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The Time of My Life

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 2,468 ratings · 383 reviews

In a career spanning more than thirty years, Patrick Swayze has made a name for himself on the stage, the screen, and television. Known for his versatility, passion and fearlessness, he's become one of our most beloved actors.

But in February 2008, Patrick announced he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. Always a fighter, he refused to let the disease bring

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Hardcover, 256 pages

Published September 29th 2009 by Atria Books (first published May 8th 2007)

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Oct 12, 2010 Miss Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, non-fiction, 2010

I really enjoyed this biography. I fell for Mr. Swayze as a teen when he popped on my TV screen for a week as Orry Maine in North and South. I’d seen his work prior, in movies like The Outsiders, and Red Dawn, but it wasn’t until the TV mini-series did he catch this young girl’s heart.

For those that may be put off reading this because they fear it will be too sad, do not fear. This is well written book that I feel really shows how much he really lived his life to the fullest. There is an intro w...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Roset Troy rated it 5 of 5 stars

The beginning of this book is hard to listen to since I just finished Worth Fighting For and knew the pain and fatigue that Patrick Swayze was feeling when he recorded the beginning of the book. It made it bittersweet to know he was in pain but it seemed that reliving his childhood and early years with his wife revived his spirit which helped his pain diminish. I loved hearing his talk about his early films. It was like reliving my early teenage years again! I had forgotten how vital a force he...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, biographies

I had no idea that Patrick Swayze had done so much in his life. I always loved him because "Dirty Dancing" is one of my favorite movies and I love "Ghost" and "Point Break" as well. Of course, I knew that he was an actor and a dancer, but I had no idea that he was so talented in so many other areas. I will discuss some of these further, under the spoiler section, so you can skip them if you would like.

One thing that really resonated with me was his obvious love for his wife. In this era of marri...more I had no idea that Patrick Swayze had done so much in his life. I always loved him because "Dirty Dancing" is one of my favorite movies and I love "Ghost" and "Point Break" as well. Of course, I knew that he was an actor and a dancer, but I had no idea that he was so talented in so many other areas. I will discuss some of these further, under the spoiler section, so you can skip them if you would like.

One thing that really resonated with me was his obvious love for his wife. In this era of marriages lasting no time (especially celebrity weddings), it's nice to read about one that lasted well over 30 years. I also appreciate the fact that he seemed to include his wife in everything and saw her as an equal, even professionally, even though she never really quite achieved the fame that he did. She was still very talented in her own right, and that wasn't lost on him.

*Spoiler*
This book begins with Patrick's cancer diagnosis. It was really sad to read about how he was fighting for his life while he was writing this book. The parts about his optimism and his will to live were the hardest to read, considering the reader already knows the outcome. I am really glad that this book did not end with a followup by his wife about his death, though. I believe this book was released around the same time he died, so that was a big possibility. However, I am glad that he did decide to write this book.

It's sad to learn that knee injuries took so much away from him in his life. I recently tore a ligament in my knee and that has temporarily changed my life, and quite dramatically, I might add. I couldn't imagine tearing all of the ligaments completely in two, like he did. And more than once. It was very difficult for me to read this part of the book. Although, he rehabbed it over and over and went through several surgeries and other procedures, his knee problems endured. Regardless, look what a great dancer and talent he was despite all of his pain. The knee injuries happened long before we knew him as Johnny Castle from "Dirty Dancing." I think that speaks a lot about the type of person he was.

He ponders in the book about what his legacy will be, if anything. I feel that determination and flexibility are his legacy. When he suffered his many injuries, he never gave up. He adjusted his dreams and goals many times to suit his capabilities. Although he lost his dream of a football scholarship, then his Olympic hopes and then his professional dancing career, he revised his dreams and perservered. And what a great actor he made because of this. He had this great ability to accept things that I think many of us could learn a lot from.

This book made me like him so much more and I am so glad that I read it. In my opinion, the world lost a remarkable man when it lost Patrick Swayze.(less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

July 6, 2010 - The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi

I've always liked the actor Patrick Swayze and after reading his biography I understand why. I first saw him in the break-out movie The Outsiders, alongside the soon-to-be "Brat Pack" actors Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez, all of whom went on to have highly successful careers. I also enjoyed his performances in the civil war epic North and South and of course Dirty Dancing and Ghost.

His...more July 6, 2010 - The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi

I've always liked the actor Patrick Swayze and after reading his biography I understand why. I first saw him in the break-out movie The Outsiders, alongside the soon-to-be "Brat Pack" actors Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez, all of whom went on to have highly successful careers. I also enjoyed his performances in the civil war epic North and South and of course Dirty Dancing and Ghost.

