Books & Resources

In his fourth memoir published in 2020, Michael uses his trademark sense of humor to share personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality.

There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox. Actor. Husband. Father. Activist. But readers of Always Looking Up will soon add another to the list: Optimist. Michael writes about the hard-won perspective that helped him see challenges as opportunities.

Michael draws on his own life experiences to make a case that real learning happens when life goes skidding sideways.

Combining his trademark ironic sensibility and keen sense of the absurd, he recounts his life -- from his childhood in a small town in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television which made him a worldwide celebrity.

A book chronicling the life of Brian Hall, who has lived with Parkinson’s disease (PD) since 1976. His symptoms first appeared at 14 years old, and it took another 14 years for him to be diagnosed. After a 20 year history of taking PD medication, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery was his only option. DBS proved so successful that Brian was able to discontinue his medications for PD. He remains medication free and has been for the last 16 years. Since DBS, Brian took control of his health through diet, exercise and cycling, achieving things he never thought possible. His book details how Parkinson’s impacted his life and how he has learned to deal with his pain.

Great Speech, a leader in virtual speech therapy, offers incredible support to individuals with Parkinson’s. Through Great Speech, you can receive speech therapy from the comfort of your own home – eliminating travel. Great Speech has a team of 200+ licensed speech and language pathologists who are experienced in helping clients improve vocal cord control, reduce aspiration, and increase speech volume -- Improving communication skills for individuals with Parkinson’s. Additionally, Great Speech is in- network with numerous Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance plans. www.greatspeech.com

Written by leading Parkinson’s experts Kristine Meldrum, BA, ACE, Jay Alberts, PhD, and Daniel M. Corcos, PhD, comes an informative and engaging new book: Parkinson's: How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise. This book gives instructions, based on scientific studies and the authors’ recommendations, on how to make your own “PD Exercise Cocktail Plan™.” The many detailed chapters and appendixes will also be a resource to guide you and your family throughout your PD journey.

This is an illustrated children’s book about a grandmother with Parkinson’s disease. It is very accessible and aimed at helping kids understand what it means for them when a family member is diagnosed.

Parkinson's disease may lead to various sleep disturbances. Comfort Linen is a global online retailer of a unique friction-reducing sleep system comprised of sleepwear and a bed sheet for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Turning side to side and getting in and out of bed become smoother and easier thereby allowing a more restful sleep, often for the partner too.

People and families with Parkinson’s think about deep brain stimulation (DBS) for different reasons and at different times in their journey. In this illustrative poem book, MJFF community member and person living with Parkinson’s John Foley describes his personal journey with DBS from decision-making to daily life with the device. To learn more about John’s story, click the link to download a free copy.