Disability-and-Health Books

I am really astonished. It offered me a complete picture of AS and helped me difining my goals as a clinician. Above any expectation.

With kind and thoughtful words, Tony Attwood has removed an unbearable burden from my heart. My son aged 32, was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Mr. Attwood's book cannot retrieve or relieve my son's childhood, but he does help us see a brighter future.

This book is very helpful and informative. I didn't know much about AS previously. The author has extensive clinical experience with AS patients. He includes his own insights as well as those of other people. He includes many descriptions and examples. I am only half way through the book, but I am recognizing many symptoms in my teenage daughter. It explains alot! Even things I would not have connected with AS. This book is not negative in any way. I feel very good about who my daughter is, and understand better why she is the way she is. AS people are very special and gifted. AS people can contribute to the world in ways the rest of us cannot. This book also has some "coping" suggestions, such as how to help the AS person recognize social cues. I would recommend this book to anyone curious about Aspergers Syndrome.

A very informative and comprehensive text. This book is a great reference for anybody. It's certainly the best book that I've found for grown-up Aspies. Sometimes it seems like everything else that's been written on Asperger's Syndrome is directed towards "parents of children with."

As a Grandparent of a 12 year old boy with Asperger's, this book has been great in answering the many questions we, as his extended family, have. It also offers suggestions as to how we may help him reach his full and magnificent potential.

Luke Jackson wrote a book written in a style that can be read by teenagers,and adults. The amazing part is,he is thirteen years old! This book is funny,and informative. Luke explains what aspergers is in a very non-technical way. He talks about his family,friends,and classmates,and how he had to deal with everything that came along. He explains well what it is to have aspbergers,and still be a 'normal'person. A great book.

Luke Jackson, the thirteen-year-old author of this book, says he wrote it because "so many books are written about us, but none are written directly to adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. I thought I would write one in the hope that we could all learn together." And he does an amazing job of appealing to his peers in a colloquial manner. Jackson's style is almost precocious at times, but effective. He tackles many topics, includinging sensory perception, physiology, and sleep, listing some helpful tips. For example, Jackson suggests to look at people's mouths when they're talking, which is close enough to making eye contact.The section on physiology discussed, among other things, the GF/CF diet.

Next Jackson writes about language difficulties, dealing with slang and idioms, and suggests to parents that they write out steps to complete a task and give clear and specific instructions. The next chapters cover school problems and bullying, with some tips for dealing with bullies, stressing that it's important to tell someone. Jackson then mentions Taekwondo for self-defense, as well as the many other benefits it provides. The following three chapters deal with friendships, dating, and morals and principles. The "morals and principles" chapter also is beneficial in that it stresses not to let people entice you to do something that is wrong, that you don't need friends like that.

The end of the book has a nice positive note about AS people being amazing in their own ways, even if not savants (after a discussion about the movie Rainman). It is certainly amazing for a thirteen-year-old to write such an organized, insightful book. I found it to be very helpful, including the appendices on idioms (with definitions of being "on cloud nine" and "don't cry over spilled milk") and references for further information (books, websites, and organizations). All in all, a worthwhile book for parents and kids alike.

I read it, my Dad read it in 2 days. Very practical, humorous.When my son, with Asperger's, gets a little older, I will give this book to him. I want to meet Luke Jackson. What a great personality!

This book is a keeper. Luke speaks from experience and shares his experience and suggestions for kids with aspergers, parents, friends and physicians on how a an AS kid can handle real-life situations by sharing what has worked for him. This book is an easy read and would be good for teens and adults to read whether they have AS themselves or are related to or know someone who does.

This was a great resource for us as parents of an Asperger son to get an idea of how the adolescent with Asperger thinks and relates to others. It will eventually be a great book to let our son read. The adolescent author of this book feels very strongly that all Asperger children should be told what they have (by name) so that they won't feel like something is wrong with them, but will come to understand that they are the way they are because of Aspergers.

When our son was diagnosed with Aspergers 4 years ago, I bought dozens of books on the subject. This one has been the best way to help educate family and close friends. It is NOT intended to be an in depth resource.

We read through it with our son, then 9, and edited it to explain his personal quirks and interests. (We just wrote in his personal quirks, or crossed out what he felt didn't apply). We then shared it with grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Over the years, there have been a few good friends we have shared the book with as well, and it has been an excellent resource.

I really enjoyed this simple yet very compassionate perspective of a reality not that well understood. I live with NVLD ( a common attribute of Asperger's ) and it is wonderful to read a simple story that can help relationships flow easier. Every teacher and every class room should own a copy of this simple book, it is simple and very informative, I am very glad to have read it, it is a great resource, thanks!

