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My Stroke of Luck
In 1995, Kirk Douglas suffered a debilitating stroke that changed his life. In this vivid and very personal reflection upon his extraordinary life as an actor, author, and legend in his own time, Douglas offers a candid and heartfelt memoir of where it all went right in his life -- even after the stroke. Revealing not only the incredible physical and emotional toll of his stroke but how it has changed his life for the better, Douglas shares the lessons that saved him and helped him to heal. Alongside his heartfelt advice and insight, he also recalls warm memories of some of the most famous figures of our time -- including Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Michael J. Fox, and Gary Cooper -- as well as others who have soared to greatness in the face of adversity. Charming, soulful, and filled with personal photographs, My Stroke of Luck is an intimate look at the real person behind the fabulous talent -- and at a life lived to its very fullest.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2002
2 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Kirk Douglas
36 books55 followersKirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch, ) was an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past (1947), Champion (1949), Ace in the Hole (1951), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), The Vikings (1958), Spartacus (1960), Lonely Are the Brave (1962),The Fury (1978) and Tough Guys (1986)
He is No.17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time. In 1996, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community."
He was one of the last surviving actors from Hollywood's "golden age". He passed away on February 05, 2020 at the age of 103.
He is No.17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time. In 1996, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community."
He was one of the last surviving actors from Hollywood's "golden age". He passed away on February 05, 2020 at the age of 103.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 21, 2020
This is a great inspirational book. Whenever you feel like you are having a bad day pick this up.
I especially enjoyed Douglas’s “Operators Manual” in the back of the book.
This one is a keeper and I will proudly display it on my shelves.
I especially enjoyed Douglas’s “Operators Manual” in the back of the book.
This one is a keeper and I will proudly display it on my shelves.
May 20, 2016
This short book was just great! It only took maybe a couple of hours to read. Kirk talks about his stroke at the age of 80, his struggle with depression and the effort it took to learn to talk again. He speaks about his love for God, his wife, sons and friends and his desire to help other stroke victims. He has a wonderful sense of humor!
September 5, 2019
This was a quick read that I enjoyed parts of. I'm sure some would object to his talk of working through his depression by getting over his self-pity, but I think it's accurate to his own story, which makes it part of the whole spectrum of dealing with mental illness. I certainly don't think his story should be ignored just because it doesn't fit someone else's experience.
That said, I did take issue with a lot of his religious comments, which while Jewish leaning, were closer to generic universalism.
I wouldn't recommend this for younger readers because of multiple references to sex and breasts, though for the most part tasteful references, and all lacking in details. There are also a lot of references to death and a few to suicide.
That said, I did take issue with a lot of his religious comments, which while Jewish leaning, were closer to generic universalism.
I wouldn't recommend this for younger readers because of multiple references to sex and breasts, though for the most part tasteful references, and all lacking in details. There are also a lot of references to death and a few to suicide.
December 28, 2017
Not only one of the greatest actors in the world, Kirk Douglas is a damned fine writer. In this follow-up memoir about coming to terms with his stroke, Kirk shows himself to be forthcoming and honest, as well as brave. He is critical of himself and his weaknesses, detailing his struggles and inabilities, but Kirk finds a support system in friends, family, and his community - they help him conquer any physical or mental weakness. More than just anecdotes about show business and his life in the entertainment industry, Kirk Douglas writes of a need to be kind, true, and good. One would be so lucky to know him.
July 9, 2008
An initmate look at the impact a stroke had on his life. The humor was a surprise, and the spirituality was unexpected. Upon meeting God, Douglas asks, "Is this heaven?" only to hear God reply, "HEAVEN! You just came from there!" and goes on to point out the many miracles we take for granted each day!
As he is practicing his speaking, Douglas remarks on the compexity of the English language: "The buck DOES funny things when the DOES are present".
A quick read, it was like having a personal conversation with the author!
As he is practicing his speaking, Douglas remarks on the compexity of the English language: "The buck DOES funny things when the DOES are present".
A quick read, it was like having a personal conversation with the author!
September 23, 2012
This book can easily be read in a sitting. It's short with large text.
To be honest, I was hoping for a deeper story. I've had a few people in my life who suffered a stroke, and I was hoping it would give me better insight into their depression and struggles. Instead, it came across more as a light read with a lot of name dropping.
