I loved this autobiography. I loved Patrick Swayze. I grew up with his movies and was devastated when he passed away. This autobiography gave a good insight into his life and his love for his wife. Their relationship was absolutely beautiful. Mr. Swayze spoke of his talents and achievements in a humble manner, which made me love him even more. His fighting spirit really shined, not just with him telling the reader about it, but through his career as a dancer and actor, and before that, an athlete.

I've read my fair share of memoirs lately and I really appreciate that this is an autobiography rather than a memoir. He doesn't jump around the chronology of his life, nor does he put too much focus on one specific time. He moves through his life from adolescence up until the present time, which was not long before his passing. Also, I appreciated that his story was just his story and not an attempt at being a self-help book like it seems so many memoirs are trying to be in recent years. He simply expressed his thoughts and emotions, and sometimes the lessons he learned through various situations, specifically with his wife. The book is very straightforward, which I thought was wonderful.

I still miss Patrick Swayze as though he were a relative of mine, but I'm glad he left behind a great body of work, including this autobiography, for us to cherish. Based on interviews I've seen where other people talked about him, he seemed like a really nice guy, and this book cemented that for me.

I've always loved Patrick Swayze and his work, loved his passion for life, and loved his absolute dedication to the people closest to him. To me, he was a wonderful, surprising man of conviction in an industry that often lack such qualities.

Having said that, and knowing some of his background already, I was so touched to learn more about his life. In his autobiography, The Time of My Life, Patrick Swayze reveals many of what he felt were vulnerable aspect of his character, which included his need to master whatever skill he attempted (feeling that he always had to be good at whatever he did), his abiding love for his wife Lisa (which he revealed he always felt she wasn't as in to him as he was into her, which he later learned was totally wrong), and his deep pain over losing a much loved father and its effects on him. I was moved to hear about his vulnerable moments, to hear how he faced them, and even how he overcame the problems he developed with alcohol as he dealt with his pain. To me, Patrick Swayze's life is a real testament to the ups and downs of any person's life, and how we can approach them.

As I knew heading into his life story, I also knew that the book was completed shortly before his death in September of last year. Patrick Swayze's battle with pancreatic cancer was known from the beginning, and seems to float over the book as you read, making you think, "Just give it all you've got!" From this, I mean that I kept thinking that had he known, how would he have changed things? I think we all would just say to ourselves, to dig deep and give life all you have.

It seemed to me, that in the end, Patrick Swayze honored his own life and what he had accomplished through the way he battled cancer. Cancer will never define him, but strangely shed a light on all the good he had done, and reminded us all of how important it is to reach for happiness each and every day.

In synopsis, I highly recommend The Time of My Life. Listen, I'm the first person to run from stories of cancer or dogs (you know...because they always die!), but this autobiography was really moving. Like any human story, it reminded me how precious life is, and even how precious we are as individuals. The walk-away message of this book is varied, and I can say that I have thought about many different aspects of my own life since reading his autobiography. All I can say is, that as a fan, but more as a fellow human being, his life touched mine for good.

This was a perfect biography, a great insight to Patrick Swayze's life. I learned things I never had known before and it was so insightful, a first hand account of dealing with cancer and knowing you are going to die. I cried..it was a truly touching book.

It was really interesting to find out about Patrick's dance background and the many other things he has achieved in life that are not as well known as his acting career. What comes across most is just how much of a nice guy he was, and how much of a fighting, winning spirit he had. His death was a tragic loss of a great talent but mostly of a great person.

Claire (@bibliophiliac88)

I've spent the day listening to this wonderful book. And, despite getting a little choked up over hearing his voice again (I haven't watched a movie with him in years, it always made me too sad), I just loved listening to both Patrick and Lisa tell his life story. I'd forgotten just how many movies I've seen him in and loved over the years, and it's made me want to do a Swayze-binge.

What a wonderful guy, all too human, and someone who really lived life to the fullest.

Beautiful true story about love, perseverance, passion and purpose. I enjoyed hearing their story from their own mouths in written form. The power of words to tell their motivations and depths of joy and pain overwhelms. My admiration and respect for them as a couple, individuals, and performers grew with each chapter. Worthy read.

Very moving and interesting. Sad it was wrote just before he passed away x

Well that was a seriously heartbreaking book. Why Patrick, why?

I wouldn't call myself a huge Patrick Swayze fan, but I have always enjoyed his work. This book was no different. It was touching, and macho and sweet all at the same time.