This book is great to help Asperger kiddos understand they are not the only one w/these challenges.

My 8 year old Asperger daughter related to the boy in the book. She claimed, "He does some of the same things I do." I've shared the book with friends, family, school students and personnel. A quick easy way to educate those not familiar with Asperger's. Illustrates some common issues that Asperger kid's have to face and the resultant behavior.

It is important to remember with any book you purchase regarding Aspergers and Autism that people on the Autism spectrum are not "cookie-cutter-cases". Each person is an individual and no book will cover ALL aspects. This book is written in a childs voice and is very easy to understand. Are you going to walk away from reading it profoundly enlightened? No. Are you going to have a more simplistic understanding of the day to day situations and life of a child with Asp? Yes. I purchased this book for my son's grandparents, his older brother and for him. It gives him a voice and something to relate too (not on all issues, but most). The book is extremely easy to read and fast. I read through the entire book in under an hour while helping my son with his homework. A great addition to your personal and lending library.

I bought it for someone as a gift,& I was told it's an excellent book.

I am an occupational therapist that works in the school system and this book has
GREAT ideas from the beginning of the book to the end. It's a "Must have"
book for anyone who works with kids with autism. Great ideas!!! Mariann

I absolutely love this book! The ideas in this book are clear and concise. There is no technical jargon. Everything is in laymen's terms. No unnecessary wordage throughout the book It's exactly what it says it is. Strictly ideas, laid out in an easy to read format.

This book is a must have for a person who has someone anywhere on the spectrum. Not only will this book stay on my bookshelf for a long time, I bought copies for my family members.

This is a must read for anyone working with or parenting an Autistic child. Full of useful ideas.

Of all the books I've purchased on the subject of Autism, this one is by far the best one. I was so tired of all the clinical, academic, despairing accounts of ASD in other books, that I stopped reading any material on Autism altogether.

But, this book is completely packed with not only great ideas for teaching and raising our child with ASD, but for ENJOYING our child with ASD!! Finally! The authors bring a sense of sweet humor to daily life, with a real-life sensibility that is missing from every piece of Autism literature I've seen. Instead of focusing on the "differences" we face every moment of every day, the authors just dig in and get to the business of enjoying each "challenge". For instance, the idea that "You Don't Have To Brush ALL Of Your Teeth" was so simple yet so freeing! Every idea offers several different variations, which I found to be very helpful.

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed Matthew's honesty and his transformation is truly inspiring. Well worth the read!

i am thrilled by the universality of this memoir and how it speaks to all of us, regardless of our physical status. with lyrical grace, humor and honesty, matthew confronts the messages of western culture and medicine regarding the relationships we have with our bodies. he reminds us to trust our own perceptions in a world where these are so frequently dismissed. for anyone who has known trauma, illness or over-work, this book will speak to you. -lauren elise daniels, prose editor

Matt Sanford is my hero!!! He has tremendous courage and wisdom despite being dealt some really tough blows in his young life. Somehow, he has managed through a lot of hard work to use what he's learned and share it through words that speak volumes to me about what's really important in life. I read a ton of books; this one is in my top 5 book ever. It made me cringe, wince, laugh, remember, cry, hurt, and most of all cherish my life in a deeper way than I ever knew possible.

Even if you think that you don't want to read anything that would make you "hurt or wince", this is one of those books that also reminds us to appreciate our connection both to our inner selves and others.

Thank you Matt. . . you're too awesome for words!

This memoir was a very fast read for me. I got very interested in the many directions that the authors life went. It awakened something in me as well. I will look up the authors website..to learn even more. This memoir was also very touching.

I have read this book now three times over. It is one of the best books I have ever read. It is one of those books that makes you stop and take a look at your life and make changes. The book is extremely well written. The way Matt tells his tragic story and adds his insight makes you admire him greatly. The way he worries about his family in the midst of his own tragedy makes you fall in love with him. The way the story turns out and the way he lives his life presently makes you want to meet him and tell him how much his story has touched you.

I'm 60 years old and I have survived the teasing and embarrassment of Tourette Syndrome many times one-day-at-a-time. It shows its ugly head in so many different forms and ways and people are ignorant in the fact that it is an illness. Often times a life illness. "Front of the Class" is a book that makes you laugh and it makes you cry it makes you have empathy. Read about a young boy with Tourette that grows into manhood with his dreams and goals in tact. He had courage to lead the way. This is a good read. It is a life changing experience.

