Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life
by Christopher Reeve
List Price:
Our Price: $0.32
You Save: $19.63 (98%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Christopher ReeveEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-09-17
ISBN: 0375507787
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Random House
Book Reviews of Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life
Book Review: A super book by a SUPER man!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
+++++
This book, by actor, director, writer, and activist Christopher Reeve, is part autographical, part inspirational, part scientific, and part political. (Other readers may find other parts to this unique book.) For such a slim book (that I finished reading in two sittings), I was amazed at just how much I learned about and from this courageous person.
This book is not only for those with spinal cord injuries. It can be used effectively by those with other physical types of problems as well as those with emotional problems. It can also be read by those who want only to read an inspirational book by someone attempting to overcome large obstacles.
Reeve does not give direct advice but what he does is allow us to read about his learning experiences and then, form our own conclusions.
Why did I decide to read this book? Two major reasons:
(1) I read a quotation (not in this book) by Reeve. He states:
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
(2) Reeve's several accomplishments AFTER his spinal cord injury (again not stated in this book). Some highlights include the following:
(i) a 1997 Emmy
(ii) a 1999 Grammy
(iii) a 1999 Screen Actor Guild Award for best actor
(iv) a 1997 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
(v) acting in two movies
(vi) directing two movies
(vii) the establishment of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation in 1999
(viii) the establishment of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Centre in 2002 {Note that Dana was his wife since 1992}
(ix) the author of two books (this one and one in 1998).
These are only a few of his many, many accomplishments. Visit his internet site to learn about more accomplishments.
Thus I thought to myself, "This guy is on to something!!"
This book consists of nine chapters. Since there is no indication that you have to read the book in the chapter order indicated in the table of contents, I read these chapters in a slightly different order. These chapters are as follows:
(1) THE FIRST DECISION. Gives in surprising detail the cause, anatomy, and emotional experience of Reeve's spinal cord injury. (The accident occurred at "three o'clock on May 27, 1995.") Reeve tells us at how he arrived at the answer to the question posed by Hamlet: "To be or not to be? That is the question!"
(2) HUMOR. This was a coping mechanism Reeve eventually used to deal with his injury. He tells us that "Inside...I was angry to my very core" right after his accident. Humor helped quell this anger. Look for the antics of his friend Robin Williams (who shared an apartment with Reeve when they were both starting out).
(3) MIND/BODY. This was another coping mechanism. Reeve's theme for this inspirational chapter is his belief that "there is a relationship between the mind and the body that can both create a physical condition and enable us to recover from it."
(4) RELIGION (presented in the book as chapter 5). Reeve tells us, "The truth is that I only found a religion very recently that I can reconcile with a lifelong quest for the meaning of spiritually." This is a very frank and honest chapter that some readers may not appreciate. I, however, found it refreshing that he spoke so candidly about a subject that, for some reason, you're not supposed to speak candidly about. This chapter is continued in the next chapter.
(5) FAITH (presented as chapter 8). Continues the search begun in chapter 4 "to discover the relevance of spirituality." Reeve finally finds a religion and uses this as another coping mechanism. Again, as with the chapter on religion, this is an honest and candid chapter that I found refreshing to read.
(6) HOPE (presented as the last chapter, chapter 9). Hope can only be realized through effort. Thus Reeve tells us that "Since 1997 I have worked closely with [politicians] on health care reform, rights of the disabled, and increased funding for biomedical research." This chapter concludes with an essay written by Reeve about hope entitled "The Lighthouse." Hope is another coping mechanism he used.
(7) ADVOCACY (presented as chapter 6). It tells us how Reeve began "defining [his] role as an advocate for research [especially stem cell research] and [improving] the quality of life for people with disabilities [by, for example, advocating increased health and disability insurance]." Here we learn more about science and politics.
(8) RECOVERY (presented as chapter 7). By late 2000, Reeve had some surprises regarding his condition. He states, "[There have been] three...significant milestones in my history as a spinal cord patient. The first was discovering that my injury was not complete; the second was finding out that I could breath on my own, if only for short periods of time, [and third] the ability to initiate movement." As a consequence, his hope increased and his advocacy work increased.
(9) PARENTING (presented as chapter 4). Reeve had three children, two sons and one daughter. We discover through him how it is possible to be a good parent despite having a severe disability.
