One Hundred Lengths of the Pool

by Julia Link Roberts

Julia Roberts was one of the first two faces to appear on QVC The Shopping Channel in 1993, and her warmth and honesty have encouraged millions to shop from the comfort of their own homes ever since. She was not, however, a stranger to television, having previously appeared in Beadle's About, The Price is Right , and numerous advertisements, including the Woolwich Building Society where she famously asked, "Can I help you?" None of this would have come about if she hadn't survived the killer disease polio in the 1950s. Not only did she survive, but, against all the odds and the advice of her careers teacher at school, she became a professional dancer. That was the start of a long and varied career in the entertainment industry, unless you count appearing on the front cover of a cookery book at the age of ten. She has worked as a DJ, a singer, and actress, and, for the last 24 years, a presenter; and it's all in this book . Each of the hundred lengths is associated with special moments from her life—some professional, some personal, some happy, and some sad. However, there is an extra length of the pool that she didn't expect to swim, and it has changed her life completely, testing her belief in her favorite saying, "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. . ."

464 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Julia Link Roberts, Ph.D., is the Mahurin Professor in Gifted Studies and director and founder of The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Roberts was named a Distinguished Professor at Western Kentucky University and was honored as the first recipient of the National Association for Gifted Children David W. Belin Advocacy Award.

Recently, she was named Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Studies and the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you watch QVC this is a must read. Regular viewers will know Julia loves swimming and her target 100 lengths each time. this book tells Julia's story in bite sized chapters which is great for just dipping in and out. From The Price is Right to Butler & Wilson it's all here with humour and panache. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, this is Julia's mantra as she added chapter 101 to cover her diagnosis with CML.