This was the first book i bought and read when my son was diagnosed with TS. I related, cried, laughed and lived every moment of the book.
GREAT!

Tourette Syndrome is a clinical condition and in the traditional school system can really be a problem socially and academically for students. I agree with another poster who stated that a teacher can make or break the spirit of a student. More often its the later as many educators find themselves overwhelmed by the stresses of large classrooms, etc. Luckily this is a real life example of someone who used his condition to the positive impact of himself and others. Another good film on the difference a teacher can make is Freedom Writers starring Hillary Swank.

This book is the best! So good, I bought 2 copies to share with people close to me so they can finally understand what my child is going through. Brad is awesome! When I wrote to him to shower him with Kudos, he wrote back to me. I love his determination and I pray my son will have the same!.

As an accomplished pianist, teacher and adjudicator I spend most of my time with individuals of all ages. Teaching and adjudicating are perhaps the most challenging of all! Like Brad Cohen, I have Tourette Syndrome and growing up as a "baby boomer", a time when extremely little was known about Tourettes, teasing, being bullied and considered a virtual headache to my teacher's made my life a living hell. All I had to turn to was my God given gift of music!
Brad Cohen grew up with the same horrific challenges that Tourettes brings with it. A teacher is someone every student should be able to turn to for support, a shoulder to lean on, a friend, when you feel your own are not there for you. Growing up in this day and age is a daunting task. Brad Cohen knows this all too well, and shows his understanding of it through his actions as a teacher. He knows what it is like to not have teachers there when he needed them most in his life. He turned having TS, a debilitating disorder into a tool of support and understanding for those lives he touches everyday. New disorders are being discovered at an alarming rate. The future teachers and classrooms are not yet equipped to handle what lies ahead for them. My niece is a teacher and she can hardly cope with the demands of her position as they stand. Teachers will need the support of people like Brad Cohen travelling to various school boards as I do as a Music Therapist to educate new teachers on how to integrate students with disorders and other issues into the classroom. Teachers' Colleges will have to provide the means to offer clinical studies in what lies ahead such as Tourette Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, learning disorders , behavioral problems and so much more. Educating our teachers as Brad Cohen has educated his students and fellow teachers is paramount if the future of our world's children will have a chance to survive what lies ahead of them. Teacher Assistant's will need to become a necessity in every classroom, and trained in specific areas. One teacher per class will no longer be enough, if those students who require extra attention are going to be successfully integrated into the classroom of the public school system.
Brad Cohen has touched the lives of so many students in his life as a teacher! They say that if you can touch the life of one person, you have done your job. Brad Cohen has surpassed this objective time and time again!
I can only hope, that more people like Brad Cohen will give of their talent's as I try to do as a music therapist, to educate and help prepare the schools, teachers' and students' of tomorrow!
I once received a letter from a student I adjudicated in a competition, and it said; "not often enough in life, do we take the time to say "Thank You", thank you sir for your knowledge and encouragement, it means so much!"
Now it is time for me to say "THANK YOU" to Brad Cohen, a teacher who has touched many lives."
To everyone in the profession of teaching, this is a book that will positively "re-charge" your love of being an educator!

Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.)

writes great books for parents with ADHD children. She understands what parents live with everyday and she offers practical solutions to everyday problems. She does not give you a lot of technical/medical jargon. She writes so that parents can understand what they read. She interviews teens with ADHD and gets their input in her books. I recommend her books to parents all the time.

This is a must-have book for parents with teenagers with ADD. I also bought for me and for my son's team of teachers, "Teaching Teenagers With ADD" by the same author. Both are excellent books!!!!

This is another excellent book by Chris Ziegler Dendy. The author presents practical information that will help parents in their day to day struggle to deal with the changing world of an adolescent with ADHD. She clearly has dealt with some of these stiuations herself, so she brings humorous and compassionate anecdotes to illustrate the factual material. I would highly recommend this and her other books on the practical aspects of dealing with adolescents with ADHD

THIS BOOK IS WOUNDERFUL! A MUST FOR PARENTS RAISING TEENS WITH ADHD AND ADD. TEACHERS OF TEENS SHOULD READ THIS ALSO, SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE TOUGH JOB OF RAISING AND TEACHING THESE WOUNDERFUL KIDS. THIS BOOK IS A MUST TO READ!

