1、.,1,My Stroke of Luck,.,2,Kirk Douglas (born December 9, 1916) is an American actor and film producer recognized for his prominent cleft chin, his gravelly voice and his recurring roles as the kinds of characters Douglas himself once described as sons of bitches. He is the father of Hollywood actor

2、and producer Michael Douglas. He was #17 on the American Film Institutes list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time.,About the author,.,3,Kirk Douglas received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1991. In March 2009, Douglas starred in an autobiographical one man show entitled Befor

3、e I Forget at the Center Theater Groups Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, California. The four performances were filmed and turned into a documentary that was first screened in January 2010.,.,4,Jimmy Carter greets Kirk Douglas and Mrs. Douglas. US actor Kirk Douglas with president Jimmy Carter d

4、uring a visit to the White House on March 16, 1978.,.,5,President Ronald Reagan with actor Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne Buydens at a private dinner at the Eldorado Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California on30 December 1987,.,6,Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas,.,7,.,8,.,9,One of Hollywoods bright

5、est stars since the late 1940s (Champion, Lust for Life, Spartacus), Douglas embarked on a literary career in the 1980s, with his bestselling memoir The Ragmans Son. He suffered a debilitating stroke several years ago, and now, at 84, he offers the inspirational but not at all Pollyannaish story of

6、his recovery. A peculiarly painful sensation in his right cheek was the first warning, followed by a bewildering inability to talk.,.,10,Lying in a hospital bed set up in his home, Douglas felt his situation was hopeless. How could he be an actor and not be able to talk? He contemplated ending his l

7、ife, but when he put a gun in his mouth and painfully bumped his teeth, he withdrew the weapon and began to laugh at his own dramatic gesture. Douglas recounts how he battled his depression not only with medical care but also by recalling happy memories (he shares reminiscences about Sinatra, Reagan

8、 and others), and he explains tips and exercises he learned from his speech therapist.,.,11,Inspired by the courage of others who endured physical or emotional illness, Douglas began to overcome his fears. With the help of his supportive family (who refused to coddle him), he even returned to the sc

9、reen in Diamonds, playing a boxer who had a stroke. Entertaining and uplifting, Douglass story is a lesson in survival, one that will entice readers whether or not they have had similar illnesses. Forecast: This book is a natural for the 65-plus crowd, especially those who enjoyed Tuesdays with Morr

10、ie.,.,12,.,13,This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of

11、 us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell them how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meet Morrie Schwartz-a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. A

12、nd finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morries final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universall

13、y touching story with such grace and humility.,.,14,Text analysis,The story is basically a piece of narrative writing, in which the account of the latest event is interrupted by a number of flashbacks (some earlier events and experiences). It begins with the air crash, then it goes back to what had

14、happened before. After this the author resumes the narration of the air crash and subsequent events.,.,15,Love is a feeling./ Love is an attitude./ Love is an action./ Love is a choice./ Enlarge your understanding./ Your definition of love may be too narrow./ Love is more than a good feeling or roma

15、nce./ Love motivates people to sacrifice for others,/ not expecting any personal benefit./ Stop thinking selfishly./ Look for the needs of others,/ and then do your part to meet their needs./ Locate the source of love./ Sympathy and compassion are foundations of love/ toward those living in difficul

16、t circumstances./ Love may start as an expression of personal gratitude/ for the blessings you have received/ and your desire to share those blessings./ Express your love./ Find words and actions of love that are appropriate./ Learn to speak words of blessing rather than criticism./ Share your resou

17、rces with a needy person./ Accept disappointment./ Not everyone will return your love./ This is not failure./ It is not your goal to make the world love you,/ but for you to love the world./,.,16,In 1782, US Congress selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the newly formed United States, because it

18、 symbolized courage and might, and because it was indigenous only to the United States and to Canada. The national seal depicts the bald eagle with its wings spread, with one claw clutching an olive branch, and the other claw grasping arrows. The eagle, however, strikes different poses on other nati

19、onal depictions. The bald eagle owes its name to the early American colonists, and is bald in name only. As the white-headed American eagle differed from the European gray eagle, the colonists used their word for white, which translated into bald, in describing it. Unfortunately for the eagle, the l

20、iteral translation, bald-headed, stuck like a toupee. Since ancient times, men have identified themselves with the eagle, because it creates an impression of majesty and of power while in flight. As early as 5,000 years ago, ancient Sumerians chose the eagle, in spread eagle form, as their emblem sy

21、mbolizing their power. Ancient Romans followed suit, as did Emperor Charlemagne, and finally Napoleon. No doubt, Congress considered the eagles historical pedigree as being the animal representing a nations power, when selecting it to be the national emblem of the United States.,Cultural background,.,17,The American character is an interesting thing. Theodore Roosevelt told a reporter that the grizzly bear should be the symbol of America, not the eagle. He likens America to the grizzly bear, espe