What do you think?
Rate this book
Still Me
Christopher Reeve has beaten the odds before. He scored his first role in a Euripides play at 15, costarred with Katharine Hepburn at 22, and was one of two advanced-program students accepted at Juilliard, to which 2,000 drama students annually apply. (The other advanced student became his best friend, Robin Williams.) Reeve rode a sailplane to 32,000 feet over Pikes Peak, fell 90 feet from a parasail harness into four feet of water and walked away. He survived emergency appendectomy, malaria in Kenya, and the disastrous film Changing Channels, with Burt Reynolds. He flew vintage airplanes upside down. On his first solo transatlantic flight, a radar controller informed him he was about to run out of gas 200 miles west of Iceland. The radar controller had misread his screen, and Reeve landed safely.
Then, in 1995, his horse balked at a 3-foot-3-inch racecourse fence, made an abrupt "dirty stop," Reeve's hands got tangled in the reins, he landed on his head and got a "hangman's injury"--a broken neck. Ace paramedics got oxygen to him 60 seconds before brain damage set in, and a helicopter named Pegasus lofted him to a hospital.
Reeve was already important. His interpretation of Superman was classic, and his starring role in The Bostonians launched the Merchant/Ivory school of filmmaking. But it was not until his paralysis that Reeve really got moving as a public figure of the first rank. As his memoir Still Me details, since the accident, Reeve has directed his first film, started the Christopher Reeve Foundation to fund spinal-cord-repair research, lobbied Congress, and crisscrossed the country on speaking engagements.
Says Reeve, "Lindbergh made it across the Atlantic [where he was feted by Reeve's grandma]; Houdini got out of those straitjackets; with enough money and grass-roots support, why shouldn't I be able to get out of this wheelchair?" Part Hollywood reminiscence, part scientific detective story, and part soapbox speech, Still Me explains the tantalizing but quite real possiblity that Reeve (and a quarter-million other paralyzed people, plus 49 million disabled Americans) may get back on their feet. Bobby Kennedy once tried to bolster Reeve's faith by saying, "Just fake it till you make it. The prayers will seem phony, but one day they'll become real." Christopher Reeve has more than a prayer, he has a program. He ain't fake, and he just might make it, leading a cast of millions. --Tim Appelo
309 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
79 people are currently reading
3419 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Reeve
40 books60 followersChristopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. He established himself early as a Juilliard-trained stage actor before portraying Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent in four films, from 1978 to 1987. In the 1980s, he starred in several films, including Somewhere In Time (1980), Deathtrap (1982), The Bostonians (1984), and Street Smart (1987). He also starred in many plays, including the Broadway plays Fifth Of July (1980 - 1982) and The Marriage Of Figaro (1985). In 1987, he led a public rally in support of 77 Chilean actors, directors, and playwrights who had been sentenced to death by the dictator Augusto Pinochet for criticizing his regime in their works. Pinochet canceled the sentence after the ensuing media coverage, and Christopher was awarded with three national distinctions from Chile for his actions. In the 1990s, Christopher acted in such films as Noises Off (1992), The Remains Of The Day (1993), and Village of the Damned (1995).
In May 1995, Christopher was paralyzed in an accident during the cross country portion of an Eventing competition. He was in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He lobbied on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries, and for human embryonic stem cell research after this accident. He founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation and co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. Reeve died at age 52 on October 10, 2004 from cardiac arrest caused by a systemic infection.
Christopher married Dana Morosini in April 1992, and they have a son, Will. Christopher also had two children, Matthew and Alexandra, from a previous relationship with Gae Exton. Dana Reeve died of lung cancer in March 2006.
In May 1995, Christopher was paralyzed in an accident during the cross country portion of an Eventing competition. He was in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He lobbied on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries, and for human embryonic stem cell research after this accident. He founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation and co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. Reeve died at age 52 on October 10, 2004 from cardiac arrest caused by a systemic infection.
Christopher married Dana Morosini in April 1992, and they have a son, Will. Christopher also had two children, Matthew and Alexandra, from a previous relationship with Gae Exton. Dana Reeve died of lung cancer in March 2006.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
August 24, 2019
Sometimes when you look forward to a book and then wait for it, you are disappointed by it. Not this one! I’ve had it on hold from our library most of the summer and it was worth the wait!
After I finished Me Before You back in June I was so angry about the selfish attitude motivating the main character’s suicide, and even more about its potentially disastrous influence on young people. I told my friend, Jane St. Clair*, about my frustration with its conclusion and she suggested this book as a perfect off-set, not to mention, remedy.
The title, Still Me refers to what Christopher Reeve’s wife, Dana, said to him after he was thrown from a horse in 1995, severing his C-1 and C-2, rendering him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. In a moment of despair, he suggested he would be better off dead. Dana promptly disagreed, saying, “You are still you and I love you!” (Everyone needs a ‘Dana’ in their life!) Reeve said that turned his whole way of thinking around. Shortly thereafter, the rest of his family also arrived on the scene and affirmed his life and their love for him.