This book was so helpful to me! My 13-year-old son was just diagnosed with ADD and it was a God send. It has so many great suggestions, stories and advice. I stayed up all night reading it! It was like an autobiogrpahy of my son for the past few years. He was especially relieved to figure out what was wrong and read the other kid's experiences.
It was also helpful for me on how to advise my son's teachers of special care that he needs. The appendix for teachers in the back is an excellent tool to give to teachers so they can develop a good basic understanding of the condition.
The book doesn't have much on the medication Adderal which was what our doctor recommended. The information on accompanying sleep disturbances was excellent - our doctor didn't even know about it.

A Promise to Mary is the perfect book to read as one begins the new year, full of resolution. The wonderful stories of Faith in Action workers and the people they serve across America are a pleasure to read. The reader joins the author, Paul Jellinek, on the first day of his journey as picture postcard descriptions of the land unfold and the author begins to meet the volunteers and the folks they serve through a program called Faith in Action. But Mr. Jellinek does not take us on a colorful travelogue experience. He goes much deeper and opens the doors to homes not found on the travel channel, but homes and lives of people struggling to make their little corner of the world, a life with pride, no matter how meager, and a life with promise no matter how ill or disabled or elderly.
These stories of tender mercies hold promise for the reader as we begin to know the volunteers and the world they serve. The author shares this collection of good human beings reaching out to bring a little light into the lives of other good human beings who have challenges that are not answered by systems or prescriptions. As we journey through the chapters, the reader might be prompted by the idea of action, the idea of promise and resolve to do more caring of others in this new year. We begin to really know these folks, their pain, their sometimes loneliness. But, because of the caring community of volunteers, their lives become a little lighter, a little brighter, a little more joyful.
Readers will discover their favorite moment in the journey, their favorite lesson to take into the new year. The author gives us many people-treasures to choose from. We meet the "soft-spoken and disarmingly gentle, Gail", the Faith in Action director in New Roads who along with her sixty-five volunteers has woven the values of this program into the backbone of her community. Tommy, the editor/reporter for the Pointe Coupee Banner in New Roads says about her, "you know, I'm not even sure Gail sees race. I am not even sure she sees the color of a person's face when she talks to them. And that's contagious." Be ready to give this book to a friend and then, to another. It may turn out that caring communities are contagious.

Paul Jellinek's Promise to Mary chronicles the author's travels through the northeast, south, and Alaska, capturing the spirit of "Faith in Action," a loose confederation of interfaith religious congregations who mobilize volunteers to care for the elderly and homebound. Told in the form of refreshingly original vignettes, an engaging portrait emerges of care-givers and receivers. We see the lines separating them often blurred, with some drawn to this calling by traumatic life events, leaving an indelible formative imprint on their life's experience.

Begun in 1993 through a series of nationwide grants awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the groups were started through seed grants to fund a paid executive to coordinate the volunteer base. The author's visits reveal that most of the original 25 have flourished more than 20 years, melding into the bedrock of community service in their individual locales.

The author skillfully remains the unobtrusive central character, through whom these voices are heard. The human toll exacted over a lifetime is examined in stories woven in a distinctly compassionate literary style. The author's gently probing questions are genuine and heartfelt. He gives voice to those whose eloquence, stifled by their infirmities, reveals their quiet perseverance and he allows them to express simply stated life-affirming truths.

Dr. Jellinek celebrates the nobility and dignity of those who populate the book. The overriding tone is decidedly redemptive and hopeful. Stories of great courage emerge as the unsung heroes of local community service manage time and again to marshal their inner reserves, drawing upon a fragile yet durable support network woven of member interfaith congregations and faith communities. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, largely under the radar. The stories call to mind the importance of small deeds which loom large in the lives of those whom they touch.

The nonthreatening imprimatur of "church" is time and again the narrow margin breached by wary "forgotten souls" who tentatively reach out for much needed help. Their simple but profound acts of faith and trust are to what the program owes its success.

This book should be required reading, especially for those embarking on a career in social work or community service. To read it is to be infused with a sense of all that is possible and to have one's faith in humanity restored, through a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of some of the finest people one could meet. The author succeeds in focusing a deserving spotlight on those remarkable people who populate our everyday lives, but whose heroic deeds are largely unknown, except to those whose lives are quietly transformed by their gentle presence.

This is a book whose power lies in the gentle yet compelling individual stories which emerge, revealing the humanity which lies within all of us. It is also a compelling journey of personal discovery for the author as well as a wonderful historical record of Faith in Action.