His philosophy in life was to be the best at whatever he did and he worked hard to meet his goals. This was ingrained in him early in his life by his parents, especially his mother who was a choreographer and teacher at a dance studio in Texas. Patrick talks about "growing up Swayze - an almost manic drive to be the best, do the most, and lead the pack in whatever we attempted." He not only trained in dance but also gymnastics and rose to be one of the best in both those fields. However, a knee injury on the football field, impacted his choice of career. Not only could he not play football anymore, a sport that he equally excelled in, he struggled to have a professional dance career as well.

He met his wife, Lisa Niemi, early in life and they were married in 1975. Hollywood romances are often difficult and rarely last long. This was not the case for these soul mates who remained together until Patrick's death in 2009. Although, like any marriage, there were difficult times, they weathered these together. It was fun to read about their early days as struggling dancers and actors in New York trying to make ends meet and crack into the business. For those who think an acting career doesn't require hard work and long hours, reading about these early days dispels those myths. From taking on woodworking projects together, to dancing together, to raising and showing horses, to learning how to fly a plane, Lisa and Patrick had much in common. This was the strength behind their relationship. Often seen on set with her husband, Lisa was his greatest supporter and was always behind his success.

I am glad that Patrick Swayze had a chance to write this memoir before his death so that readers can learn first-hand about the incredible life and character of a fine actor.(less)

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Feb 21, 2011 Amy Bailey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've always thought Swayze was a wonderful actor and someone who unjustly was viewed as a hunky fluff actor. He wasn't given near enough roles throughout his life that truly allowed him to shine for the artist that he was. Don't get me wrong, I still love "Dirty Dancing," and I think "Ghost" was one of the best films ever made. The latter film was one of the few in which he truly got to exhibit his talent for drama. This book was very disheartening. When he wrote it with the help of his wife, Li...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Kyndra rated it 4 of 5 stars

"One of the most important themes in my life is learning how to seek out another dream when one dies. Too many people get swallowed by disappointment when their dream doesn't work out, and I have always made sure I wasn't one of those people."

Wow. This quote really hit a nerve. I truly believe that people get wrapped up in their dreams and goals. Patrick told me something that I desperately needed to here, that it is okay to move on. He taught me that sometimes, it is more of an accomplishment t...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

A 4 1/2 Star Book...

I don't think I've ever beeen depressed in any way about a celebrity - until I first heard Patrick Swayze had pancreatic cancer. I cried. Instantly. Swayze was one of the top 5, if not first, major pop culture influences on my life. He taught me about the birds and the bees, macho men, drag queens, etc. I've probably seen Dirty Dancing at least 100 times since it first came out. I've seen Road House, Next of Kin, and To Wong Foo UPTEEN times. I watched City of Joy, which I do...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Kerste rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Patrick Swayze fans

Shelves: at-the-library, biography

As a big fan of Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Too Wong Foo... and even Black Dog, I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw it. But knowing that Patrick was fighting a losing battle with cancer, I was a bit reluctant. Overall, it is a sweeping journey through his life. I learned all sorts of things about him that I didn't know, but it was clearly written by people who don't write. Often parts were almost regurgitated from one part of the book to another. More often than not, I was left with a feeling...more

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Mar 24, 2010 Becky R. rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've always loved Patrick Swayze and his work, loved his passion for life, and loved his absolute dedication to the people closest to him. To me, he was a wonderful, surprising man of conviction in an industry that often lack such qualities.

Having said that, and knowing some of his background already, I was so touched to learn more about his life. In his autobiography, The Time of My Life, Patrick Swayze reveals many of what he felt were vulnerable aspect of his character, which included his nee...more I've always loved Patrick Swayze and his work, loved his passion for life, and loved his absolute dedication to the people closest to him. To me, he was a wonderful, surprising man of conviction in an industry that often lack such qualities.

Having said that, and knowing some of his background already, I was so touched to learn more about his life. In his autobiography, The Time of My Life, Patrick Swayze reveals many of what he felt were vulnerable aspect of his character, which included his need to master whatever skill he attempted (feeling that he always had to be good at whatever he did), his abiding love for his wife Lisa (which he revealed he always felt she wasn't as in to him as he was into her, which he later learned was totally wrong), and his deep pain over losing a much loved father and its effects on him. I was moved to hear about his vulnerable moments, to hear how he faced them, and even how he overcame the problems he developed with alcohol as he dealt with his pain. To me, Patrick Swayze's life is a real testament to the ups and downs of any person's life, and how we can approach them.

