book, but I was a little disappointed. The most obvious criticism would be that Christopher Reeve is an actor, not a writer, and that really shows in his book. I thought he spent too much time on his acting career and his studies, but I'm sure that people who are interested in acting as a career would love that part of his story. I really appreciated his honesty in this book. First, I loved his sense of humor about Superman, the role that made him so famous. He describes with delight his making fun of Superman on Saturday Night Live, his belief that Superman III was "mostly a misconception", and he says that "the less said about Superman IV the better." More touching is his honesty about his weaker moments after the accident when he couldn't find a reason to live, and he tried to make life miserable for those around him. His pain and his hope become very real as you read this book. A lot of the power of Christopher Reeve's story is hearing him tell it. Reeve spoke at my college convocation the day before graduation, and I was so moved by his speech that I went and bought the book that day (they had it in the University Book Store - go figure). I think that the audiobook, which Reeve reads himself, would communicate much more of his courage and strength. While not phenomenal, the book is a good choice.
Rating: -
As a paraplegic who recently sustained his injury, I was encouraged and moved by Christopher Reeve's stunning autobiography, "Still Me." This book is an inspiration for the able-bodied and disabled alike. As a journalist, I was skeptical about Reeve's claims that cures for spinal-chord injuries would occur in the near future. I pre-judged him to be overly optimistic. But he presents hard medical-research facts that point toward these cures. Now I'm convinced he's a practical man who bases his optimism on scientific solutions, not on religious ones. In the book, he weaves a bevy of medical and political information with meaningful anecdotes about his personal life and professional career. The book is quite an accomplishment and a well-paced read.
Rating: -
As a paraplegic who recently sustained his injury, I was encouraged and moved by Christopher Reeve's stunning biography, "Still Me." This book is an inspiration for the able-bodied and disabled alike. As a journalist, I was skeptical about Reeve's claims that cures for spinal-chord injuries would occur in the near future. I pre-judged him to be overly optimistic. But he presents hard medical-research facts that point toward these cures. Now I'm convinced he's a practical man who bases his optimism on scientific solutions, not on religious ones. In the book, he weaves a bevy of medical and political information with meaningful anecdotes about his personal life and professional career. The book is quite an accomplishment and a well-paced read.
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