A decade after battling cancer, which is in remission and could return at any time, top business journalist Neil Cavuto was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
That was six years ago. Today, the leading anchor and vice president of business news at Fox News Channel has just published a new book, “More Than Money: True Stories of People Who Learned Life’s Ultimate Lesson.”
The book, published by HarperCollins, describes the lives of the famous, and not so famous, people who influenced Cavuto during his personal battles.
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A: Over the years I’ve had opportunities to write lots of business books, but none of them jazzed me. I wanted to write something that would go deeper and be more meaningful. I wanted to write about suffering and what you learn and gain from it. After I was diagnosed with cancer and then multiple sclerosis, people called me up and shared their experiences. That helped me get out of my self pity. They had such remarkable stories, I didn’t look so miserable and self-absorbed anymore, as TV anchors can be.
Q: How did you come up with the title of your book?
A: The essence of life is a challenge. It matters not what the headlines are, or how much money you make. The title of the book is the essence of the book.
Q: What surprised you most as you wrote the book?
A: I don’t like generalizations – that all CEOs are crooks, or that all priests are pedophiles. This book proves that there are incredible heroes among us.
Q: Some people have asked you why you made such personal struggles public. What is your response?
A: Everyone has things that make them feel down, like losing loved ones. A lot of people made me realize that we all bear heavy crosses, and lots are heavier than mine. When bad things happen you turn insular. I’ve shed more than my share of self-defeating tears. But the best thing that ever happened to me was getting cancer and multiple sclerosis. It made me less materialistic and competitive. When you think about dying every day, it makes you want to make the most of what you have.
Q: Who are some of your personal favorites in the book?
A: Everyone in the book is weird. The greatest people among us are often the weirdest and we’re lucky to have them. Barbara Corcoran was a D student. Evelyn Lauder gave up so much money to fight breast cancer after she was diagnosed with it. And what Jon Huntsman did to fight cancer was huge – he devoted his life’s wealth to creating one of the most prominent cancer research centers that helps save people’s lives. We’re so used to hearing about greedy corporate CEOs. Some are. But most are decent. So many people are writing angry books, from the right and the left. I’m tired of hearing angry stories. This book is inspirational.