As I knew heading into his life story, I also knew that the book was completed shortly before his death in September of last year. Patrick Swayze's battle with pancreatic cancer was known from the beginning, and seems to float over the book as you read, making you think, "Just give it all you've got!" From this, I mean that I kept thinking that had he known, how would he have changed things? I think we all would just say to ourselves, to dig deep and give life all you have.

It seemed to me, that in the end, Patrick Swayze honored his own life and what he had accomplished through the way he battled cancer. Cancer will never define him, but strangely shed a light on all the good he had done, and reminded us all of how important it is to reach for happiness each and every day.

In synopsis, I highly recommend The Time of My Life. Listen, I'm the first person to run from stories of cancer or dogs (you know...because they always die!), but this autobiography was really moving. Like any human story, it reminded me how precious life is, and even how precious we are as individuals. The walk-away message of this book is varied, and I can say that I have thought about many different aspects of my own life since reading his autobiography. All I can say is, that as a fan, but more as a fellow human being, his life touched mine for good.(less)

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Jan 10, 2010 Suebee rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 02, 2010 Nikki-ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: auto-biography

We learn of Patrick's upbringing and his love for his father and determination to be the best that he can at whatever he's doing. Patrick tells us how Lisa became the love of his life, of his problems with alcohol and how it nearly destroyed their relationship. Not only do we get "behind the scenes" on Patrick's personal life, but we also get behind the scenes of a number of films - what went on on the set and off it - as well as how hard Patrick worked to get jobs and how or why he chose to do...more

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Oct 09, 2009 Lisse rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading about Patrick Swayze's life. I grew up watching his movies and have loved his characters in Dirty Dancing and the Outsiders for years. This is not the most well written book - Swayze never said he was a writer, except for a songwriter, and he knew he was up against time with this book. It is a very quick read - I finished it in two days and felt I got a good sense of who he was - demons and all. I enjoyed learning about some of the things that went on during his differen...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read many [auto] biographies, however, since I have started working on family history, writing and reading family stories I have been attracted to them lately. I was at the library with the kiddo's, waiting for them to pick out their books and I saw this one on the return shelf and decided to give it a try. To be honest, I only knew Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing and Ghost so I wasn't a huge fan, but I have good memories watching those movies over and over with girlfriends.

Patrick...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Itsjustme-wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This was such an interesting book! I thought this was gonna be sad and I was prepared to cry my way through. But it was not sad and I only cried at one point (when he was describing his death scene on Ghost). The whole book is more a celebration of his life (along with a few problems - depression, drinking, getting his marriage back on track). He goes into detail about the filming of his major movies, how he got the part, who else was in it and his relationship with them and how the movie affect...more This was such an interesting book! I thought this was gonna be sad and I was prepared to cry my way through. But it was not sad and I only cried at one point (when he was describing his death scene on Ghost). The whole book is more a celebration of his life (along with a few problems - depression, drinking, getting his marriage back on track). He goes into detail about the filming of his major movies, how he got the part, who else was in it and his relationship with them and how the movie affected his life. I loved this, being a big Patrick Swayze fan.
The first part of the book is some family history, but this is not slow, even this is interesting. He tells of how he met Lisa (his wife) at a very young age and knew she was the "one". He goes into detail about his career as a dancer, which again was very interesting! He gives the inside scoop of what it is like for dancers -

"The Harkness (Harkness Dance Center in NYC) diet allowed dancers to consume just five hundred calories a day - basically, lettuce and a few bites of turkey, plus vitamin shots"

This was a long time ago, so lets hope this has changed since then! He tells of all his injuries (and there were many) including one that ended his career as a dancer.
The movies he mostly talks about were - "The Outsiders", "Red Dawn" which is the first time he played with Jennifer Grey. Even though they did not really get along on the set he is very complimentary of her -

"In my life, I've encountered very few people who have the natural talent Jennifer has. She learned incredibly quick, and she was game for anything."

Then he talked about "Road House", my personal favorite movie of his! He did all his own stunts in most of his movies. In "Road House" all the fight scenes were real, they were not fake punches! In the river fight scene Patrick ended up with broken ribs.

"When you watch the scene in the movie, the exhaustion you see on my face is absolutely teal. I barely had the strength to drag myself out of the river after that fight."

