A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope
May 2015 Ā· Sold by Random House
4.5star
11 reviews
Ebook
256
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
shoppingmode15% price drop on Apr 20
About this ebook
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ā¢Ā WITH A NEW PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR ā¢Ā A powerful memoir of a dramatic year spent battling cancer and reflecting on a long, happy, and lucky lifeāfrom the bestselling author of The Greatest Generation, whose iconic career in journalism has spanned more than fifty years
Tom Brokaw has led a fortunate life, with a strong marriage and family, many friends, and a brilliant journalism career culminating in his twenty-two years as anchor of the NBC Nightly News and as bestselling author. But in the summer of 2013, when back pain led him to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic, his run of good luck was interrupted. He received shocking news: He had multiple myeloma, a treatable but incurable blood cancer. Friends had always referred to Brokawās ālucky star,ā but as he writes in this inspiring memoir, āTurns out that star has a dimmer switch.ā
Brokaw takes us through all the seasons and stages of this surprising year, the emotions, discoveries, setbacks, and strugglesātimes of denial, acceptance, turning points, and courage. After his diagnosis, Brokaw began to keep a journal, approaching this new stage of his life in a familiar role: as a journalist, determined to learn as much as he could about his condition, to report the story, and help others facing similar battles. That journal became the basis of this wonderfully written memoir, the story of a man coming to terms with his own mortality, contemplating what means the most to him now, and reflecting on what has meant the most to him throughout his life.
Brokaw also pauses to look back on some of the important moments in his career: memories of Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the morning of September 11, 2001, in New York City, and more. Through it all, Brokaw writes in the warm, intimate, natural voice of one of Americaās most beloved journalists, giving us Brokaw on Brokaw, and bringing us with him as he navigates pain, procedures, drug regimens, and physical rehabilitation. Brokaw also writes about the importance of patients taking an active role in their own treatment, and of the vital role of caretakers and coordinated care.
Generous, informative, and deeply human, A Lucky Life Interrupted offers a message of understanding and empowerment, resolve and reality, hope for the future and gratitude for a well-lived life.
Praise for A Lucky Life Interrupted
āItās impossible not to be inspired by Brokawās story, and his willingness to share it.āāLos Angeles Times
āA powerful memoir of battling cancer and facing mortality . . . Through the prism of his own illness, Brokaw looks at the larger picture of aging in America.āāBooklistĀ (starred review)
āMoving, informative and deeply personal.āāThe Daily Beast
āThe former NBC News anchor has applied the fact-finding skills and straightforward candor that were his stock in trade during his reporting days toĀ A Lucky Life Interrupted.āāUSA Today
āBrokaw doesnāt paste a smiley face on his story. Again and again, the book returns to stories of loss but also of grace, luck and the beauty of having another swing at bat.āāThe Washington Post
āEngaging . . . [with] the kind of insight that is typical of Mr. Brokawās approach to life and now to illness.āāThe Wall Street Journal
āPowerful and courageous . . . [Brokaw] looks ahead to the future with hope.āāBookreporter
Tom Brokaw has led a fortunate life, with a strong marriage and family, many friends, and a brilliant journalism career culminating in his twenty-two years as anchor of the NBC Nightly News and as bestselling author. But in the summer of 2013, when back pain led him to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic, his run of good luck was interrupted. He received shocking news: He had multiple myeloma, a treatable but incurable blood cancer. Friends had always referred to Brokawās ālucky star,ā but as he writes in this inspiring memoir, āTurns out that star has a dimmer switch.ā
Brokaw takes us through all the seasons and stages of this surprising year, the emotions, discoveries, setbacks, and strugglesātimes of denial, acceptance, turning points, and courage. After his diagnosis, Brokaw began to keep a journal, approaching this new stage of his life in a familiar role: as a journalist, determined to learn as much as he could about his condition, to report the story, and help others facing similar battles. That journal became the basis of this wonderfully written memoir, the story of a man coming to terms with his own mortality, contemplating what means the most to him now, and reflecting on what has meant the most to him throughout his life.
Brokaw also pauses to look back on some of the important moments in his career: memories of Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the morning of September 11, 2001, in New York City, and more. Through it all, Brokaw writes in the warm, intimate, natural voice of one of Americaās most beloved journalists, giving us Brokaw on Brokaw, and bringing us with him as he navigates pain, procedures, drug regimens, and physical rehabilitation. Brokaw also writes about the importance of patients taking an active role in their own treatment, and of the vital role of caretakers and coordinated care.
Generous, informative, and deeply human, A Lucky Life Interrupted offers a message of understanding and empowerment, resolve and reality, hope for the future and gratitude for a well-lived life.
Praise for A Lucky Life Interrupted
āItās impossible not to be inspired by Brokawās story, and his willingness to share it.āāLos Angeles Times
āA powerful memoir of battling cancer and facing mortality . . . Through the prism of his own illness, Brokaw looks at the larger picture of aging in America.āāBooklistĀ (starred review)
āMoving, informative and deeply personal.āāThe Daily Beast
āThe former NBC News anchor has applied the fact-finding skills and straightforward candor that were his stock in trade during his reporting days toĀ A Lucky Life Interrupted.āāUSA Today
āBrokaw doesnāt paste a smiley face on his story. Again and again, the book returns to stories of loss but also of grace, luck and the beauty of having another swing at bat.āāThe Washington Post
āEngaging . . . [with] the kind of insight that is typical of Mr. Brokawās approach to life and now to illness.āāThe Wall Street Journal
āPowerful and courageous . . . [Brokaw] looks ahead to the future with hope.āāBookreporter
Ratings and reviews
4.5
11 reviews
Ruby Frez
- Flag inappropriate
September 6, 2015
A very interesting read. It also shows that "cancer" would strike anytime regardless of your stature. Mr Brokaw you're an inspiration to all cancer survivors! Kudos to your family especially your significant other ... Meredith. Take care & I wish you all the best.
1 person found this review helpful
Kathryn Finnie
- Flag inappropriate
February 26, 2016
A book full of introspective hope, in the midst of an incurable cancer, known as multiple myeloma. Read this book and pray for all of those individuals and their families, people affected by mm and all the other cancers they may have.ššššš
2 people found this review helpful
Allison Legge
- Flag inappropriate
July 18, 2015
Beautiful, gripping, and uplifting story of the daily battle against cancer by one of the best journalists of our time. The book is full of love, humor, and hope.
4 people found this review helpful
About the author
Tom Brokaw is the author of seven bestsellers: The Greatest Generation, The Greatest Generation Speaks, An Album of Memories, Boom!, The Time of Our Lives, A Long Way from Home, and A Lucky Life Interrupted. A native of South Dakota, he graduated from the University of South Dakota, and began his journalism career in Omaha and Atlanta before joining NBC News in 1966. Brokaw was the White House correspondent for NBC News during Watergate, and from 1976 to 1981 he anchored Today on NBC. He was the sole anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw from 1983 to 2005. He continues to report for NBC News, producing long-form documentaries and providing expertise during breaking news events. Brokaw has won every major award in broadcast journalism, including two DuPonts, three Peabody Awards, and several Emmys, including one for lifetime achievement. In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He lives in New York and Montana.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
