A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope

The instant New York Times bestseller, now in paperback. 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.