Before reading, Still Me, I don’t think I paid much attention to Christopher Reeve. Yes, I knew who he was and had seen him in a couple movies, such as, Somewhere in Time and Remains of the Day--never was a Superman fan. But probably because of Superman, I don’t think I ever thought of him as a serious actor. But then I have to confess, I think serious actor is an oxymoron anyway. This book, as it turns out has made me rethink my prejudice against actors, and I am happy for it. I couldn’t have been more wrong about Reeve. Not only was he a very dedicated, extremely well-trained and accomplished actor, he put those same character traits and skills to work to build a life after his accident. With the devoted love of his wife, Dana, his three children, siblings and parents, he strove heroically to make the best of the next nine years of his life, for himself, but also to help others who were similarly affected. He took on the role as spokesperson for pari- and quadriplegics, seeking funding for research especially.
This book is a testament of human will, drive, and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Of course, Chris Reeve had the advantage of a considerable income that many who find themselves in his circumstance do not have. (And yet the character in Ms. Moyes book, Me Before You was also extremely wealthy with a loving family and even the young woman who tried her best to convince him of his worth as Reeve’s wife did and those factors weren’t enough for him to choose life.)
Reeve narrates his life story in flashbacks, but it is almost eerie to see how it builds up to the accident. How he matures, meets his wife, he overcomes his lifelong fear of marriage, they marry, have their son and then, boom. Memorial Day, 1995, certainly a day he wouldn’t forget.
Christopher Reeve seems to have been an agnostic, who nevertheless had a very strong moral code. He very much believed in love, family, doing good for others and putting them ahead of self. Very inspirational. If you know anyone with any kind of mobility limitations, this is a powerful book, practically guaranteed to motivate. I stayed up late last night not wanting to put it down.
*Jane used to be very active in the natural death side of the end-of-life movement, until it got so ugly she had to drop out for her own sanity. Before she did, she wrote, Walk Me to Midnight which is an excellent novel which deals with the subject without being the least bit didactic. Highly recommended, and not just because I am her friend. ☺
After I finished Me Before You back in June I was so angry about the selfish attitude motivating the main character’s suicide, and even more about its potentially disastrous influence on young people. I told my friend, Jane St. Clair*, about my frustration with its conclusion and she suggested this book as a perfect off-set, not to mention, remedy.
The title, Still Me refers to what Christopher Reeve’s wife, Dana, said to him after he was thrown from a horse in 1995, severing his C-1 and C-2, rendering him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. In a moment of despair, he suggested he would be better off dead. Dana promptly disagreed, saying, “You are still you and I love you!” (Everyone needs a ‘Dana’ in their life!) Reeve said that turned his whole way of thinking around. Shortly thereafter, the rest of his family also arrived on the scene and affirmed his life and their love for him.
Before reading, Still Me, I don’t think I paid much attention to Christopher Reeve. Yes, I knew who he was and had seen him in a couple movies, such as, Somewhere in Time and Remains of the Day--never was a Superman fan. But probably because of Superman, I don’t think I ever thought of him as a serious actor. But then I have to confess, I think serious actor is an oxymoron anyway. This book, as it turns out has made me rethink my prejudice against actors, and I am happy for it. I couldn’t have been more wrong about Reeve. Not only was he a very dedicated, extremely well-trained and accomplished actor, he put those same character traits and skills to work to build a life after his accident. With the devoted love of his wife, Dana, his three children, siblings and parents, he strove heroically to make the best of the next nine years of his life, for himself, but also to help others who were similarly affected. He took on the role as spokesperson for pari- and quadriplegics, seeking funding for research especially.
This book is a testament of human will, drive, and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Of course, Chris Reeve had the advantage of a considerable income that many who find themselves in his circumstance do not have. (And yet the character in Ms. Moyes book, Me Before You was also extremely wealthy with a loving family and even the young woman who tried her best to convince him of his worth as Reeve’s wife did and those factors weren’t enough for him to choose life.)
Reeve narrates his life story in flashbacks, but it is almost eerie to see how it builds up to the accident. How he matures, meets his wife, he overcomes his lifelong fear of marriage, they marry, have their son and then, boom. Memorial Day, 1995, certainly a day he wouldn’t forget.
Christopher Reeve seems to have been an agnostic, who nevertheless had a very strong moral code. He very much believed in love, family, doing good for others and putting them ahead of self. Very inspirational. If you know anyone with any kind of mobility limitations, this is a powerful book, practically guaranteed to motivate. I stayed up late last night not wanting to put it down.
*Jane used to be very active in the natural death side of the end-of-life movement, until it got so ugly she had to drop out for her own sanity. Before she did, she wrote, Walk Me to Midnight which is an excellent novel which deals with the subject without being the least bit didactic. Highly recommended, and not just because I am her friend. ☺
January 28, 2025
4.5 stars
Being a huge Superman fan, of course I already knew who Christopher Reeve was. He soared into the sky in the original Superman and its sequels when I was born and growing up, but sadly I didn’t pay the man in the blue cape much attention until I became a superhero fan later in life. Even if I wasn’t a big fan of the movies or any of the stories back then, I was one of many who heard the tragic news of his riding accident. I remember my father, who always loved Superman, who always loved horses, discussing the tragedy with my mother. I remember her watching Christopher Reeve in ‘Somewhere in Time’ and remarking what a good movie it was.
