A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope

Description

From the author of The Greatest Generation comes a moving personal memoir of the year he spent battling multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer-the medical quest, the life lessons learned, reflections on news events Brokaw covered for NBC, and more. Tom Brokaw had led a lucky life-marrying his childhood sweetheart (they have been married for 51 years), rising to fame in the journalism world on the Today Show and as the NBC Nightly News anchor for 22 years, publishing the world-renowned book The Greatest Generation-when suddenly he took two inexplicable falls. Nagging back pain led him to the doctors at Mayo, who had shocking news- he had multiple myeloma, the treatable but incurable blood cancer. Brokaw leads the readers through his decision to keep a journal of experiences, during a year of denial, acceptance, struggle, and his courageous battle to get the cancer under control and to go on with his life, even as he reflects on the things he thought about, during a year in a life interrupted- news stories of special significance to him, lessons learned about family and friendship, a man coming to terms with aging and his own mortality. Written in Brokaw's natural, warm voice, this candid, intimate book is a memoir of understanding and empowerment, of the importance of a patient taking charge of his or her condition, of understanding aging, the importance of family and relationships, the role of caretakers and coordinated care, of gratitude for a good life.

TOM BROKAW is the author of six bestsellers- The Greatest Generation, The Greatest Generation Speaks, An Album of Memories, Boom!, The Time of Our Lives, and A Long Way from Home. A native of South Dakota, he graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in political science. He began his journalism career in Omaha and Atlanta before joining NBC News in 1966. Brokaw was the White House correspondent for NBC News during Watergate, and from 1976 to 1981 he anchored Today on NBC. He was the sole anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw from 1983 to 2005. He continues to report for NBC News, producing long-form documentaries and providing expertise during breaking news events. Brokaw has won every major award in broadcast journalism, including two DuPonts, a Peabody Award, and several Emmys. In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He lives in New York and Montana.

"It's impossible not to be inspired by Brokaw's story, and his willingness to share it."-Los Angeles Times "A powerful memoir of battling cancer and facing mortality . . . Through the prism of his own illness, Brokaw looks at the larger picture of aging in America."-Booklist (starred review) "Moving, informative and deeply personal."-The Daily Beast "The former NBC News anchor has applied the fact-finding skills and straightforward candor that were his stock in trade during his reporting days to A Lucky Life Interrupted."-USA Today "Brokaw doesn't paste a smiley face on his story. Again and again, the book returns to stories of loss but also of grace, luck and the beauty of having another swing at bat."-The Washington Post "Engaging . . . [with] the kind of insight that is typical of Mr. Brokaw's approach to life and now to illness."-The Wall Street Journal "Powerful and courageous . . . [Brokaw] looks ahead to the future with hope."-Bookreporter "Wryly good-natured . . . a wise and oddly comforting look at the toughest news of all."-Kirkus Reviews