I think most people today have become bitter and cold. Not bothering to take the time to even say 'good morning,' in most cases. You are lucky to get someone (today) to even nod their head with a good morning gesture. It is nice to discover that there are a few people still left in the world today who are polite enough to send someone like 'Superman,' a warm and heartfelt good luck wish!

I think this is a charming and insightful collection, and I feel not the least bit silly spending money on it. Christopher Reeve is one of my heroes, and I wrote e-mail to him via a website not long after his accident. I'm gratified and warmed to see how many other people did something similar.

Chris, you're much loved - and Dana, thank you for sharing these letters with us. We haven't forgotten either of you, and we're still praying for that moment that all the fighting and struggling pays off.

Thanks to Dana Reeve, we get a gift every time we read this book! Buy it as a present to yourself! I loved this book! * Sniff * Many beautiful things can come out of something terrible. The out pouring of love for Christopher Reeve is amazing! His acting in "Somewhere in Time" was my favorite and I am a fan, but his courage through his ordeal is altogether awe inspiring. Thank-YOU, Dana! Buy this book today!

I'm trying to understand some of the negative reviews of this book claiming Christopher Reeve's shared too much of his real experience as a disabled person, or conversely did not write authentically enough. After reading this book I was struck by Mr. Reeve's unpretentious cander and humor. Instead of boring me, I found his portrait of life vividly carried me into a world I have not been aware of, and also thrilled me because of the exciting possibilities in this century of unlocking not only the secrets of nervous tissue regeneration from new research with stem cells, but from the body's own regenerative abilities. This book affected me on three levels -- it was stimulating mentally, and emotionally (great story), and last but not least, spiritually moving -- it stuck with me, and changed me in ways I could not have expected when I picked it up.

I loved Christopher Reeve's autobiography, STILL ME . . . it was
both touching and thought-provoking . . . so is his latest book, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

This is a collection of stories from his own life, interweaved
with excerpts from speeches and interviews he has given . . . there are also moving pictures, taken by his son Matthew.

Reeve contends that we are all capable of overcoming
seemingly insurmountable hardships . . . also, he teaches us
that life is not to be taken for granted--but to be lived fully
with zeal, curiosity and gratitude.

Reading this had me laughing at times . . . yet it also
had me teary . . . I do recommend it . . . strongly.

There were many memorable passages; among them:
* Occasionally I hear from people with spinal
cord injuries who have been sitting in a wheel-
chair for as much as twenty-one years. Some
tell me that there is no point in searching for a
cure; others even say they are happy with life
the way it is and don't want to be cured. It's
difficult for me to understand their point of
view, but I completely respect those individuals
as long as they don't try to interfere with
progress. Less than a generation ago it would
have been almost irrelevant to ask a patient
with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, muscular
dystrophy, ALS, or a spinal cord injury not to
stand in the way of progress, simply because
there wasn't much. Today all that has changed.
Since the time of my injury, scientists all over
the world have been steadily moving forward,
although they are not progressing as rapidly
as many patients would like. At least they have
been saying publicly, and most of us believe
privately, that it is no longer appropriate or
necessary to use the word "impossible."

* I remember thoroughly embarrassing another
nurse her first day on the job. I had been treated
for a skin breakdown in the sacral area, which had
plagued me for months but finally healed. Lying on
my left side I asked her, "How's my butt?" She replied,
"It looks great to me." I said, "I know that. But what
about my skin?" She turned crimson. For a moment
I thought I'd lost her, but thankfully she came back
for her next shift, and after all these years she's still
here checking out my butt on a daily basis.

* We spent most of the time talking. I quickly realized
that we'd never really done that before. When Matthew
and Al flew over from England to be with Dana and
me for at least a part of every vacation, I usually picked
them up at the airport in Boston. Then it was a three
hour drive across Massachusetts to our home in the
Berkshires. I remember listening to the radio together
on one of those trips when they were about nine and
five. We tuned in to a variety of stations that played
classical music, rock 'n' roll, contemporary top forty
and oldies. I asked them to identify the meter: Was the
piece in 1 / 2, 3 / 4, 4 / 4, 6 / 8, or something else?