Now as a fan of both the man and the legend, I was fascinated by this autobiography, which speaks in great detail of his accident, the tragedy of struggling with it, the medical procedures and all the horrors his body went through at first and would continue to struggle with for the duration. Only after he discussed the tragedy and the aftermath of that wake did he discuss, in detail, how he became established as an actor. The book initially begins with the accident, merging smoothly with reflections on relationships and commitment issues. Once the acting had taken off only is Dana then mentioned, and the relationship sounded from his words as romantic and powerful as it seemed portrayed to the media.
I knew he was an actor already, but I had no idea until this book how active and well accomplished he was with so much – horseback riding obviously, but other than that he always loved playing the piano. It was a consideration for a lifelong career and he had been playing at concert level since childhood. He was also an enthusiastic sailor who spent weekends with his family, riding the heights of life on the water. He was a pilot as well, again an amazing feat. He also enjoyed playing a large variety of sports.
His enthusiasm for acting is obviously hefty. He speaks of his trials and triumphs, how he learned, his different methods of learning and how he absorbed through trial and error to try what worked and what not. He chronicles his starting point especially and what roles and relationships meant to him. It was particularly interesting when he went back to acting later and discussed in detail directing a movie when he was paralyzed and all the difficulties encountered by it. Also his period of inactivity and frustration with acting when his career was on a bad streak. I do wish he would have mentioned much more about Superman than he did, but he discussed these movies less besides the audition and successes of the first one.
What makes this book work so wonderfully well is Reeve tells his story with utter honesty but not with expecting sympathy (which is impossible not to give). He tells his tales of acting and his enthusiasm with humility and for a love of the art and craft of doing it. He enthuses about all life has to offer and how blessed he’s been in so many sports, music, activities, and of course his family and children.
His writing tone is complex but simple – it’s easy to read his emotions coming clear through the writing. Tragedy seeps through the pages easily, and, even though he is not a professional writer, the emotions come through. It does switch around a bit with life and where it’s at and how he came to be who he is, and he doesn’t speak in too much detail of his family life, but overall it is a detailed portrayal of his life and worthy to be called an autobiography.
The end of the book includes speeches he has delivered. The book ends on hope with the potentials of a cure or at least progress for him and for so many others. Throughout the writing of his book you see his struggle to come to terms with his new life and do the best he can with it. But while it is coping as well as it can be coping, the last paragraph especially haunts and I found it especially beautiful.
Christopher Reeve will always stand in my mind as Superman.
"I have to stop this cascade of memories, or at least take them out of their drawer only for a moment, have a brief look, and put them back. I know how to do it now: I have to take the key to acting and apply it to my life. There is no other way to survive except to be in the moment. Just as my accident and its aftermath caused me to redefine what a hero is, I've had to take a hard look at what it means to live as fully as possible in the present. How do you survive in the moment when it's bleak and painful and the past seems so seductive?"
Being a huge Superman fan, of course I already knew who Christopher Reeve was. He soared into the sky in the original Superman and its sequels when I was born and growing up, but sadly I didn’t pay the man in the blue cape much attention until I became a superhero fan later in life. Even if I wasn’t a big fan of the movies or any of the stories back then, I was one of many who heard the tragic news of his riding accident. I remember my father, who always loved Superman, who always loved horses, discussing the tragedy with my mother. I remember her watching Christopher Reeve in ‘Somewhere in Time’ and remarking what a good movie it was.
Now as a fan of both the man and the legend, I was fascinated by this autobiography, which speaks in great detail of his accident, the tragedy of struggling with it, the medical procedures and all the horrors his body went through at first and would continue to struggle with for the duration. Only after he discussed the tragedy and the aftermath of that wake did he discuss, in detail, how he became established as an actor. The book initially begins with the accident, merging smoothly with reflections on relationships and commitment issues. Once the acting had taken off only is Dana then mentioned, and the relationship sounded from his words as romantic and powerful as it seemed portrayed to the media.
I knew he was an actor already, but I had no idea until this book how active and well accomplished he was with so much – horseback riding obviously, but other than that he always loved playing the piano. It was a consideration for a lifelong career and he had been playing at concert level since childhood. He was also an enthusiastic sailor who spent weekends with his family, riding the heights of life on the water. He was a pilot as well, again an amazing feat. He also enjoyed playing a large variety of sports.
His enthusiasm for acting is obviously hefty. He speaks of his trials and triumphs, how he learned, his different methods of learning and how he absorbed through trial and error to try what worked and what not. He chronicles his starting point especially and what roles and relationships meant to him. It was particularly interesting when he went back to acting later and discussed in detail directing a movie when he was paralyzed and all the difficulties encountered by it. Also his period of inactivity and frustration with acting when his career was on a bad streak. I do wish he would have mentioned much more about Superman than he did, but he discussed these movies less besides the audition and successes of the first one.
What makes this book work so wonderfully well is Reeve tells his story with utter honesty but not with expecting sympathy (which is impossible not to give). He tells his tales of acting and his enthusiasm with humility and for a love of the art and craft of doing it. He enthuses about all life has to offer and how blessed he’s been in so many sports, music, activities, and of course his family and children.
His writing tone is complex but simple – it’s easy to read his emotions coming clear through the writing. Tragedy seeps through the pages easily, and, even though he is not a professional writer, the emotions come through. It does switch around a bit with life and where it’s at and how he came to be who he is, and he doesn’t speak in too much detail of his family life, but overall it is a detailed portrayal of his life and worthy to be called an autobiography.
