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Title details for My Stroke of Luck by Kirk Douglas - Available

My Stroke of Luck

by Kirk Douglas
Michael Douglas
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available

In the six decades since he took to the stage and screen, Kirk Douglas has starred in eighty-three films, nine plays, written seven books, and made a remarkable commitment to humanitarian causes world-wide. Now in My Stroke of Luck, his vivid and very personal reflection upon his extraordinary life, Kirk Douglas finally completes his story by offering a candid and heartfelt memoir of where it all went right.

Written in his own words, Kirk offers tender vignettes of his childhood, family, and the seminal event that changed his life for the better. Kirk offers the lessons that saved him and helped him to heal; he also shares warm memories of some of the most famous figures of our time — including Burt Lancaster, Michael J. Fox and Gary Cooper.

Filled with personal insights and read by Kirk Douglas and his son Michael, My Stroke of Luck is an audio sure to inspire all who hear it.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 6, 2006

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780061174339
      • File size: 77888 KB
      • Duration: 02:42:15

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 19, 2001
      One of Hollywood's brightest stars since the late 1940s (Champion, Lust for Life, Spartacus), Douglas embarked on a literary career in the 1980s, with his bestselling memoir The Ragman's Son. He suffered a debilitating stroke several years ago, and now, at 84, he offers the inspirational but not at all Pollyannaish story of his recovery. A peculiarly painful sensation in his right cheek was the first warning, followed by a bewildering inability to talk. Lying in a hospital bed set up in his home, Douglas felt his situation was hopeless. How could he be an actor and not be able to talk? He contemplated ending his life, but when he put a gun in his mouth and painfully bumped his teeth, he withdrew the weapon and began to laugh at his own dramatic gesture. Douglas recounts how he battled his depression not only with medical care but also by recalling happy memories (he shares reminiscences about Sinatra, Reagan and others), and he explains tips and exercises he learned from his speech therapist. Inspired by the courage of others who endured physical or emotional illness, Douglas began to overcome his fears. With the help of his supportive family (who refused to coddle him), he even returned to the screen in Diamonds, playing a boxer who had a stroke. Entertaining and uplifting, Douglas's story is a lesson in survival, one that will entice readers whether or not they have had similar illnesses. B&w photos. (Jan. 14)Forecast:This book is a natural for the 65-plus crowd, especially those who enjoyed
      Tuesdays with Morrie.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Kirk Douglas offers up a well-written and optimistic look at life following a serious stroke. Douglas, still young at heart, reflects on his amazing life, many accomplishments, famous friends, and his relationship with God, his family, and the world at large. Celebrity aside, Douglas has a plethora of great insights and advice for anyone struggling with hardship, regardless of age. Kirk Douglas's speech impediment following his stroke forces the listener to pay close attention in order to understand his words, but listening becomes much easier when Michael Douglas reads his father's words. The younger Douglas does a stellar job capturing his father's wit and sense of timing. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      September 15, 2001
      Douglas reflects on his 1995 stroke, the flubbed suicide attempt that followed, and celebrity friends who have had battles of their own.

      Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Library Journal

      February 15, 2003
      In 1996, film and stage star Douglas suffered a debilitating stroke at age 80, leaving him unable to walk or talk. Therapy helped him to speak and walk-with effort. In this memoir, he reflects on people with handicaps, having established a unit for those with Alzheimer's disease at the Motion Picture Home. Love comes from years of dedication, and in his case he thanks his wife, Ann. Douglas's sense of humor and irony fails only after a friend criticizes his "sucking up to God." Yet he does discuss the values of prayer and Judaism in his recovery. Still weak, he gives us vivid accounts of his memorable trips to Israel and Berlin. He reads a brief introduction and seven minutes of the last chapter with both feeling and understandable effort. His son, actor Michael, adequately completes the narration. Definitely recommended for popular biography collections.-Gordon Blackwell, Eastchester, NY

      Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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