How would they describe the tempo of the classical
pieces: adagio, andante, allegro, or something else?
In the rock 'n' roll and contemporary pop selections
could they distinguish between the main melody and
the bridge, also known as the middle eight? Somewhere
along the mass Pike, Al piped up in her chirpy English
accent. "Do you know, Daddy," she said, "this is the first
time in such a long time that we've had a real conversation
about something?" I realized that she was right. Not that
we didn't talk, but usually it was while doing something
else. Now I gave them my full attention, and I soon learned
to listen more than talk. That began a process of discovering
that, in bringing up children and relating to others, some-
times being is more important the doing. I was also to
learn that even if you can't move, you can have a powerful
effect with what you say.

One special day in Will's life is a good example. When he
was six, he was still afraid to ride by himself without the
training wheels on his bike. Dana spent hours killing her
back as she bent over to hold his seat as he pedaled
around timidly in front of our garage. I decided to see if
I could help. I told him to start with his left foot on the
ground and to set the right pedal in the fully raised
position. I told him to grab the handlebars, push hard
on the right pedal, and then put his left foot on the other
pedal and keep going, being careful not to over-steer. I
said if he kept his hand steady the bike wouldn't wobble
so much. He listened carefully and got into the ready
position. Then he froze, afraid to make that first push.
I told him to take his time, but added that I was prepared
to sit in the driveway all afternoon until he did it. I
reminded him that I would never ask him to do anything
too scary of too difficult. He didn't complain; he just sat
there for quite a long time assessing the situation. Then
I announced that on the count of three he should start.
I made it a long count, but after three I said, "Go," and
he did it. He pushed down, the bike moved forward,
he got his other foot on the pedal, and off he went. On
his first run he made a complete circle around the
driveway. As he came past my chair the first time, his
face was a study in fierce concentration. The second
time he came by, he was smiling. For the next fifteen
minutes he kept riding around our circular drive, gradually
picking up speed. After that he wanted to go down the
steep hill toward our mailbox, but we saved that for
another day.

I highly recommend Christopher Reeve's new book, Nothing Is Impossible. It is an easy, fast read and straight forward. I could well relate to certain life experiences he has had and his conclusions about certain things. It helped me clarify certain issues too which was of invaluable worth personally. I also have seen Reeve's recent tv interviews on Charley Rose and 20/20 in which Reeve handled himself superbly. Everyone should read his book and all that his book can offer many readers. Reeve is a man of worthwhile, powerful social change in a stubborn system. His book gives very important evidence and clues into how the human mind. body and spirit can and does work. Superman is someone we should all pay attention to and he has some very sound ideas and reasons. His book is now among my most selective works and for future rereadings. Great book cover too!

I haven't read Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' in almost two years. I picked it up again, to-day, though, and realized the truth of the notion that one learns something new each time one returns to a book. 'The Great Gatsby' just is a novel that must be returned to periodically to appreciate it properly.

While the characters in the novel remain ultimately unknowable at their indefinite cores, Fitzgerald does a great job tying his characters to their historical setting. The protagonist of the novel, to my mind, is Nick Carraway, the narrator. The hero of his story, which frames the novel, is the legendary Jay Gatsby - a legend in his own mind. Although Carraway's narration is often heavily biased and unreliable, what emerges are the stories of a set of aimless individuals, thrown together in the summer of 1922. Daisy Buchanan is the pin that holds the novel together - by various means, she ties Nick to Jordan Baker, Tom Buchanan to Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby to the Wilsons.

The novel itself deals with the shallow hypocrisies of fashionable New York society life in the early 1920's. It is almost as though Fitzgerald took the plot of Edith Wharton's 'The Age of Innocence' and updated it - in the process making the characters infinitely more detestable and depriving it of all hope. Extramarital affairs rage on with only the thinnest of veils to disguise them, the nouveau-riche rise on the back of scandal and corruption, and interpersonal relationships rarely signify anything permanent that doesn't reek of conspiracy. The novel's casual allusions to beginnings and histories often cause us to reflect on the novel's historical moment - when the American Dream and Benjamin Franklin's vision of the self-made man seem to coalesce in Jay Gatsby, a Franklinian who read too much Nietzsche.