The end of the book includes speeches he has delivered. The book ends on hope with the potentials of a cure or at least progress for him and for so many others. Throughout the writing of his book you see his struggle to come to terms with his new life and do the best he can with it. But while it is coping as well as it can be coping, the last paragraph especially haunts and I found it especially beautiful.
Christopher Reeve will always stand in my mind as Superman.
"I have to stop this cascade of memories, or at least take them out of their drawer only for a moment, have a brief look, and put them back. I know how to do it now: I have to take the key to acting and apply it to my life. There is no other way to survive except to be in the moment. Just as my accident and its aftermath caused me to redefine what a hero is, I've had to take a hard look at what it means to live as fully as possible in the present. How do you survive in the moment when it's bleak and painful and the past seems so seductive?"
December 21, 2010
Before his accident, I never gave Christopher Reeve much thought. He’s one of the handsomest men I’ve ever seen, and I enjoyed "Superman I" and "Somewhere in Time," but none of that had much impact on my life. I just don’t go crazy over movie stars. After his accident, though, I couldn’t help but feel for him, and the whole thing was so ironic. "Superman" became a quadriplegic. As he became more of an advocate for the disabled, then I really began to admire him, but I didn’t know the half of it until I read his autobiography. Now I’m a die-hard fan - not of the actor, but of the person.
Still Me covers Christopher Reeve’s entire life up till the actual writing, and corny as it sounds, it’s an inspiring story of personal triumph. He describes everything about his life: his parents’ divorce, his love of sports and theater, his years at Julliard, his rise to fame, his two marriages, his accident and its aftermath. He opens with the accident and the first few months in the hospital, and then takes you back, so you really get the contrast. But just as his title says, he’s still him. When he was younger, he strove for excellence in sports and acting. Faced with bigger challenges, he struggled to overcome them, too. He achieved things that were deemed medically impossible, and besides using his fame to become a prominent advocate for the handicapped, he continued his creative work by directing, no longer acting.
So in sum, Christopher Reeve’s life story is nothing short of inspirational. He left me wanting to go out and tackle all the obstacles in my way. After all, my obstacles are a lot smaller than his. And this is the main feeling he gives his readers. If he went beyond the expectations of his doctors, by pushing ourselves, each of us can succeed beyond our wildest dreams.
Still Me covers Christopher Reeve’s entire life up till the actual writing, and corny as it sounds, it’s an inspiring story of personal triumph. He describes everything about his life: his parents’ divorce, his love of sports and theater, his years at Julliard, his rise to fame, his two marriages, his accident and its aftermath. He opens with the accident and the first few months in the hospital, and then takes you back, so you really get the contrast. But just as his title says, he’s still him. When he was younger, he strove for excellence in sports and acting. Faced with bigger challenges, he struggled to overcome them, too. He achieved things that were deemed medically impossible, and besides using his fame to become a prominent advocate for the handicapped, he continued his creative work by directing, no longer acting.
So in sum, Christopher Reeve’s life story is nothing short of inspirational. He left me wanting to go out and tackle all the obstacles in my way. After all, my obstacles are a lot smaller than his. And this is the main feeling he gives his readers. If he went beyond the expectations of his doctors, by pushing ourselves, each of us can succeed beyond our wildest dreams.
February 10, 2019
Done reading STILL ME. This is an inspiring autobiography of Christopher Reeve before his death in 2004. The highlight of the book is his experiences after a horse accident in 1995. The said accident resulted to paralysis and changed his life upside-down. On the exterior, his spinal cord was severely injured. He needed to work with a team of specialists and physical therapists to recover. The period of recovery was rough. He had regular breathing problems that could have ended his life unexpectedly. Psychologically, depression and despondency were inevitable but Christopher Reeve chose to fight his demons every day. He's SUPERMAN, right? He worked with psychologists to improve his new perspectives in life. His celebrity reputation helped him spread awareness and create funding projects for further research.
The book contains insights worth remembering to but this is, by far, my favorite. It's found in page 274, "I was told by so many experts - doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, other patients, and well-meaning friends and family members - that as time went by not only would I become more stable physically but I would become well-adjusted psychologically to my condition. I have found exactly the opposite to be true. The longer you sit in a wheelchair, the more the body breaks down and the harder you have to fight against it. Psychologically, I feel I have established a workable baseline: I have my down days, but I haven't been incapacitated by them."
The book contains insights worth remembering to but this is, by far, my favorite. It's found in page 274, "I was told by so many experts - doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, other patients, and well-meaning friends and family members - that as time went by not only would I become more stable physically but I would become well-adjusted psychologically to my condition. I have found exactly the opposite to be true. The longer you sit in a wheelchair, the more the body breaks down and the harder you have to fight against it. Psychologically, I feel I have established a workable baseline: I have my down days, but I haven't been incapacitated by them."
February 4, 2017
I tried really hard to get through this book, but I'm just over halfway through and I can feel it dragging me into a reading slump and so I've decided to put it down. I really thought this would be an extremely interesting read but it was very dry and fragmented. It went back and forth through his life in such a random and unclear way that I had trouble following what was happening. This was definitely a big disappointment!