Parts of it were quite interesting, but I was definitely left wanting more out it. That being said, you can read it in a couple of hours, so it's not really time wasted. I just really wanted to connect on an emotional level and that wasn't there at all.
To be honest, I was hoping for a deeper story. I've had a few people in my life who suffered a stroke, and I was hoping it would give me better insight into their depression and struggles. Instead, it came across more as a light read with a lot of name dropping.
Parts of it were quite interesting, but I was definitely left wanting more out it. That being said, you can read it in a couple of hours, so it's not really time wasted. I just really wanted to connect on an emotional level and that wasn't there at all.
August 4, 2019
This was an enjoyable quick read. Kirk Douglas shares his experience of having a stroke at 83 and how he had to relearn how to speak. He acknowledges how blessed he was to have experienced it, once he got over his depression about it.
It inspired him to return to his Jewish roots, appreciate what life still has to offer and keep pushing forward. He was greatly inspired by the likes of Christopher Reeves and Michael J. Fox who used their situations to teach and inspire others.
Definitely would recommend it.
It inspired him to return to his Jewish roots, appreciate what life still has to offer and keep pushing forward. He was greatly inspired by the likes of Christopher Reeves and Michael J. Fox who used their situations to teach and inspire others.
Definitely would recommend it.
September 19, 2020
A very insightful book. I laughed, I cried, I learned. I read it in one sitting. I'm going to make note of his "Operator's Manual" and use it in my own life. I really enjoyed it.
March 28, 2024
It's hard reading about someone else's drastic health problems—famous or not—since there's a spectre of, "That could be ME some day!" I mean, a friend had a stroke, but it wasn't the same for my friend as it was for Kirk Douglas (probably because my friend was SIGNIFICANTLY younger at the time of the stroke), and I expect if *I* have one some day, it will be entirely different from both of these examples.
At where I am in the book currently, I mostly want to comment on this bit:
I appreciate his attitude, though!
(update)
The book is very easy to read—probably because he needed to dictate it, so he would have avoided being too verbose (especially after struggling to relearn how to talk!)—but also very difficult to read due to the themes of mortality and disease/disabilities (not that a stroke is a disease, but his wife Anne had breast cancer, etc.), and the constant reminder that he lived with naturally passes along to the reader (especially one whose family has a history of various cancers). His humour makes it easier, of course.
The main complaints I have is in a few instances, Douglas uses words for people (racial- and disability-related) that are now considered slurs to certain degrees, and... I don't remember if they were okay *at the time* (or at least not as "bad"), but they make me cringe a bit NOW. I can't exactly go and ask him to put out a revised version, though—he lived about sixteen more years after this, I note, which is pretty impressive for an 87-year-old (at the time of the writing)! Mostly I put that here as a warning, if anyone is set off by that kind of thing.
Definitely recommended for readers who have also survived a stroke, or those whose loved ones have had a stroke. Certainly Kirk Douglas fans would love this, but I think that goes without saying!
At where I am in the book currently, I mostly want to comment on this bit:
But maybe, after death, you come before that mythical Man with a long beard, sitting on a throne. You stand before Him, puny and timid. Then you ask, "Is this heaven?" And He roars back, "HEAVEN? You just came from there!"I mean, I do agree with the "We get one life, and we're wasting it" aspect, which is why I try to live my best life now, but I sort of hate the idea of other people getting to ruin our "Heaven." I suppose that's the point, though: letting other people ruin Heaven is what makes it Hell.
And as your eyes wide, He continues, "Ingrate! Didn't you like the sunrise, the sunset, the moon, and the stars? Weren't you pleased with the mountains, forests, rivers, and streams that I gave you? . . . And when I nurtured those plants with rain, you complained because you couldn't play golf. Ingrate! That was heaven!"
And then I dare to ask, "Well, what is this place?"
He laughs: "This is the recycling plant. . . . DUST THOU ART, AND TO DUST THOU SHALT RETURN."
I appreciate his attitude, though!
(update)
The book is very easy to read—probably because he needed to dictate it, so he would have avoided being too verbose (especially after struggling to relearn how to talk!)—but also very difficult to read due to the themes of mortality and disease/disabilities (not that a stroke is a disease, but his wife Anne had breast cancer, etc.), and the constant reminder that he lived with naturally passes along to the reader (especially one whose family has a history of various cancers). His humour makes it easier, of course.
