The Most Human By Adam Nimoy
A longed- for reconciliation between an alcoholic father ---whose alter ego is half human ---and his son, an addicted“marijuanaholic,”might capture the interest of a few readers. But The Most Human transcends the ordinary memoir when the father is Leonard Nimoy, a popular character on the sci-fi series, Star Trek and the son Adam, author and film director, scrambling to level an emotional roller coaster to bond with his famous dad.
Even if you’re not a Trekkie, with aspirations to engage in intergalactic travels, millions of Americans tuned in to watch the inscrutable pointy-eared Vulcan, Mr. Spock. Devoid of emotions the most “logical” character on TV, Spock’s oft- repeated split-finger salute, “may the force be with you, “(perhaps representing the Hebrew letter ‘shin’ ) became part of American popular culture. Ironically Leonard Nimoy, the actor who brilliantly portrayed Mr. Spock, on Star Trek also suppressed his feelings failing to bond with his only son, Adam.
Identifying with the Biblical Isaac in the Akedah, Adam Nimoy relates to the binding of Abraham’s only son. As Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son to affirm his faith in G-d, author Adam Nimoy asserts his father, Leonard, sacrificed him for the sake of his career. Adam chronicles the Herculean effort to get close to his father but like Spock, Leonard seemed “remote, distant, detached” busy making movies, promoting his photography hobby and drinking . Adam couldn’t “measure up” to his dad’s success. Frequently hearing words of disapproval, accompanied by “the sound of clinging of ice cubes in a tumbler of Johnny Walker,” Adam began flirting with ‘weed’ in high school. A high functioning pothead Adam kicked up his habit with alcohol during his parents’ divorce, and hit the skids with the decline of his own marriage and failure as a film director and a lawyer.
In 1995 at age 39, in an effort to “fill the big black hole between them” Adam accompanied his father to his first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous .There Adam hears about the 12 step program paying close attention to step number 9 which requires each member, “to make a list of all persons we had harmed and become willing to make amends to them all.” Adam begs his father, “Just give me an inch Dad, That’s all I’m asking for. Just take an inch of responsibility for what’s happening here, I’m begging you.” Leonard not only refuses to capitulate to his son’s pleadings but subsequent to that meeting Leonard writes a letter blaming his son for every failure in Adam’s own life. Feeling obliterated by his father Adam’s path to sobriety took a most unexpected turn.
A poignant memoir that evokes empathy for a deeply flawed man. And a son whose unflinching determination helped his father become The Most Human, though not the most contrite.