February 15, 2021
Read this years ago and recall being surprised what a good read it was. Some aspects have stayed with me over the years, too.
March 19, 2019
Once read, never forgotten.
The man was a Super man not only on screen, but in life. An astounding, brave, awe inspiring person, who took what fate threw at him and just kept going.
Lesser mortals would have sank without trace had they to deal with what he did- what all quadriplegics have to deal with. Each and every one is an inspiration, a study in courage and resilience.
This book made me look at myself and life differently, with grateful eyes, and humility when realising with what extraordinary difficulty some people endure, just to draw breath, or speak ,or move.
I will never forget this book, just as we will never forget Christopher Reeve.
What a man . 'He made us believe a man could fly'. And this book does just that also.
The man was a Super man not only on screen, but in life. An astounding, brave, awe inspiring person, who took what fate threw at him and just kept going.
Lesser mortals would have sank without trace had they to deal with what he did- what all quadriplegics have to deal with. Each and every one is an inspiration, a study in courage and resilience.
This book made me look at myself and life differently, with grateful eyes, and humility when realising with what extraordinary difficulty some people endure, just to draw breath, or speak ,or move.
I will never forget this book, just as we will never forget Christopher Reeve.
What a man . 'He made us believe a man could fly'. And this book does just that also.
May 17, 2023
Still Me [1998] - ★★★★
In the 1980-90s, Christopher Reeve was the definition of success: ridiculously good-looking, talented and Juilliard-trained, he led a very active life, was the epitome of health and fitness, and was a loving husband and a devoted father to his three beautiful children. He was Superman in the film Superman [1978], was in The Bostonians [1984], TV film Anna Karenina [1985], The Remains of the Day [1993], and was previously offered and declined lead roles in such films as Body Heat [1981], Romancing the Stone [1984] and The Bounty [1984]. Then, in 1995, Christopher Reeve participated in an equestrian competition in which his horse made an unexpected refusal. This resulted in him falling head first forwards and suffering a broken neck. Reeve miraculously survived his fall, but was paralysed from the neck down.
Written just three years after his accident, Still Me is the actor's autobiographical book where he looks back on his life, paying tribute to all the people who helped him to become successful, as well as details his painful road to recovery. It is a frank, moving account of a man who tries to piece his life together after realising his predicament. Reeve details his early life, his acting aspirations and training, as well as the events that led up to the tragedy. He also covers his attempts to overcome both psychological and physical hurdles following his life-changing injury: depression, fear of running out of oxygen (as he could not breathe on his own), and his fear of being put in a wheelchair. What is also admirable is how much of this book is about other people as well, for example, about his loving wife Dana, whose loyalty to her husband becomes the story's centre point, about incredible neurosurgeon Dr Jane, who performed the very risky operation, and about the first paramedics to the scene of the accident. Reeve also details all the support that he received from both people he knew and complete strangers, including from his Juilliard-classmate Robin Williams and Katharine Hepburn. Later, Reeve also became a passionate activist for the disable people's rights and campaigned much to promote research into neurological conditions. Overall, Still Me may be an uneven account, but it is still an inspirational read and, certainly, a life account worth knowing. As one commentator put it: "Christopher Reeve wasn't Superman, Superman was Christopher Reeve."
In the 1980-90s, Christopher Reeve was the definition of success: ridiculously good-looking, talented and Juilliard-trained, he led a very active life, was the epitome of health and fitness, and was a loving husband and a devoted father to his three beautiful children. He was Superman in the film Superman [1978], was in The Bostonians [1984], TV film Anna Karenina [1985], The Remains of the Day [1993], and was previously offered and declined lead roles in such films as Body Heat [1981], Romancing the Stone [1984] and The Bounty [1984]. Then, in 1995, Christopher Reeve participated in an equestrian competition in which his horse made an unexpected refusal. This resulted in him falling head first forwards and suffering a broken neck. Reeve miraculously survived his fall, but was paralysed from the neck down.
Written just three years after his accident, Still Me is the actor's autobiographical book where he looks back on his life, paying tribute to all the people who helped him to become successful, as well as details his painful road to recovery. It is a frank, moving account of a man who tries to piece his life together after realising his predicament. Reeve details his early life, his acting aspirations and training, as well as the events that led up to the tragedy. He also covers his attempts to overcome both psychological and physical hurdles following his life-changing injury: depression, fear of running out of oxygen (as he could not breathe on his own), and his fear of being put in a wheelchair. What is also admirable is how much of this book is about other people as well, for example, about his loving wife Dana, whose loyalty to her husband becomes the story's centre point, about incredible neurosurgeon Dr Jane, who performed the very risky operation, and about the first paramedics to the scene of the accident. Reeve also details all the support that he received from both people he knew and complete strangers, including from his Juilliard-classmate Robin Williams and Katharine Hepburn. Later, Reeve also became a passionate activist for the disable people's rights and campaigned much to promote research into neurological conditions. Overall, Still Me may be an uneven account, but it is still an inspirational read and, certainly, a life account worth knowing. As one commentator put it: "Christopher Reeve wasn't Superman, Superman was Christopher Reeve."
