Jackpot

by Jim Fixx

The author's entertaining account of the effects of his celebrity status recalls his encounters with the media, fans, financial advisors, and his struggle to preserve his sanity and maintain a normal life

175 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1982

About the author

James Fuller Fixx was the author of the 1977 best-selling book, The Complete Book of Running. Best known as Jim Fixx, he is credited with helping start America's fitness revolution, popularizing the sport of running and demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging.

Reviews

[East-Daikon · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is the diary of a writer. it starts at the point where he proposes a non-fiction book to a publisher, and goes all the way through until after it's an unexpected bestseller. you need to skip part one, which is boring backstory and just start at part two which is where the diary entries start.

i have zero interest in running but loved this book! it's so interesting to have a peek at how publishing works and his day-to-day experience of sudden fame/money (one year he earned today's equivalent of $5 million). for example, phone calls at all hours from random readers, flaky television people, fan mail both good and bad (the professional autograph seekers are cheeky!), quite a bit of tea on Doubleday (ha!), surprising book signings with heavy security and no attendees (oh no! happens to everyone!) etc. etc.

if you're interested in the book industry and/or diaries i'd recommend this

[Douglas Fergus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I stumbled upon it and had forgotten that back in the late 70s, bought his book on running and used it for a couple of years when I went through my running phase. How sad it was when he died, (only two years after this book was published!) but how poignant and fascinating at the same time! Very well written, and fun and quick to read. A definite personal insight into rather sudden, & explosive fame.

[Douglas Fergus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I stumbled upon it and had forgotten that back in the late 70s, bought his book on running and used it for a couple of years when I went through my running phase. How sad it was when he died, (only two years after this book was published!) but how poignant and fascinating at the same time! Very well written, fun and quick to read. A definite personal insight into rather sudden, explosive fame.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have been called "The Accidental Bestseller." Burned out from working at big media companies,magazine editor James Fixx decided to write a book about running. He was turned down by his original publisher. "The Complete Book of Running" was the right book at the right time and turned Fixx into a multimillionaire. This book tells what happened after that. It is a cleareyed account of how unexpected success can change you life for both good and bad. This account is not without humor and humility and is made more poignant by the author's death from a heart attack a few years after its publication