He almost turned down the part on "Dirty Dancing" because it seemed to fluffy. He and his wife worked hard at rewriting parts of the script so it ended up the movie it is today. This was the second time he stared with Jen Grey. He describes the chemistry they had during this movie. And with no dance experience, how she learned quickly and was again willing to do anything.
In "Ghost" his part as Sam was suppose to be a non-talking part. He was just suppose to float around. Again - he and his wife began re-writing the script and convinced them to give him a dialog to make him a more active character. It was also Patrick who came up with the idea of Whoopi Goldberg playing the part of Oda Mae who ended up winning an award for that part. What you may not know is that most of Whoopi's lines were not in the script!

"With Whoopi, it didn't really matter what was on the page - what came out of her mouth when the cameras were rolling was whatever the hell popped into her head."

He goes into minor detail about several other movies. And I even found a few that I had not seen yet and added them to my list!
At the very end he talks about his diagnoses of Pancreatic Cancer and how he was determined to fight it even with its death sentence.

This was an excellent book! The whole thing was very interesting! If you are a Patrick Swayze fan (like I am) or a lover of a few of his movies you would love this book! I had wanted this book for a while now, but I was not able to bring myself to buy it. It just felt too close, you know? I knew that if I was going to read this it would have to be a gift. My daughter gave me this book for Christmas and when I opened it - I cried. She said "I knew you'd cry!" I am so glad I had the chance to read this - God be with you Patrick your movies will live on!(less)

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Oct 30, 2011 Христо Блажев rated it 5 of 5 stars

Патрик Суейзи и неговият красив, но и болезнен танц с живота
http://www.knigolandia.info/2011/03/0...

Рядко книга е променяла толкова мнението ми за някого, Всъщност, когато гледах (насила) за първи път “Мръсни танци” някъде миналата година, се изсмях на лековатия сюжет. Затова и когато научих, че ще пускаме книга за Суейзи, проявих общо взето нулев интерес. По стечение на обстоятелствата обаче се наложи да нанасям корекции по текста. Изненадващо за самия мен, написаното започна да ме увлича и да...more

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Jan 20, 2010 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

Written just before his death (which adds real poignancy to his later comments about fighting the cancer), this is a brisk run through the life of someone I only really knew as an actor/dancer but who was, in fact, so much more. Following him from early childhood and right up to the end, this includes some nice background information on his films, but the brevity of it all was disappointing - I wanted to know more. Chiming with that is my one criticism - virtually everybody he knows or meets is...more

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Sep 09, 2012 TC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, autobiography, kleenex-needed, must-read

Biographies and Autobiographies give us the chance to look into the lives of others and see the world through their uniue experiences. With Audiobooks you sometimes get the experience of listening to a book being read by the author. The Audiobook of The Time of My Life - although abridged - is so much more intimate since it was read by Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Niemi as they joined together to fight the pancreatic cancer that ultimately claimed his life. Although there are times I couldn'...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Snogged rated it 4 of 5 stars

My aunt got me this book for Christmas and honestly, I wasn't sure if I'd like it. For starters, I've never been a die-hard Swayze fan and could only call to mine one of his most famous movies ("Dirty Dancing.") I also had a close friend of mine lose her battle to brain cancer and I knew that part of this book would be about Patrick's struggle with pancreatic cancer. As you can see from the rating though, this book took me by surprise. I felt that I learned so much about his life and the book wa...more

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Feb 03, 2010 Staci rated it 5 of 5 stars

My heart started to beat a little bit faster when I heard Patrick's voice filling up the silence in my car as I was driving to work. I have loved this man since he rode up on his white horse as Orry Main in the mini-series North and South. I was sixteen and he was gorgeous beyond belief. From there I continued to be a huge fan of his and never missed a movie that he starred in. When I heard the news last year of his pancreatic cancer I was saddened immediately. It didn't surprise me though, that...more

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Nov 04, 2009 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In 1984 I watched a movie called Red Dawn starring Patrick Swayze and I developed an instant crush. Three years later came Dirty Dancing and my crush turned to full on LUST! Patrick Swayze was the sexiest man alive as far as I was concerned. I've lost count as to how many times I've seen that movie, not to mention how many times I wished I could be Jennifer Grey for five minutes! When I heard about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, I was heartbroken. Having lost a friend to this brutal form of ca...more In 1984 I watched a movie called Red Dawn starring Patrick Swayze and I developed an instant crush. Three years later came Dirty Dancing and my crush turned to full on LUST! Patrick Swayze was the sexiest man alive as far as I was concerned. I've lost count as to how many times I've seen that movie, not to mention how many times I wished I could be Jennifer Grey for five minutes! When I heard about his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, I was heartbroken. Having lost a friend to this brutal form of cancer very quickly, I understood immediately how bad this was.

