Nothing Is Impossible

Reeve, Christopher

ISBN 10: 0743527429 ISBN 13: 9780743527422

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 2002

Synopsis

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.

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 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 listener 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.

About this title

About the Author

Christopher Reeve has established a reputation as one of the country's leading actors, and since he was paralyzed in an equestrian competition in 1995, he has put a human face on spinal cord injury. Reeve is the chairman of the board of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) and the vice chairman of the National Organization on Disability, and he lobbies vigorously for health-care reform and funding for research. He is the author of the bestselling book, Still Me and lives in upstate New York with his wife, Dana, and their children. Visit the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Web site at www.christopherreeve.org and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center Web site at www.paralysis.org.

Reviews

Reeve (Still Me) offers a uniquely powerful audio message of hope on topics ranging from the controversial stem cell debate to the mind-body connection he credits with his recent physical improvements. Maintaining a composed tone and reassuring perspective, Reeve goes beyond mere narration to bare his darkest times in the ICU, his wish to commit suicide and his longing for normalcy, persuasively urging listeners, whether disabled or not, to expand outside their "comfort zones." After teaching his youngest son to ride a bicycle with only the power of his words, Reeve came to the realization that "being" is more important than doing, and that, as he tells new spinal cord injury victims, "life is worth living." Snippets from speeches, personal anecdotes and remarks from talk shows pepper the unabridged tape set, allowing Reeve easy transitions from such diverse issues as the inadequacies of health insurance to his ongoing search for spirituality and religion. But Reeve's truly inspirational path to survival is best reflected in his delightful sense of humor. When once asked how he holds it all together, he dryly replied: "duct tape." Simultaneous release with the Random House hardcover.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Christopher Reeve imparts a lifetime of wisdom in this unabridged collection of his thoughts, personal philosophies, triumphs, and challenges. His skill as an actor lends itself beautifully to reading his own prose, and he gives a stellar performance. One of the side effects of his accident, beyond paralysis, is his reliance on a ventilator 24 hours a day. The pumping of the ventilator is a little distracting at first, and the inflections in his voice are slightly irregular due to the workings of the machine, but those factors make his body of work that much more amazing. Reeve speaks in detail about a broad spectrum of topics including his injury and recovery, issues with health insurance, parenting, religion, personal character, and perseverance. His solid writing, heartfelt and humorous performance, and zest for life make for a great little package. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0743527429
• ISBN 13: 9780743527422
• Binding: Audio Cassette