My Stroke of Luck

by Kirk Douglas

Book Overview

In 1995, Kirk Douglas suffered a debilitating stroke that changed his life. In this vivid and very personal reflection upon his extraordinary life as an actor, author, and legend in his own time, Douglas offers a candid and heartfelt memoir of where it all went right in his life -- even after the stroke.

Revealing not only the incredible physical and emotional toll of his stroke but how it has changed his life for the better,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060014040
• ISBN13: 9780060014049
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: It Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

This is an Immensely Inspirational Book!

I have much more admiration for Kirk Douglas now than I had previously. He is a courageous man who has weathered the challenges of having a major stroke. I like his stories and his honesty about his condition. He even adds humor from time to time. I will recommend this book to any friends or relatives afflicted by a stroke. My grandmother had a stroke. Now, thanks to Kirk, I know more about what she might have had to endure.

Inspirational memoir

Read MY STROKE OF LUCK by Kirk Douglas, his inspirational memoir depicting the past few years of his life . . . they have not been healthy ones for the famed actor, in that he first was in a helicopter crash and then suffered a stroke.But he has managed to survive both, even managing to resume his acting career . . . you'll be moved by both his upbeat attitude and sense of humor as he faced many life events that have unfortunately gotten the best of many others . . . I don't know if I would be able to maintain Douglas' grace, but I would make every attempt to do so.This book is a "must" for anybody who has suffered a stroke or knows anybody who has . . . in addition, moviefans will like it for the many reminisces sprinkled throughout.There were many memorable passages; among them:What a hard life she [my mother] endured. I kept studyingher face. My mother's eyes opened and she stared at my face, filled with anxiety. She smiled softly and squeezed my hand gently. Her eyes, almost black on her white face, seemed to be looking through me. She whispered, "Don't be afraid, it happensto everyone." She took a deep breath and exhaled. The air came out of her mouth like a slowly deflating balloon. She stoppedbreathing.The world is filled with people who have suffered from one misfortune or another. The only thing that sets one apart from the rest is the desire and the attempt to help others. People who reach out beyond their pain, out into the world in a trusting way-they are the ones who make a difference. Nietzsche said, "He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."Why? Because deep down we know that what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. We all want happiness. Life teaches us that we achieve happiness when we seek the happiness and well-being of others.

A clarion call of hope for the stroke survivor

This majestic little book can be read in one sitting. In it, Douglas exemplifies the courage he so often depicted in characters on screen. He and I are both survivors of this most horrible of maladies. Douglas, who was eighty years YOUNG when he sustained his stroke, has as his principal residual a severe case of aphasia, He quite properly asks, "how is an actor who cannot speak supposed to work? Wait for the return of silent films?" The severe depression he suffered in the aftermath of his stroke is discussed with remarkable candor. I picked up this book when I was in the midst of a deep depression of some month's standing. After reading it, I find myself able to approach life with redoubled vigor, which is the never ending challenge of the stroke survivor. Douglas posits that life takes on meaning only in the helping of others. His travails have placed him in touch with the Judaism of his youth. He had his second bar mitzvah at age eighty-three, three years after his stroke. In reading the Torah before his family and friends assembled in the synagogue, Douglas,aphasia sufferer, showed all that here is truly a man with the right stuff. Buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

INCREDIBLE STORY, INCREDIBLE MAN!

Kirk Douglas began his career back in the early 1940's and has been with us ever since. He is truly a man of his time, and his accomplishments in the field of acting are outstanding. Now at 84, he has given us a book telling not of his colourful acting career, but his battle with life following a stroke several years ago. The book takes us through his depression, his thoughts of suicide and his recovery. Through it all, and in spire of his personal pain, the humourous side of Douglas always seems to emerge even at times when he is at his lowest.The book is highly inspirational for anyone who has had to overcome serious health issues. Fans of Douglas who saw him as a great man on screen will see an even greater man in his personal life. This book is highly recommended reading material. Douglas can teach us a valuable lesson about courage, determination, family support and love - they can and do accomplish miracles.

Wonderful Gift for Stroke Victims and Those Who Love Them!

Caution: This book contains occasional coarse language, employed for emphasis, that seems justified in how it is applied.Mr. Kirk Douglas is eloquent, moving, and convincing in this book as he describes how he came to terms with suffering a stroke. The essence of the message is that stroke victims should focus on "helping others" to help themselves. The book abounds in detailed examples of how to do this for stroke victims. The book's message is so fine, delicate, and well-balanced that I suggest that you learn about it from Mr. Douglas rather than from a review.His account is very candid and powerful. He cites his own vivid and depressing thoughts before he began to recover, and shares many inspiring lessons from others. You will learn about his fears about losing his vocation ("What good is an actor who can't talk?"), experiences with depression (thinking about suicide as described on the dust cover), and the concerns he had about embarrassment (a billion people were expected to watch him talk). I was most impressed by the examples of what others wrote, said, and did that helped him gain new purpose. The book is also filled with nostalgic references to his friends and family, almost all of whom are represented in interesting photographs reproduced in the book. I was especially touched to read what his "Ma" told him as she lay dying, "Don't be afraid, it happens to everyone." He drew much strength from remembering that thought. As Mr. Douglas says in this book, "Strive to be a Little Hero."