October 30, 2008
"A few months after the accident I had an idea for a short film about a quadriplegic who lives in a dream. During the day, lying in his hospital bed, he can't move, of course. But at night he dreams that he's whole again, and is able to do anything and go everywhere. "
I'm writing this and Christopher Reeve has died, but he was still alive when I read his memoir. I held off for a long time before I read it, and that was silly because it's an inspiring book. I couldn't detect any self pity (or self congratulation)in his story of a terrible accident and the effect it had on his life and his family and friends. I hope his story inspires research on spinal cord injuries to continue.
I'm writing this and Christopher Reeve has died, but he was still alive when I read his memoir. I held off for a long time before I read it, and that was silly because it's an inspiring book. I couldn't detect any self pity (or self congratulation)in his story of a terrible accident and the effect it had on his life and his family and friends. I hope his story inspires research on spinal cord injuries to continue.
July 28, 2011
Amazing, poignant, heart breakingly tragic. A grand book by a brave and grand man. Made me feel rather pathetic about moaning about the state my kids leave there rooms in, and the fact that I have to wash up yet again. Talk about a time to reflect!!! I still think of this as a book that had the most effect upon my psyche. Read it and change the way you behave or act, we owe it to the fact that we are alive and well. Dont waste your life.
July 7, 2025
Christopher Reeve was a big part of my childhood. He was (and always will be) my favorite Superman ❤️💙
my favorite film of his is Somewhere in Time 🥲
This memoir opened my eyes and made me realize how much all of us take the little things for granted.
The next time I get up and walk and take a full breath, I am going to count my blessings, big and small.
Reeve’s strength, vulnerability and courage in the face of life and death is inspiring for me. Being in and out of hospital rooms since I was a baby made me deeply connect with Reeve’s words. Him describing laying in the dark hospital room not being able to sleep, his thoughts of wanting to escape, not wanting to be a burden to his family were heartbreaking yet ones I know all too well. His words made me feel less alone.
I love how Reeve also advocated for the disabled. As someone who is on disability for health reasons (mentally and physically) I am so grateful for The Christopher Reeve Foundation and anyone else that also keeps the conversation going about disability!
Being disabled doesn’t make us less than or unworthy. Christopher Reeve proved that we are more than what holds us back. We are more than just disabled. What we do with what life has thrown at us is up to us. We can either wallow in self pity and give up, or we can keep going and make the world a better place.
Christopher Reeve kept going. He didn’t give up even when he wanted to. Despite the negative thoughts in his mind, he pushed through and inspired millions. His story is still shared today by his family who keep his legacy going. Thank you to the Reeve family!!
“You are still you and I love you.” ~ Reeve’s wife, Dana 🫶🏼
my favorite film of his is Somewhere in Time 🥲
This memoir opened my eyes and made me realize how much all of us take the little things for granted.
The next time I get up and walk and take a full breath, I am going to count my blessings, big and small.
Reeve’s strength, vulnerability and courage in the face of life and death is inspiring for me. Being in and out of hospital rooms since I was a baby made me deeply connect with Reeve’s words. Him describing laying in the dark hospital room not being able to sleep, his thoughts of wanting to escape, not wanting to be a burden to his family were heartbreaking yet ones I know all too well. His words made me feel less alone.
I love how Reeve also advocated for the disabled. As someone who is on disability for health reasons (mentally and physically) I am so grateful for The Christopher Reeve Foundation and anyone else that also keeps the conversation going about disability!
Being disabled doesn’t make us less than or unworthy. Christopher Reeve proved that we are more than what holds us back. We are more than just disabled. What we do with what life has thrown at us is up to us. We can either wallow in self pity and give up, or we can keep going and make the world a better place.
Christopher Reeve kept going. He didn’t give up even when he wanted to. Despite the negative thoughts in his mind, he pushed through and inspired millions. His story is still shared today by his family who keep his legacy going. Thank you to the Reeve family!!
“You are still you and I love you.” ~ Reeve’s wife, Dana 🫶🏼
February 6, 2025
I absolutely adored this book! I have always always enjoyed his films ; I did remember that he had a spinal cord injury but I was a young kid when it happened in ‘95 so I didn’t know the full details. About a month ago I watched the new documentary about him that his children were a part of and loved it so much I watched it three times and have been talking about it nonstop to everyone I know. Not only is this book inspiring from a spinal cord research standpoint but the way he handled his disability with such grace , both Christopher Reeve and his lovely wife Dana have done so much for the Spinal cord and disability community . To learn how even in the darkest of times he was still positive , and was a loving husband and father to the very end was truly heartwarming and beautiful . This book gave me so much hope as a physically disabled person myself ; to find strength in the present but to still have hope for the future . 5⭐️
October 15, 2013
This book was required reading in a class for my occupational therapy graduate studies program. The intention behind the assigned reading was to familiarize ourselves with and better empathize with someone's struggles after a severe spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, Mr. Reeve's writing made it very difficult for me to empathize with his challenges. There are probably a thousand people waiting to condemn me to hell for saying so, but there it is.
Hopefully, other thoughtful reviewers will allow me to praise Reeves' acting career, his many achievements and his work on behalf of spinal injury research and still provide thoughtful, impersonal criticism of his book without making me out to be some kind of monster.
