By: Jamie Steinberg
The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father by Adam Nimoy is billed as the son of famed actor Leonard Nimoy reconciling his relationship with his father after years of tumultuous interactions. However, I found it more to be a memoir of Adam Nimoy reconciling with his own personal demons. Much of the book focuses on his recovery from an addiction to marijuana and finding peace in his relationships with his former wife and kids. If you’re looking to gain insight into the man behind Spock, The Most Human is more an inner dive into Adam’s own demons and how he learned the tools needed to deal with his troubled relationships with family – which include father Leonard.
For those of us who had Leonard Nimoy up on a pedestal, it seems we were mistaken. The Most Human, a sort of biography by son Adam, indicates that Leonard had a wall up that kept him from being affectionate and showing his love for his family. Feelings were also not a topic of discussion. Adam recounts his struggles with his father, breaking down the façade of press pieces that led people to believe they were a “close family.” Leonard also had a problem with alcohol, which only seemed to fuel the distance between him and his family. It was only when attending synagogue or celebrating Jewish holidays were there moments of warmth between them. Spread out through these tales of Leonard’s conflict with Adam are stories of Adam’s personal recovery from addiction to marijuana, the breakup of his marriage, his children’s resentment over the breakup, raising a family of divorce and finding and losing the woman of his dreams.
Star Trek may have brought Leonard to fame, but it only seems to have pushed him farther from his family. The hurt feelings and arguments between Adam and Leonard kept them apart and led to a resentment that Leonard seems to have held on for many years. Even sessions of joint therapy didn’t help mend much between these two. Stories like these are what captivate readers of Most Human and break their heart. Adding to the difficulty is Adam’s own strained relationship with his children. At times there are moments of love, but there are even greater moments of discord with his children lashing out at him over the dissolution of their family. It is only through the lessons that Adam has learned during recovery that provide him with the proper tools to work through these tender situations and even help him come to terms with and reconcile his relationship with his father.
Life wasn’t easy for Adam Nimoy – despite having the most recognizable father figure. Those who appreciated the stoic and intensity that Leonard brought to his role of Spock may not realize that it also carried through to his personal life outside of TV and film screens. The Most Human: Reconciling With my Father is a more realistic look at the man behind the pointy ears and famed hand sign, offering Nimoy and Spock lovers a glimpse into his most human form.