I knew he and wife, Lisa Niemi were in the process of writing a book about his life and I decided when I discovered Patrick himself would be narrating the audio version, that's what I wanted. I'm not a big audiobook user, but in this case, for me, it was the only way to experience this book. And I'm so glad I did. Having Patrick narrate this book makes it a more intimate and personal experience because you feel like he's talking directly to you. Obviously, you lose the benefit of any photos in the book, but that isn't a big deal for me. Even during some really bad days while recording this book, his voice is even, strong and sexy as ever.

The start of The Time of My Life is Patrick explaining how he came to realize something was not right with his health and how it changed his life. Then, it's Lisa's turn to explain how that realization effected her. I believe, in the printed version, that is the prologue.

Patrick then starts telling his story from 1970 when he was a high school athlete, dancer and gymnast. He chronicles his career and personal accomplishments he and Lisa shared along with some really tough times in his personal life. It becomes obvious pretty early on how fierce his competitive nature was and how much he loved striving to be the best at whatever he put his mind to. But it was also clear that dancing was his first love. With a mother like Patsy Swayze, a very respected dancer, choreographer and teacher, it was inevitable he become an accomplished dancer in his own rite.

Although I've read a few reviews that felt the book is more of a rundown of his movie career than the story of his life, I feel differently. It's quite clear that for Patrick and Lisa, their movies and dancing were their life. They worked hard as a team on every endeavor they attempted and they gave each project 110 percent. This book shows that Patrick lived an extremely full life doing exactly the things he loved to do. He did have passions other than acting and dancing as well. He also loved horses and flying airplanes and therefore became an accomplished rider and pilot.

If there is one message that I will take away from this book, it is to live life to the fullest each and every day. That's what Patrick did. He wasn't afraid to tackle anything. He had incredible drive and it's that drive that enabled him to fight pancreatic cancer as hard as he did.

This book was very inspirational and interesting and I recommend it for fans of Patrick Swayze. In fact, if you get the chance to listen to the audio book, it will be even better, hearing Patrick in his own words and voice.
(less)

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Oct 18, 2010 Brandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a good read, and as I have said many times before when I am leaving my review, I DO wish that they had HALF stars as this one would have received 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed reading about the journey that both Patrick and Lisa went on through their lives together. I like that they both met so young, and stuck it out through the hard times. It's a wonder that these two never let the "Hollywood Curse" overtake them and end up in divorce like most other celebrities.
Both are multi-talented people w...more

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Feb 26, 2010 Fennecgirl rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you can find the audiobook version of this, I highly suggest getting a copy.

I grew up watching Swayze on screen, and felt a tug at my heart when I heard of the cancer. His situation really hit home for me as pictures of him near the end surfaced - having lost my own father to cancer, the similarities in their physical appearances stunned me. I knew reading the book alone wouldn't be enough for me, and waited until I was able to indulge in the audio version.

I am glad I did! His personality is...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Catherine Savoie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think this book was amazing. It talked about finding true love at a young age, going for your dream, keeping a marriage together, and when Patrick got sick the bond between him and his wife and sticking by him. It was a touching story and i think that alot of people would enjoy it. The reason that this book is memorizing is not many people see inside the life of patick swayze they only see what is published in magizines and tabloids. This is an inside story about what really went on and how it...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Jenny Conatser rated it 4 of 5 stars

I usually don't care about memoirs, unless they are funny or written by weird people (Steven Tyler), but I truly loved this book. The writing is much better than I ever expected it to be and, in parts, simply beautiful. When my dad let me borrow the book, I had a marginal interest in Patrick Swayze's life. I loved Dirty Dancing and Ghost, (geez, who doesn't!?)and I was saddened when he died, but I'd never really "invested" in Mr. Swayze's life or career. I had no idea of his talents off-screen,...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Stephanie Burkhart rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Authors Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi share their thoughts, life, and love in a bittersweet and poignant memoir with "The Time of my Life." Written before he died, Swayze shares the many insights he learned living life and the hardest battle he ever fought - pancreatic cancer.