While it is apparent that Reeves suffered a great deal as a result of the accident, we don't hear much about that in the book. Instead, he chooses to focus on the trappings of his upper-upper class lifestyle, his yachts, airplanes and horses. Clearly, these things are meaningful to him, and I appreciate that, but I would have better appreciated more open discussion about his injury, and how his life was altered as a result of it. Based on what my profession has shown me regarding the enormous expense of this injury, I can say that Reeves was a highly atypical SCI survivor. Many SCI survivors struggle with the financial cost of care, and with obtaining the right adaptive equipment to makes their lives easier. I would like to hear one of their stories.
Christopher Reeves provided a beacon of hope to many people suffering from spinal cord injuries, may he rest in peace.
Hopefully, other thoughtful reviewers will allow me to praise Reeves' acting career, his many achievements and his work on behalf of spinal injury research and still provide thoughtful, impersonal criticism of his book without making me out to be some kind of monster.
While it is apparent that Reeves suffered a great deal as a result of the accident, we don't hear much about that in the book. Instead, he chooses to focus on the trappings of his upper-upper class lifestyle, his yachts, airplanes and horses. Clearly, these things are meaningful to him, and I appreciate that, but I would have better appreciated more open discussion about his injury, and how his life was altered as a result of it. Based on what my profession has shown me regarding the enormous expense of this injury, I can say that Reeves was a highly atypical SCI survivor. Many SCI survivors struggle with the financial cost of care, and with obtaining the right adaptive equipment to makes their lives easier. I would like to hear one of their stories.
Christopher Reeves provided a beacon of hope to many people suffering from spinal cord injuries, may he rest in peace.
July 19, 2008
This book was written by the actor Christopher Reeve a couple years after the accident that left him quadriplegic. He skips around between his rise to fame and life up until the accident and his life post-accident. He is so engaging, and it was interesting to read about what everyday life is like for someone who has to live with an unexpected disability of this kind. I think that this is an especially important book for anyone who is in the medical field, especially therapists and nurses. It's so easy to look at a patient as a diagnosis and not see and respect the person that they were. It's just an eye-opener, how one moment in time changed the course of his life so dramatically. Really good book.
March 23, 2008
One of the best and most moving biographies I've ever come across. Reeve tells his amazing story with honesty, wit, humility and humour. While both parts of his life (pre and post accident) are very impressive, he wisely mixes things up to keep the reader engaged - perhaps illustrating his point that all aspects of life -- career, family/personal relationships and internal growth -- are interconnected. I was a casual fan of some of Reeves' work before his injury, but his post-accident work and accomplishments are awe-inspiring. He was a remarkable man.
October 15, 2013
I was so excited to read this book. Christopher Reeve as Superman is such an iconic figure for my generation. The writing wasn't stellar, but I didn't mind that because it is his story, written in his language. There was more scientific knowledge shared than I was expecting, but that was interesting. I loved reading about his personal life and career. Several moments that made me smile such as the little boy living in the apartment where they shot the cat scene in Superman. I normally would not give a book 4 stars with this level of writing, but, hey, he's Superman!
October 13, 2024
I read this book years ago when it came out, the recent documentary on Christopher Reeve’s life made me want to revisit it. What an incredible story.
To people of my generation, I think he will always be Superman, so it would be easy to look at his accident with pity. Reading his story and hearing his perspective, especially all these years later, and knowing the ending … it’s really a story of resiliency and determination.
To people of my generation, I think he will always be Superman, so it would be easy to look at his accident with pity. Reading his story and hearing his perspective, especially all these years later, and knowing the ending … it’s really a story of resiliency and determination.
September 1, 2025
Incredibly moving- Christopher Reeve bares his soul in this memoir. He is brutally honest, reflective, and most of all, grateful for the people who have loved and supported him. Brought tears to my eyes reading about his pain and joy.
March 12, 2015
Best book i have ever read. The personal, autobiographical account of how "Super Man" - which was not only a role but also pretty akin to the fortune, athleticism, and pinnacle success of his real human life - could suddenly wake up and find himself on the entirely other side of the pendulum. The amount of psychological processing and coming to terms and, for all reasons, basically living as two different people within one lifetime... I'm not sure another book can come close. This autobiography has so much humility and elements of what it means to be human, and explores them in a first-hand way that is remarkably honest.
Among my favorite excerpt, is how Christopher Reeves addresses the common question of "Did you think this happened for a reason" or "What was the meaning for this, etc." His discussion on this is so pragmatic, so well contemplated and reasoned, without any of the sugar-coating I was expecting to find. Yet, still up-lifting, in the most realist way what happened could be up-lifting. It calibrates the often seen post-tragedy delusional rose colored glasses with a sense of pragmatism and the strength of human perseverance.
Among my favorite excerpt, is how Christopher Reeves addresses the common question of "Did you think this happened for a reason" or "What was the meaning for this, etc." His discussion on this is so pragmatic, so well contemplated and reasoned, without any of the sugar-coating I was expecting to find. Yet, still up-lifting, in the most realist way what happened could be up-lifting. It calibrates the often seen post-tragedy delusional rose colored glasses with a sense of pragmatism and the strength of human perseverance.
April 14, 2012
What an amazing book. This gives remarkable insight into Christopher Reeve. I have always admired and respected him. This has deepened that respect. He is brutally honest about his feelings as he dealt with his accident. He was very depressed, to the point of wondering if it wouldn't be better if his life were to end. He was still struggling with those feelings three years later, when he wrote the book. He said that the experience had changed his definition of what makes a hero. Instead of being someone who does something courageous in the face of danger, he decided a hero is someone who presses on, when it doesn't make sense to do so. He is one of my heroes.