Dr. Jellinek documents the sustained viability of what remains a simple but profound formula for success - ordinary people accomplishing the extraordinary, when artificial barriers to human compassion, in the form of preconceived stereotypes are ignored and people are free to relate to one another on the most basic level. By entering this world with Paul as your guide, you emerge hope-filled and humbled by the extraordinary compassion his journey reveals.

So many of us have thoughts about what we can do to "help" and many of us talk about what we can do - and it usually stops there. Jellinek shares his process from idea to fulfillment in his inspiring book, "Promise to Mary". Like any good project, the road to completion is a long one, requiring the will to plow through setbacks, energy lulls, and lapses in faith - but the rewards are usually more than we imagine. Out here in California this book was a breath of fresh air.

Paul Jellinek is a masterful interviewer and storyteller. The amount of depth and detail he was able to uncover in the lives of those he visited in just a few short hours is incredible. For those who take time to assist neighbors in their communities, it is an affirmation. For everyone else, it is compelling work of non-fiction that will keep you reading on and on. It is truly inspirational. I would recommend this book to everyone.

This is a book with a mission. It accomplishes its mission and then some. It spreads the word about Faith in Action, a successful, 15-year-old national program that brings together local congregations of different faiths to provide volunteer help to elderly and disabled individuals. Through interviews with administrators, caregivers and those they help, the book enlightens the reader about the program and its life-altering accomplishments.

The interviews, combined with the author's observations, provide keen insight into many of our country's great challenges--racism, poverty, crime, drugs, isolation, loneliness, abandonment. They also show how Faith in Action and its remarkable staff and volunteers take on these challenges and make a difference. The book is instructive, inspirational, and motivating. Undoubtedly, some who read it will become volunteers themselves.

The book's style is entertaining and captivating. The author brings us along on his road trip to contrasting parts of America where he conducts his interviews--New England, the South, and the Last Frontier of Alaska. Through his writing we share the scenery, weather, accommodations, and food he experienced--the good, the bad, and the ugly. (On the good front, I long for a piece of the "...best slice of pie I had ever had at a restaurant." Inquiring minds should see page 217.)

Each interview is a personality profile. We are introduced to a bevy of characters--some endearing, some distasteful, all remarkable. Among the favorites are the indomitable eighty-five-year-old Miss Helen; Sylvia, who once excelled in the study of mold spores and now excels in administering social services; Kim, whose hard life has transformed her into an expert practitioner of compassion; Jamie, a former wild child turned nurse with unique experiences involving death and dying; and Rodney, a former gang member who has yet to recognize his power and purpose.

The book has a rare attribute--a wonderful use of humor. There are more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. Always appropriate, humor is skillfully interjected throughout our journey with the author.

A Promise to Mary is reader-friendly. Because of its clever format--broken out by geography and interview--it can be picked up and put down as the reader's lifestyle dictates. It can be read in one sitting from cover to cover, enjoyed at the beach, or become part of a daily public transportation commute.

I owe a great deal to the book and its author. During my time reading the book, it became my travel companion, making my weekday commute a pleasure. My faith in the goodness of human beings has been reinforced. And I have added one more goal to my list of things to accomplish--becoming a Faith in Action volunteer. Thank you, Dr. Jellinek. Well done.

I love this book...I can totally relate to the stories-I have a
8yr.old daughter with Cerebral palsy-she has been my worst heartache
and she has givinen me the most joy-she has taught me a lot...I am
glad they have this book-no one really knows what its like unless
they have a special needs child....I recommend it to anyone...
kathleen younce

I am a special educator who is always looking for new inspiration for my on-going teaching. This book warmed my heart. I could relate to the stories as if I had written them myself. Like the other Chicken Soup Books I have read, the editors have truly chosen a nice sample of stories of people who have achieved much, struggled long and hard, and continued living their lives to the fullest. This book can help people who wonder what special needs people can do. This book is a source for inspiration to help special needs children to live their lives to the fullest. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

I was so excited to receive this book. I read it cover to cover in 3 days. The stories are all very good. They help "connect" anyone who knows or cares for a child with "special needs". I would see little glimpses of my 8 year old son in different stories and if not the "same" I could relate to the situations and the emotions. On those really rough days, it helps to know that there are others out there that know just how you feel. It gives the inspiration to keep going. "Special Needs" kids definately are SPECIAL.........they help us to remember what is important. Thank you for this collection of stories.