The only minor weakness with this book is the chapter order. However, I easily overcame this problem and established a pattern that works for me. Thus, to recap the above, I read this nine chapter book in the following chapter order:
{1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 6, 7, 4}
Finally and sadly, Reeve died recently (from causes not directly related to his injury). He is survived by his parents, one brother, two half brothers, one half sister, his wife, and his three children.
In conclusion, Reeve portrayed the "Man of Steel" in the 1978 movie "Superman, The Movie" (his first movie that won him a Most Promising Newcomer award). In the years after his injury, he transcended this title to become the "Man of Courage and Action." Be sure to read this book to learn the final inspirational thoughts of Christopher Reeve (September 1952 to October 2004)!!
(first published 2002; 180 pages; acknowledgements; 9 chapters; photos throughout; about the author; about the photographer who is his son Matt Reeve)
+++++
Summary of Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life
So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. If we can conquer outer space, we can conquer inner space, too.Christopher Reeve has mastered the art of turning the impossible into the inevitable. In Nothing Is Impossible, the author of the bestselling autobiography Still Me shows that we are all capable of overcoming seemingly insurmountable hardships. He interweaves anecdotes from his own life with excerpts from speeches and interviews he?s given and with evocative photos taken by his son Matthew.
Reeve teaches us that for able-bodied people, paralysis is a choice?a choice to live with self-doubt and a fear of taking risks?and that it is not an acceptable one. Reeve knows from experience that the work of conquering inner space is hard and that it requires some suffering?after all, nothing worth having is easy to get. He asks challenging questions about why it seems so difficult?if not impossible?for us to work together as a society. He steers the reader gently, offering his reflections and guidance but not the pat answers that often characterize inspirational works.
Published on the eve of both his fiftieth birthday and the seventh anniversary of his spinal cord injury, Christopher Reeve?s Nothing Is Impossible reminds us that life is not to be taken for granted but to be lived fully with zeal, curiosity, and gratitude. That is a powerful message in itself, but it is the messenger who gives it its full resonance.
A sequel of sorts to Reeve's bestselling memoir, Still Me, Nothing is Impossible is a concise, meditative companion to the earlier book. Each of its nine chapters is devoted to some aspect of successful living (humor, faith, hope) or addresses a major life issue (parenting, religion, recovery). Although Reeve draws on his experiences prior to his spinal chord injury in 1995, it's clear that his views on life have evolved dramatically in the seven years since. Clearly of most obvious value to those facing the challenges of physical paralysis, this book also serves as inspirational primer for otherwise able-bodied individuals who may be thwarted by mental rather than physical wounds. In additional to his personal message, Reeve is also a blunt proponent of medical insurance reform and government research funding, devoting a chapter to it here, as well as a significant portion of his nonprofit Web site, christopherreeve.org. --David Bombeck
Motivational Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Motivational Books
Appetite: Neural and Behavioural Bases (Oxford Science Publications)Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1995-01-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $72.20
Price in other shops:
Neuroeconomics: A Guide to the New Science of Making Choicesby Peter Politser
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2008-03-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $31.41
Price in other shops:
The Law of Successby Napoleon Hill
Penguin Audio; Published: 2008-12-26; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $16.04
Price in other shops:
Russell Simmons' Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Successby Russell Simmons, Chris Morrow
Penguin Audio; Published: 2007-04-24; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $10.84
Price in other shops:
The Comfort Trap or, What If You're Riding a Dead Horse?by Judith Sills
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2005-05-31; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.11
Price in other shops:
Golf in the Kingdom (An Esalen Book)by Michael Murphy
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1992-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.04
Price in other shops:
Single Case Experimental Designs: Strategies for Studying Behaviour Change (General Psychology)by Michel Hersen, David Barlow
Elsevier; Published: 1976-09; Hardcover; Book
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergartenby Robert Fulghum
Ballantine Books; Published: 2004-05-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.15
Price in other shops:
The Purpose-Driven Lifeby Rick Warren
Zondervan; Published: 2002-11-01; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $2.90
Price in other shops:
The Right Questions: Ten Essential Questions To Guide You To An Extraordinary Lifeby Debbie Ford
HarperOne; Published: 2003-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.24
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeveby Christopher Andersen
Hyperion; Published: 2008-07-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.57
Price in other shops:
Lucky Man: A Memoirby Michael J. Fox
Hyperion; Published: 2002-04-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops:
Still Meby Christopher Reeve
Random House; Published: 1998-04-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.73
Price in other shops:
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimistby Michael J. Fox
Hyperion; Published: 2009-03-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.11
Price in other shops: