True Strength

My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal - and How Nearly Dying Saved My LIfe

By: Kevin Sorbo

Narrated by: Kevin Sorbo, Sam Sorbo

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

On television, as the star of the popular Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Kevin Sorbo portrayed an invincible demi god. He relished living the part—putting in 14-hour days on set, doing his own stunts, and relentlessly working out at the gym. Until one day, it all came to an abrupt end.

Now, for the first time, Sorbo shares what viewers didn’t know: he suffered three strokes from an aneurysm in his shoulder that had been radiating blood clots throughout his body, likely for months. He was left partially blind and entirely incapacitated at just 38 years old. Appearances are everything in Hollywood, so Sorbo and the production studio hid the full details of his condition from the media. After all, how could the strongest man in the world be… fragile?

To continue filming Hercules, the number-one worldwide syndicated TV series at the time, they frantically reworked scripts and revamped production to allow for the star’s severely limited involvement. But as the effects of the strokes persisted—with painful, mysterious, debilitating symptoms—and physicians could offer few answers, Sorbo grew increasingly despondent. What happens when your entire identity vanishes? True Strength is the story of how one man faced the unimaginable and ultimately found the real measure of success.

With tongue-in-cheek humor and an unfailingly candid voice, Sorbo reflects on his childhood in Minnesota, his early modeling and acting days, and his hard-charging charmed life in television. He recounts the onset of his stroke symptoms, the frightening hospitalizations, his battle with depression, and fighting for a recovery that defied medical expectations. And how, through it all, love conspired to save him from missing out on what matters.

With this refreshingly honest account of celebrity, personal tragedy, and the power of letting go, Sorbo aims to blaze a trail for anyone who may have suffered a serious setback in life and is struggling to find their way forward.

©2011 Kevin Sorbo (P)2011 Oasis

Critic reviews

"Sorbo is candid about the hopelessness and resentment that characterized his slow recovery, his frustration with contradictory medical advice and holistic therapies of varying effectiveness and the stress his condition placed on his new marriage." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"[A] compelling memoir…. Throughout his chatty tale, [Sorbo] drops enough Hollywood names to make any Us Weekly reader happy." ( Booklist)

INCREDIBLE!

Mr. Sorbo you help me to see the importance of slowing down and enjoy family and life, thanks.

True strength by Kevin sorbo and sam sorbo

I love Kevin‘s and miss sam sorbo Both of there book true strength and true Faith I cannot stop listening their books I love them both so much

Survival

Would you listen to True Strength again? Why?

Yes - Great true story of a strong man who struggles and still struggles to heal.

What did you like best about this story?

I my self had a aneurysm and someone said well Kevin Sorbo had one and it takes time to heal its been over 2 years for him - Great Hercules takes two years I am 4 "10 I am going to take 20... so I figured I better hear the story. It really changed things for me at 1.5 yrs out.

What about Kevin Sorbo and Sam Sorbo ’s performance did you like?

They played off each other well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Kevin really got it this was a life time of changes he would never be the same Kevin

Any additional comments?

Loved this... if you know anyone who has struggled this is a great book.
Want to be inspired great book.
Be told your life will never again be totally in your control and you have to be ok with that which you should have been in the first place... great book.

Very insightful.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, very much.

Kevin's story is one I enjoyed, it brings home that actors are people too.
That they get ill and have life's ups and downs like everyone else.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from True Strength?

To embrace the things life brings at you.

You never know what others have in life

I was very surprised to learn all the details of Kevin Sorbo's medical problems. He kept them well hidden during the years of Hercules and the Andromeda. Sam his wife is a saint and a very strong practice person. Uplifting story of how life gives lemons and you can profit with Lemmon add! Nice read, the reading soothing

Not your average book.

Kevin told the story in a very unassuming way that made the impact of what happened to him even more powerful: going from a grinding high pressure success journey to zero in a matter of hours.
..and then detailing the love that helped him come to terms with all that followed.

Trying to describe it, would lead to another book!

As i said i would be writing another book if i said all i wanted to...Wow...thank you Kevin, Sam, Bradeon, Shane, & Octavia Sorbo and family, with friends for all of this ! Thank you for having the bravery to share this story Mr. and Mrs Sorbo! Thank you Jesus for letting me get to hear about this family and the stories of life you helped, and made with them, and will continue to do. Please don't hear this comment as a religious statement. ITS NOT! I have spent my small life looking for Jesus in movies,and music, and always in people.. and i found Him in here! More proof that there is something more at work in all things, in all ways! In the pain, and comes with the Joy! Ahhh....see whats happening I was starting to write a book! Mr. Kevin Sorbo thank you for your series, and movies! Mrs. Sam Sorbo thank you for your radio, and talks. The 3 Sorbo Kids; Bradeon, Shane, and Octavia- thank you for sharing your parents! ITS NEVER EASY!

Message is Hidden

it was good once you get passed his negativity. I had to finish just to see if his negative look on things changed, thank God they did. It was difficult at times because the negativity took away from the message trying to be portrayed at times.

My Hero

Hercules fue mi héroe de infancia. Hoy es mi héroe de la vida real.

I Loved it! Very soothing To Listen to...

What made the experience of listening to True Strength the most enjoyable?

His voice is very pleasant to listen to, he talks from his heart & you can feel what he feels. His wife Sam is also a very good narrator, she speaks from the heart too & you feel her feelings. I actually got upset in some parts where both of them were hurting, mad or scared too, that's a sign that it's a great story.

I have trouble w/ some parts bc it is so emotional & traumatic. I laughed, cried, held my breath & came away learning about the "grateful flow" & to appreciate what is already right before you & in your very hands, & a reaffirmation that "God knows what's best even if we don't". I would give this 10 stars if it went that high, I miss pictures tho. :) I love Hercules, glad they are friends.

I liked when he said he has a reputation for "talking ppl down". Hercules does too. I wish he would have sang one of his favorite E.J. Or other mellow songs at the end.

ONE teeny tiny dislike...he put the "F" word in quite a few times & I understand why, but I wish he wouldn't have, even if it was quoting someone. Other than that I love listening, it's one I listen to a lot. I miss seeing pictures tho.

What did you like best about this story?

His knack for making you feel what he felt, the 2 of them (him & Sam) mesh well reading together & how he teaches you stuff subtly w/o "preaching" to you.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Sorbo and Sam Sorbo ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't, are there more? I watch Hercules, does that count?

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Same as the title but he would have to play the title role.

Any additional comments?

I wish he would have sang one of his favorite songs at the end, like an E.J. Like he did on the Wayne Brady show. JMHO. I wish there would be a cd w/ pictures :P :D :)