November 5, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
An extremely honest celebrity memoir. Reeve handles his story with candor, humility, and awareness. Overall an uplifting read about overcoming life’s challenges as well as an intimate look into his life and career. It is impressive how he writes about the low points in his life and balances them so well with hope.
If you want an inspirational read during a hard time, read this. If you want to learn more about paralysis, read this. If you want an intimate look into a wonderful man, read this. If you want to learn how Reeve based his Clark Kent off of Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby - READ THIS.
An extremely honest celebrity memoir. Reeve handles his story with candor, humility, and awareness. Overall an uplifting read about overcoming life’s challenges as well as an intimate look into his life and career. It is impressive how he writes about the low points in his life and balances them so well with hope.
If you want an inspirational read during a hard time, read this. If you want to learn more about paralysis, read this. If you want an intimate look into a wonderful man, read this. If you want to learn how Reeve based his Clark Kent off of Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby - READ THIS.
December 24, 2010
I read this a few years ago, so I can't give a close review of the book. I picked it up interested in how Christopher Reeve's life changed after the accident that left him a quadriplegic. I'm not a Superman fan, but as the book's primary focus was not on that, it wasn't a problem for me.
If anything, I came away from this book with a strong appreciation for Reeve's wife, and the great significance she was to his coping and existence. Reeve's own struggles to rediscover himself on the other side of his accident are moving and worth your time to read.
If anything, I came away from this book with a strong appreciation for Reeve's wife, and the great significance she was to his coping and existence. Reeve's own struggles to rediscover himself on the other side of his accident are moving and worth your time to read.
August 15, 2021
I haven't finished it yet but I know this is going to be one of my all time favorite books. I have been in a huge reading slump but I am DEVOURING this book. I don't go crazy over actors but being a Smallville fan (Superman before he was Superman) and in the Occupational Therapy world and looking into books to learn more about individuals with different challenges I immediately selected this book. I loved Christopher Reeve in "Somewhere in Time" and for his work on the show Smallville. His story feels so honest and he pulls you in with every word. This is a book I will cherish forever.
January 7, 2020
On May 27, 1995, actor Christopher Reeve was competing in an equestrian competition in Culpepper, Virginia when he was thrown from his horse, causing a C2 spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic for nine years until his death in 2004.
Still Me is a journey through the extreme highs and plummeting lows of a life that was fully lived by a man who many consider a hero to this day.
Still Me is a journey through the extreme highs and plummeting lows of a life that was fully lived by a man who many consider a hero to this day.
April 30, 2020
"This book was hard to finish. Sometimes I loved a chapter or section and other parts I didn't enjoy. At times I though he sounded conceited or egotistical. He did write a part about giving back to society who gave him his fame, that made me feel better. I liked reading about his career. There was a bad word or two." 2007
August 4, 2008
Christopher Reeve writes in his own words about his life as an actor before his accident that paralyzed him, and his life after the accident. Very eye opening and thought provoking. I often found myself asking "How would I handle this situation?" He was definitely an inspiration to many people.
March 9, 2009
A touching autobiography from Reeve. I thought that my family was totally dysfunctional. My sisters and I didn't get along when we were growing up.
I really thought that Reeve was going to make it through his handicap. I read this way before he died.
I really thought that Reeve was going to make it through his handicap. I read this way before he died.
October 22, 2014
This is a great look into the life of Christopher Reeve and his coming to terms with his life as a paraplegic. Poignant and interesting. Watch for a little foul language.
August 28, 2021
Remember reading this years ago and enjoying it a lot. Always loved Christopher Reeve as Superman.
January 25, 2025
I'm reading this with a bias - my coping mechanism for the last few weeks has been watching everything Christopher Reeve has acted in that I can get my hands on plus every interview on YouTube. He was a overly active New England prep with a big dorky side, especially about theatre and the arts. He also seems to have had high standards and voiced opinions firmly.
Acknowledging that bias, I think Chris did an amazing job of being so honest with emotions at every stage of life and diving deep into insecurities from childhood. His perfectionism is palpable in so many moments. We see a lot of detail of what recovery and acceptance looks like - and how angry he is the whole way through.
However, zooming out, the structure and tone of this is confusing if you don't know his life story, a lot about his interests, and the characters in it already. Perhaps the reader in 1998 already knows it all - but that aspect doesn't hold up and makes it hard to honestly give it 5 stars in 2025. As much as I've learned about Chris, I am sure he can handle the criticism.
Acknowledging that bias, I think Chris did an amazing job of being so honest with emotions at every stage of life and diving deep into insecurities from childhood. His perfectionism is palpable in so many moments. We see a lot of detail of what recovery and acceptance looks like - and how angry he is the whole way through.
However, zooming out, the structure and tone of this is confusing if you don't know his life story, a lot about his interests, and the characters in it already. Perhaps the reader in 1998 already knows it all - but that aspect doesn't hold up and makes it hard to honestly give it 5 stars in 2025. As much as I've learned about Chris, I am sure he can handle the criticism.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews