Fully Alive - by Timothy Shriver (Paperback)

About the Book

"A memoir and history of the Special Olympics and a meditation on what one can learn about how to live from people with intellectual disabilities, by the chairman of the Special Olympics"--

Book Synopsis

On a quest for what matters most, Timothy Shriver discovers the joy of being fully alive

As chairman of Special Olympics, Timothy Shriver has dedicated his life to the world's most forgotten minority-people with intellectual disabilities. And in a time when we are all more rudderless than ever, when we've lost our sense of what's ultimately important, when we hunger for stability but get only uncertainty, he has looked to them for guidance. Fully Alive chronicles Shriver's discovery of a radically different, and inspiring, way of life. We see straight into the lives of those who seem powerless but who have turned that into a power of their own, and through them learn that we are all totally vulnerable and totally valuable at the same time.
In addition, Shriver offers a new look at his family: his parents, Sargent and Eunice Shriver, and his uncles, John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy, all of whom were resolute advocates for those on the margins. Here, for the first time, Shriver explores the tremendous impact his aunt Rosemary, born with intellectual disabilities, had on his entire family and their legacy.

Review Quotes

"Sincere, profound and deeply satisfying." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Bursting with life energy. Profound and inspiring. A must-read." --Deepak Chopra

"Timothy Shriver has written a lovely, honest, and inspiring book that draws on his own wisdom, life experiences, and pioneering work as a champion of the intellectually disabled to offer important lessons for all of us." --Michael Beschloss, author of Presidential Courage

"Timothy Shriver is not only a gifted writer but a profound intellect and a genuine seeker of the deep truths that make any human life worth living. To read this book is to have your own experience illuminated by an immensely compassionate being, to embrace your own limitations, and to move on with a warmer heart, a more peaceful mind, and a joyfully uplifted spirit." --Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Way in a Wild New World

"This is a beautiful book about love, meaning, and the Kennedys. It is about Joseph and Rose's life with Rosemary, their daughter with an intellectual disability, who was a tragedy, yes, but also an amazing and precious person, a blessing to her family, challenging and beloved, a radical teacher of the value of each human life. This is the story of Rosemary Kennedy's role in leading the family to its force as advocates for the disabled all over the world, of her sister Eunice Shriver's founding of Special Olympics, of her nephew Timothy's dedication to this great cause. I was lifted, edified, riveted." --Anne Lamott, author of Small Victories

About the Author

Timothy Shriver is an educator, a social activist, a film producer, and an entrepreneur. He is the third child of Eunice Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics. As chairman of Special Olympics, he serves more than four million athletes in 170 countries. He cofounded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading research organization in the United States in the field of social and emotional learning. Shriver earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a master's degree from Catholic University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut. He lives in Maryland with his wife. They have five children.