The novel opens with a prologue. One section is written by Swayze, the other by Niemi. Immediately, the love Swayze has for his wife shines through. She is the force behind him, his guiding star, the wind beneath...more Authors Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi share their thoughts, life, and love in a bittersweet and poignant memoir with "The Time of my Life." Written before he died, Swayze shares the many insights he learned living life and the hardest battle he ever fought - pancreatic cancer.

The novel opens with a prologue. One section is written by Swayze, the other by Niemi. Immediately, the love Swayze has for his wife shines through. She is the force behind him, his guiding star, the wind beneath his wings. It is a true testament to the power of love that Swayze and Niemi were married over 33 years.

Swayze was a man that attracted fans of all kinds, but his beginnings were humble. Raised in Texas, his father taught him that a real man can be tough and gentle. Patrick grew up taking dance and doing gymnastics. An accident at a high school football game blows out his knee.

Despite this setback, Patrick pursues gymnastics and dance until his knee forces him to purse something else - acting.

Patrick and Lisa marry early in their lives, in 1975. They go through many ups and downs. What is so heart warming to discover is how supportive Lisa is of Patrick. They move to Hollywood and work hard to make ends meet. Finally, Patrick is cast in a movie. As his work is recognized, he continues to get jobs. His most memorable ones include Dirty Dancing, North and South, and Ghost.

Patrick takes the death of his father hard and begins to drink. His drinking will haunt him and his relationships the rest of his life.

After overcoming poverty and rising to stardom, Swayze must now tackle the biggest challenge of his life - pancreatic cancer. His fearless attitude is an inspiration to all.

Swayze and Niemi write in a style that's easy to read and understand. They story flows well and the reader can connect to Swayze as if he's a fun-loving brother.

Swayze's passion for life shines in the pages. He grew up in an everyday home and married his sweetheart. He barely made it to New York, but all the hard work paid off when Swayze was recognized in Hollywood.

Niemi's love and support is an inspiration as well. She earned credits in dancing, directing, and writing, but never found the breakout role that Patrick did.
"The Time of my Life" is an exciting memoir of Swayze's life, career, and love. You can't put it down! A must read for Swayze fans.(less)

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Feb 02, 2010 Emily rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, biographies-auto-memoirs

I thought that because her name was also listed as an author we would get some of Lisa's views and her reactions to things. I expected this to be a book about how AS A COUPLE they delt with his illness and thier life together. But no, it's all Partick all the time. And it's all how great he is. First he's the best football player, than the best gymnist, then ballet dancer, actor, martial artist, musician, stuntman, equestrian, on and on and on ENOUGH! Sorry if I wasn't wooed by 'The Swayze way'....more

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Oct 26, 2010 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

I'm not usually one for reading biographies and memoirs, I've read a few. This book wasn't an impulse buy, it was more of a coincidence. I'd been reading about Swayze and his battle with cancer the night before. The next day I call into a bookstore and it's there staring at me ;)

I must admit, after reading the first 3 chapter's the first night, I found it an engrossing read. It covers Swayze's life from early on, beginning with his childhood. It is a very interesting read and very well written....more

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May 10, 2010 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yes, I sought out this book from the library so I could read it while it was still hardcover. It is not that I have been specifically interested in Patrick, but since his phenomenal battle with cancer, I just wanted to "hear" what he had to say.

The book was not frilly or written as literary prose. It was straight forward and it was a great approach to the book. I just enjoyed reading some of his thoughts and recollections of movies he has made, people he worked with, and even early on in his lif...more

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Oct 07, 2009 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is another one of those books that make me wish I was doing something with my life. He managed to pack so much living into 57 years, that while he died too young, it doesn't seem like such a waste. I had to keep reminding myself that he was dead, because his voice is so vibrant as he tells his story, I found it hard to believe he was gone. At times it seemed a little too good to be true. He excelled at so many things, and he talks about his talents in great detail, to the point that his fla...more

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May 24, 2012 Ruby rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to read this book. Part of me expected to read a book about an arrogant actor who spent more time trying to boost his ego by bragging about his accomplishments. Instead, what I found was a man who accomplished so much, yet was humble and insecure—human. I found that he was a normal guy who loved his family, “warts and all” so to speak, loved animals, and seemed to touch the lives of everyone he met. This is a really great book because it shows that a r...more

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About Patrick Swayze

Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best-known for his roles as romantic leading men in the films Dirty Dancing and Ghost and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was listed by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991.

Diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in January 2008, Swayze told Barbara Walters a year later th...more

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“When those you love die, the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that you're going to take whatever lesson that person or animal was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life... it's a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world, by keeping it alive in yourself.” — 93 people liked it

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