No matter how you read it, 'The Great Gatsby' is worth re-reading. M.J. Bruccoli's short, but informative preface, and C. Scribner III's afterword are included in this edition, and both set excellent contexts, literary, personal, and historical, for this classic of American literature.

Although published seventy-five years ago, Fitzgerald's masterpiece remains as fresh as the day it appeared. It could have been written yesterday. It is as perfect a novel as one is likely to find in American literature; not a word is wrong or out of place. The choice of a second person narrator gives the reader wider and greater appreciation of the characters and events. At the center of it all, of course, is Jay Gatsby, bootlegger, liar, party-giver, doomed romantic. His love for Daisy Buchanan, his "incorruptible dream", is the only genuine emotion felt by any of the characters (excepting narrator Nick Carroway, whose loyalty to Gatsby is touching), all of whose superficiality is buried beneath the glitter and gaiety of the Jazz Age, the endless parties, the extramarital affairs, the endless-flowing booze, the accumulation of wealth and things.

This edition of the book features critical commentary and notes from Prof. Matthew Bruccoli, the world's foremost Fitzgerald scholar.

I am one of those "freaks" who makes sure to read this novel at least once a year. It brings me a sort of solace.
This is as close to a Salinger novel as one can get. Moral lessons spoken thru New York City in the early 1900's.
In this case we have the author and his 2nd cousin, a worldly woman who steals hearts and refuses to let go.
Gatsby accomplishes everything he can create in his mind, but he cannot compare to what Daisy demands. She is noy human it seems, and Gatsby cannot keep up, no matter how hard he tries.
This novel was required reading in high school, and thank God for that. Even after my 12th grade english teacher pounding into my head the symbolism of the eye-glasses on the billboard in the city of ashes. And also why Gatsby was a "heroic figure".
Basically, this novel ends the only way it can. Death is necessary and we all will perish. But sometimes we die a bit too soon.
No matter where I am in my life, this book always sets me straight. What will be...will be.
Gatsby could not have lived any other way. It's all good.

An intriguing, entertaining biography. Reeve's story is a very powerful one, and the author does an excellent job relating it. The book is well researched, giving detailed information about Reeve's childhood, acting career and his life-changing injury.Black and white photos enhance the book. Here's an easy "A", kids!

I thought the reviews for this book were harsh. Then I got the book. They're right on the money. I grew up reading the Superman of the 1970s. These are the stories that shaped my viewpoints of Superman, but this book is wanting. None of the great Superman chronicles I remember are here. "The Double or Nothing Life of Superman" is a series I just purchased on eBay. It should be included in this volume. I also recall an outstanding, well-written series in which, among other things, the Bottled City of Kandor was smashed, as Superman again had issues with his Kryptonian past. And the greatest Superman story of the 1970s, "Superman Vs. Spider-Man," while mentioned, is woefully missing. The Superman of the 1970s brought about characters like Steve Lombard, Morgan Edge, and a few others, who participated in some great tales. You'll find the characters here, but not the good stories. Really, save your money on this book. Go to eBay and try and win some of the actual issues themselves from the 1970s.

This book is a collection of wonderful Superman comics from the 1970s, the Superman that I grew up with. The comics were apparently selected to give a cross-section of Superman's activities in the 70s, and include comics from Superman #276 (6/74), DC Comics Presents #14 (10/79), Superman #248 (2/72), #271 (1/74), #249 (3/72), #286 (4/75), Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133 (10/70), Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #106 (11/70), Superman #287 (5/75), #233 (1/71), #247 (1/72), #270 (12/73), and Action Comics #484 (6/78).