The main complaints I have is in a few instances, Douglas uses words for people (racial- and disability-related) that are now considered slurs to certain degrees, and... I don't remember if they were okay *at the time* (or at least not as "bad"), but they make me cringe a bit NOW. I can't exactly go and ask him to put out a revised version, though—he lived about sixteen more years after this, I note, which is pretty impressive for an 87-year-old (at the time of the writing)! Mostly I put that here as a warning, if anyone is set off by that kind of thing.
Definitely recommended for readers who have also survived a stroke, or those whose loved ones have had a stroke. Certainly Kirk Douglas fans would love this, but I think that goes without saying!
November 26, 2021
Loved this. Kirk Douglas is an icon but writes openly and humbly in this book. How many actors of his stature would or could take such a hard look at himself and share it without holding back? Not many.
April 13, 2020
This book certainly helped me to see beyond myself after it had already been a significant motivating, healing factor for my wife Maurine after her minor stroke six weeks ago. She was about to wrap it to mail as a gift to our brother-in-law Philip Brown, also a stroke victim, when I reminded her that I still wanted to read it. To convince her I said I would start to read it right now, which I did. That was the middle of this afternoon, and now it is just after 5:00 pm. The book was a gift to Maurine five weeks ago from our granddaughter-in-law, Ty's wife, Katie Christiansen who is a speech therapist. I clearly see in Maurine much more therapeutic results than only speech. What a welcome, blessed reminder of honest compassion from someone with the talent, wealth, and fame of Kirk Douglas!
June 22, 2021
Uplifting, inspiring - and even entertaining. A candid, uninhibited sharing of an extremely difficult experience. Kirk never claims to be a super-hero in dealing with his stroke and other infirmities. He admits to depression and frustration, but he also worked hard to follow the advice of his medical advisors. His wife and friends are there for him, too. And of course his faith and the sense of purpose it gave him. I am so happy I read this little book. Only takes a couple of hours, and the ideas linger.
December 13, 2019
This reads like a letter or journal; I enjoyed feeling that Kirk was writing directly to the reader. The most helpful comment, was that - when he was stuck in bed, because of the post-stroke medical issues - he made a decision that -during the day, he would think of what to focus on at bedtime..." a good memory, like a dog I hid my favorite bone, to be chewed on later." That resolved his night-time, pre-sleep anxiety. Short, sweet, positive memoir.
February 19, 2020
Informacja o śmierci 103 letniego Kirka Douglasa zainspirowała mnie do śięgnięcia po tą pozycję. Znalazłem ją w formie audio w aplikacji gdzie posiadam abonament. Także przesłuchać mogłem tą pozycję w formie audio w ramach abonamentu. Świetna sprawa móc mieć możliwość rzutem na taśmę sięgać po pozycje audio o każdej porze dnia i nocym wtedy tylko kiedy przyjdzie ochota na przesłuchanie czegoś nowego. Tym bardziej mogłem sobie pozwolić na prześłuchanie tej pozycji audio gdyż nie jest ona obszerna. W dodatku zaintrygowało mnie wykonanie lektorskie. Sam Kirk Douglas nagrał wstęp a jego syn Michael Douglas był lektorem większości książki. Takie wykonanie lektorskie na pewno jest gratką. Michael Douglas według mnie to dobry aktor. Jest też świetnym lektorem audiobooków. Tym bardziej wykonanie lektorskie było intrygujące gdyż książka napisana przez ojca została przeczytana przez syna.
Polskie tłumaczenie „Uderzenie Szczęścia” nie d końca jest według mnie trafne. Angielski tytuł brzmi „Stroke of luck”. Angielskie słowo stroke oczywiście można przetłumaczyć dosłownie na język polski jako „uderzenie”. Jednak to słowo ma też drugie znaczenie, mianowicie to również termin medyczny który można przetłumaczyć na polski po prostu jako „wylew”. Angielski tytuł to oczywiście gra słów. Polskie tłumaczenie „Wylew szczęścia” też pewnie by pasował i też jest to ciekawa gra słów.
„Stroke of Luck” to autobiograficzna książka napisana już prawie 20 lat temu przez Kirka Douglasa które już wtedy był sędziwym, osiemdziesięciokilku letnim dziadkiem. Niniejszą książkę napisał jakiś czas po tym jak przeszedł groźny wylew na skutek którego stracił całkowicie zdolność mówienia. W ramach rehabilitacji ciężkowa pracował nad odzyskaniem zdolności mowy. Udało mu się to, co możemy usłuszeć na wstępie audiobooka, którego sam czyta. Chociaż słuchać iż mówienie to wielki wysiłek dla niego.