Wonderful book! I love that the beginning starts with the story Welcome to Holland. I have a daughter with special needs and reading Welcome to Holland expresses what having a child with special needs can be like. My daughter is such a beautiful blessing to our family and a spot of sunshine to all who meet her. You could be having the worst day and a smile from her will turn you around. You can't help but smile back.
I would recommend this to anyone who has a child with special needs no matter what the age. It will inspire you. To any one who knows someone,is friends with someone,loves someone or cares for someone with special needs you will be inspired and touched reading the wonderful stories.

I was so excited to get this book right when it was released but was generally disappointed in it. There were many VERY good stories that I absolutely loved, but overall there was something about it that lacked the really personal connection and everyday stories. I found myself skipping over stories and still never finished the book to the end. I have 2 kids with special needs one with Down syndrome and one currently undergoing testing for Autism, and I SO desperately wanted to Love this book.

I guess I expected it to be written from a Caregivers perspective (parents, grandparents, teachers, etc). When it seemed like more than half of the contributers have already had their stories published by Chicken Soup books or other big name publications, not just your average person. And I caught the names of 2 contributers in this book that each have 2 of their stories in this special needs edition. (many already published in MANY other Chicken soup books)

To me it almost feels like the creators of Chicken Soup sent out a staff email asking for any stories involving a person with special needs... I remember reading one story written about a typical person's high school days and her encounter with a girl with special needs and what she wishes she would have talked to her. Nothing about reaching out to her and building a friendship, even if years later. As a parent, I would have loved to read about how this person affected a persons life, not how she felt guilty about being afraid of a disabilty (that's exactly why I want to shelter my children)- Didn't leave a warm and fuzzy feeling. But I guess her article was accepted because her career happens to center on people with disabilites???
I know there are millions of people out there that could contribute more personally touching stories. I just wanted more "average people" doing great things stories. Just by compararing random biograpies of the stories I wanted more people like the contributor Chynna Tamara Laird- average mom advocating for her child. In the bio of contributer S. Thompson it states "she has had stories in 10 Chicken soup books" and her job is writing, not advocating for disabilities or living it first hand.

It does have some great stories, but I just couldn't relate to the book overall and I expected to not want to put it down. I felt like I would read 2 good stories then 2 stories that lacked connection.... SORRY... I really wish I could Love it.

In Planet of the Blind, Kuusisto seduces his readers to step behind his flawed eyes and witness a world where nearly everything visual must be imagined, or, acquired through painstaking use of a single eye that is legally, but not completely, blind. His single "seeing" eye may be his Achilles heel throughout his childhood and youth. It is not until he is in his thirties that he acknowledges to himself and the world that he cannot see. Planet of the Blind could as easily be Planet of the Imperfect. Brilliantly written, both touching and often funny, this is a memoir about coming of age and coming to terms with oneself, imperfections and all, curable or otherwise.

Stephen Kuusisto, the author of the memor "Planet of the Blind," is a poet. You can hear it in every word he writes.

His moving memoir focuses on being legally blind and on the challenges he faced every single day trying to pretend he was a normal, "seeing" person. Along the way, you watch him grow up from an isolated, awkward child to a sensitive and extremely determined individual, one who lived in constant fear of being labled not normal, yet whose refusal to get help made everyday living a challenge to his own survival. At the end, he finally gains independence and normalcy in the form of a guide dog. It is a moment that brought me to tears.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well-written and inspiring memoir, which does read like a poem. It took me just a few hours to read finish it, it was so engrossing. It also opened my eyes to the world of the blind, a world I had never really considered before.

Thank you, Mr. Kuusisto, for sharing your story.

When I picked up this book, I was expecting an autobiography, a memoir of a blind person. I've always wondered how a blind person "sees" the world, so I was curious to read the book. What I got was something much more than a non-fictional account. The prose is absolutely striking, poetic, full of rich vivid metaphors. It inspired tears, and laughter, and rage, and awe in me at different points in the book.

This book is more than a non-fictional autobiography. It's a work of high literature. You will be enriched after having read it.

I was reccommended to read Planet of The Blind due to my interest in writing stories about people who had disabilities and about by own disablility for I'm visually impaired myself and I have an interest in writing. So I read Steven Kuusisto's book Planet of the Blind and found it very facinating and inspiring! I highly reccomend it! I'd love to know what is he doing now and is he still writing and speaking of the book?

As a legally blind person, who had totally blind parents, this vividly written book went a long way in helping me come to terms with my own situation. Like Stephen, for years I was in denial about my own limited vision and tried, successfully for a time, to "pass" as fully sighted. This is no longer possible and I have to face my own limitations head on, as Stephen finally does.

I recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand what living on the "Planet of the Blind" is really like, and for anyone who enjoys beautiful writing.