OK, as you can tell from that list, the comics seem somewhat jumbled or randomized. And, as several of the stories were multi-issue, it is rather sad that you can't keep reading to find out how the Man of Steel overcomes the bad guy. But, in spite of all that, this book is really great! The stories included are all very interesting, and it is great to look back to the Superman of a different era.

An added little bonus to this book is the introduction, which was written by Christopher Reeve, Hollywood's Superman, and a bit of a hero in his own right. This is a really good book, and I highly recommend it.

As I've mentioned in my review for "Batman in the 70s", the problem faced by all such compilations is that everyone will have an opinion of what other stories should be included and what should have been left out. I feel that this is a decent collection of Superman stories in the 70s, as all the key artists and characters are represented here. The TPB contains classics like "Superman Breaks Free" which is Dennis O'Neil's attempt at revamping the Superman; Elloit S! Maggin's classic "Must there be a Superman?", somewhat overhyped but still an interesting story; a Jimmy Olsen story by Jack 'King' Kirby; a story about Krypto; and other stories featuring Lex Luthor, Brainiac etc. Of course, it would have been even better if the TPB collects more stories about the Fortress of Solitude, bottled city of Kandor etc.

Some shortcomings of this collection: It would probably have been more fun to read some of the stories in the entire run (like Marvel Essentials) than on a single-issue basis as they are presented in this TPB. E.g. "Superman breaks free" is actually the first book of O'Neil's Sandman saga; the Jimmy Olsen story is the first of around 20 (?) issues which Kirby wrote. It is a shame that DC has decided not to reprint these classic runs anywhere, since it will cost a bomb for anyone to try to collect the original copies of these comics. Another omission that everyone complains is the story arc in Superman #296-299 "Who took the Super out of Superman?"

In spite of all the shortcomings, I feel that this collection will give the reader a good sampling of pre-crisis superman stories. There are many classic moments in this TPB: Superman eating Kryptonite (!); Superman playing billards with planets; plus time-travel, aliens, inter-galactic travel all thrown in for good measure. In my opinoin, the biggest attraction of this TPB is the great artwork by Curt Swan, viewed by many fans as the greatest Superman artist of all time. Conclusion: Even though this TPB is not really the most ideal 70s collection possible, it will be a welcome addition to your collection, unless you are fortunate enough to own many original Superman comics from the 70s. Enjoy!!

I never received this book from the used book dealer so I can't rate it or write a review of it.Please remove it from my sharedpurchases. Thank you.

If their was a "0" rating, I would give it.

This early novel by Patterson is far inferior to his later works, but I think it stands on its own in kind of a predatory or sadistic way. The whole concept of hostages being negotiated and aired as a t.v. special is all too frighteningly real, considering the nation's obsession with so-called reality television. But the premise is intriguing, and the story has some tense and riveting scenes. My main complaint is that within the novel, John Damone tells Stacy that "the man I hired killed him. Lord just brought it up again.." So i figured Stacy was in on it, but obviously she wasn't. This little confusing issue kind of squelched my overall enthusiasm for the novel, but even then Patterson was writing awesomely, giving us a glimpse of what he's come to do best---trial novels!
RECOMMENDED.

Christopher Reeve's acting career alone is probably not interesting enough to sell books. It was his determination to recover from his crippling riding accident that inspired me to listen to the audio version of Superhero: Ahe Biography of Christopher Reeve, by Chris Nickson.

Other than his rise to stardom at an early age with Superman, and his tragic accident, there is nothing much to say. This becomes evident when the author runs out of words and starts using the same phrases over and over again. By the middle of the book I was annoyed and tired of listening to it. It left me feeling that Christopher Reeve was a well to do, preppy actor who made it big, then squandered his stardom and made excuses for his otherwise mediocre acting career.

Sadly enough, it takes his paralyzing riding accident to pick up the pace of the book and make it interesting enough to finish. His life after the fall is certainly more notable and the book depicts a couple of really moving moments.

Perhaps in another 20 years his life will have expanded enough to make a really worthwhile book. My opinion is they should have waited until then to write this one.