„Stoke of Luck” bardzo spodobała mi się. Przybliżyła mi postać samego Kirka Douglasa. To sympatyczny dziadek. Ma całkiem trzeźwe podejście do życia. Mimo statusu legendy celebeyty jest człowiekiem stąpający twardo po ziemii. Sporo miejsca w książce poświęca swojej matce, opisuje też trochę realia w jaki się wychował. Kirka Douglasa poznajemy jako dziecko migrantów żydowskich pochodzących z terenów dzisiejszej Białorusi. Te korzenie i to iż do końca życia Kirk Douglas świadomy był swojego skromengo pochodzenia sprawiły iż z pokorą podchodził do życia.
Ciekawym wątkiem książki był opis walki Kirka Douglasa z depresją oraz trudna droga rehabilitacji po wylewie. Dla mnie było to inspirujące. Pogoda ducha, pozytywne podejście do życia nawet w trudnej sytuacji zdrowotnej, a zarazem pokora to główne cechy Kirka Douglasa które mi zaimponowały.
Dobra pozycja. Czasem dobrze przeczytać autobiografię i poznać bliżej życie innych ludzi. Odniosłem wrażenie, że Kirk Douglas jest nie tylko dobrym, legendarnym aktorem, ciekawym, pokornym człowiekiem, ale też jest dobrym pisarzem.
Polskie tłumaczenie „Uderzenie Szczęścia” nie d końca jest według mnie trafne. Angielski tytuł brzmi „Stroke of luck”. Angielskie słowo stroke oczywiście można przetłumaczyć dosłownie na język polski jako „uderzenie”. Jednak to słowo ma też drugie znaczenie, mianowicie to również termin medyczny który można przetłumaczyć na polski po prostu jako „wylew”. Angielski tytuł to oczywiście gra słów. Polskie tłumaczenie „Wylew szczęścia” też pewnie by pasował i też jest to ciekawa gra słów.
„Stroke of Luck” to autobiograficzna książka napisana już prawie 20 lat temu przez Kirka Douglasa które już wtedy był sędziwym, osiemdziesięciokilku letnim dziadkiem. Niniejszą książkę napisał jakiś czas po tym jak przeszedł groźny wylew na skutek którego stracił całkowicie zdolność mówienia. W ramach rehabilitacji ciężkowa pracował nad odzyskaniem zdolności mowy. Udało mu się to, co możemy usłuszeć na wstępie audiobooka, którego sam czyta. Chociaż słuchać iż mówienie to wielki wysiłek dla niego.
„Stoke of Luck” bardzo spodobała mi się. Przybliżyła mi postać samego Kirka Douglasa. To sympatyczny dziadek. Ma całkiem trzeźwe podejście do życia. Mimo statusu legendy celebeyty jest człowiekiem stąpający twardo po ziemii. Sporo miejsca w książce poświęca swojej matce, opisuje też trochę realia w jaki się wychował. Kirka Douglasa poznajemy jako dziecko migrantów żydowskich pochodzących z terenów dzisiejszej Białorusi. Te korzenie i to iż do końca życia Kirk Douglas świadomy był swojego skromengo pochodzenia sprawiły iż z pokorą podchodził do życia.
Ciekawym wątkiem książki był opis walki Kirka Douglasa z depresją oraz trudna droga rehabilitacji po wylewie. Dla mnie było to inspirujące. Pogoda ducha, pozytywne podejście do życia nawet w trudnej sytuacji zdrowotnej, a zarazem pokora to główne cechy Kirka Douglasa które mi zaimponowały.
Dobra pozycja. Czasem dobrze przeczytać autobiografię i poznać bliżej życie innych ludzi. Odniosłem wrażenie, że Kirk Douglas jest nie tylko dobrym, legendarnym aktorem, ciekawym, pokornym człowiekiem, ale też jest dobrym pisarzem.
June 25, 2024
The memoir of Kirk Douglas.
🧠
In 1995 actor Kirk Douglas had a debilitating stroke that changed his life. After his stroke he fell into a deep depression. In this autobiography we learn about Kirk’s childhood, his entrance into acting, meeting his wife and how he dealt with life after several brushes with death, including the stroke he had.
🗣️
I read this for aphasia awareness month and the summer bingo card I’m doing, but found it to be very interesting as well. The audiobook starts with Kirk narrating and then his son @michaelkirkdouglas takes over narration for the remainder of the book. This was a quick read about an important topic.
CW: death, stroke, hospitalization, helicopter accident & coma (mentioned), suicide ideation, alcohol
🧠
In 1995 actor Kirk Douglas had a debilitating stroke that changed his life. After his stroke he fell into a deep depression. In this autobiography we learn about Kirk’s childhood, his entrance into acting, meeting his wife and how he dealt with life after several brushes with death, including the stroke he had.
🗣️
I read this for aphasia awareness month and the summer bingo card I’m doing, but found it to be very interesting as well. The audiobook starts with Kirk narrating and then his son @michaelkirkdouglas takes over narration for the remainder of the book. This was a quick read about an important topic.
CW: death, stroke, hospitalization, helicopter accident & coma (mentioned), suicide ideation, alcohol
October 12, 2017
This is good, but a little scatterbrained at times. It's a good reflection on a life well lived and the great people he's been surrounded with. I read this immediately following "Laughing at My Nightmare" by Shane Burcaw, a man with SMA, and comparing a man who is permanently wheelchair bound and a man recovering from a stroke makes you appreciate some of the little things (like being able to speak and eat easily) all the more. A quick read and I'd recommend it to someone who feels trapped by a medical diagnosis, such as a stroke. Sometimes the road of life rolls a boulder at you and you have to get back up or get pushed down the hill.
May 5, 2024
I loved this little easy-to-read book by the legendary Kirk Douglas! He has a great and fun sense of humor displayed at the very beginning when he suffered the stroke. "Strokes are for elderly people, with slurred speech, moving about in walkers or wheelchairs. I was only eighty; how can a stroke happen to me? Does that mean there will be no golf tomorrow?" Clever lines like that and a poke about his dog being a "Jewish dog, but he doesn't know it, so don't tell him." I have no idea how the man was in real life, but I found his story to be interesting and inspirational!
December 29, 2019
I enjoyed this very much. It had a lot of ideas that I had been thinking about but not put into context. Being told you have an incurable cancer that can be managed but not cured for as long as possible isn't exactly like a stroke but it can put a pause on your life. Have just gotten to the stage where I realized that I can get on with life just with a whole lot of restrictions. This little book reaffirmed that for me. Thank you Mr. Douglas.
June 4, 2018
A very quick lovely read. Kirk Douglas was very honest in sharing his struggles after his stroke. He talks about therapy, struggles with depression and is open about his strong faith. The audiobook is read by both Kirk and Michael, which was a very pleasant surprise. I highly recommended this book, it’s intimate and quite funny read.
June 10, 2019
Kirk Douglas tells about his life after the stroke. About his love for his wife Anne ("if you leave me, I go with you"), about his second Bar Mizwah. Not really deeply philosophical. But one cannot help liking the guy. If for nothing else than the remark that he knows more Rabbis than jews. And the best, of course, the way he describes the night he received his well-deserved Oscar.
March 10, 2025
An exceptional book! A quick read. I felt as if Mr. Douglas was sitting across from me at a coffee shop telling me his story while we sipped our coffees. Basically, having had a stroke Mr. Douglas tells how he worked through the depression of being struck with this situation. He found a "work through" that is terrific tale. I will remember this book for a long time.
July 21, 2018
Not really a true Kirk Douglas biography. Its more of a memoir of his health struggles and the perspective it gives him on his life moving forward.
September 19, 2020
I liked Kirk Douglas more after I read this latest book.
November 1, 2020
Nice and easy to read. When I read about some of the people he talks about, I looked for more information on them. It opened my world to things I had no idea they had happened.
May 7, 2021
I did learn something new reading this book. Stroke victims lose speech by the end of each day. It made me understand why my cousin would only talk with me during the morning hours.
April 1, 2022
a thoughtful and tender account of recovery and friendship.
May 3, 2022
It's a quick read. Very digestible and flows well. I watched a video of his Oscar lifetime award nomination and wept.
June 2, 2022
I finished this book in one day and never anticipated to be as touched as I was by it. So honest and poignant and laugh out loud funny! Definitely ranks in my list of favorite books ever!
August 3, 2024
Very inspirational message.
August 16, 2024
I love memiors of old hollywood actors and I really love Kirk Douglas. He was such an earnest and lovely man. I read this in one sitting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews