10 Best Memoirs by Blind Authors

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10 Best Memoirs by Blind Authors

Imagine the 9/11 raw experience by a blind man. It is the true story of  Michael Hingson presented in his memoir Thunder Dog. Every step he took was a leap of faith.

Moreover, only able to hear the sounds of shattering glass and a panicking crowd. Yet his guide dog was calm beside him, the interaction with his surrounding was a gamble.

What’s more, it happened when they were on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The attempt to escape death by descending the stairs in a suffocating environment was an obstacle.

With the challenge of North Tower folding into the earth, survival was a hope. That is the first-hand experience of 9/11 by Hingson to the world.

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Here are the 10 Best Memoirs by Blind Authors.

1. Thunder Dog memoir by Michael Hingson

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It was first published in 2011 and became a New York Times bestseller. It is a real-life story of a blind man Michael Hingson (the author) and his guide dog called Roselle.

The story is a narration of the 9/11 attacks or better the September 11, 2001, encounters. Hingson lets the reader into his experience during the fateful day. Holding on to trust and faith to cheat death while on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center as it caved down on them.

Besides 9/11 the author allows the reader into the accomplishments of his life. Such as riding a bicycle when he was a child, pursuing college studies, and his work life.

2. There Plant Eyes memoir by M. Leona Godin

Godin explores the diverse thoughts of famous blind authors such as Helen Keller and poet John Milton. She also delves into analyzing Greek drama.

Additionally, she reveals the myths surrounding blindness. She compels the reader with the narration of her personal experiences. Especially about social justice matters and their relation to blindness.

3. Helen Keller’s The Story of My Life

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This memoir was first published in 1903. It’s a chronicle of Keller’s success as a deafblind. It details her life story and the challenges she faced due to her lack of vision and hearing ability.

Furthermore, the book serves as an inspiration to the reader. It portrays the perseverance and high spirit of the author to overcome her obstacles.

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4. Planet of the Blind by Stephen Kuusisto

In this memoir, Kuusisto uses poetry to give accounts of his life interestingly. He tells the story of his denial of blindness for many years. Moreover, his parents never treated his visual impairment. Hence led to entire blindness when he was almost 40 years.

With this memoir, Stephen allows readers into the life of people living with blindness. Their challenges, successes, strengths, and doubts. Stephen records his life accounts from childhood until his adulthood in the memoir. It was published in 1998.

5. My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber

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Thurber was a renowned humorist which shows in his 1933 memoir, My Life and Hard Times. It’s a charming masterpiece that describes his records while growing up until adulthood.

Thurber uses sketches to emphasize his narrative. Hence making his work authentic. He also tells his story with honesty yet is full of humor to crack up the reader. 

6. My Path Leads to Tibet by Sabriye Tenberken

It is the life account of Sabriye who in the story is a young and blind German lady. She dives the reader into her dreams of starting a school for the blind in Tibet, China. In 1998, Sabriye decides to fulfill her dream and moves to Tibet while in her 20s.

7. Haben by Haben Girma

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Girma’s memoir is a motivational piece. She recounts her life stories and announces to the reader her big wins. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Thus she became the first Deafblind graduate of this law school.

On top of that, the book was published in 2019 and received positive reviews. For instance, the New York Times listed her book in their August 2019 segment of “New & Noteworthy”.

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8. On the Move: A Life written by Oliver Sacks

Oliver’s memoir On the Move: A Life is an exploration of his passions in life. From his interest in motorcycles to weightlifting, neurology, and poetry.

The book unveils the author’s love life encounters and his life in America distanced from his family. Also, his association with his closest acquaintances and how they influenced his work in the writing and science professions. It was published in 2016 and it became an international bestseller.

9. Touching the Rock by John M. Hull

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Hull assists the reader to understand the transformation that comes with blindness. In the book, he explores the change in human experiences brought about by the loss of sight. He underlines that every aspect is transformed once blindness strikes including tasks like eating, playing, and more. This memoir was published in 2016.

10. Slackjaw by Jim Knipfel

Knipfel’s memoir is an account of courage. He voices his life with the degenerative disease, retinitis pigmentosa. The disorder affects eyesight over time leaving one blind. So the writer is legally registered as blind.

Subsequently, he expresses the experiences of battling the genetic eye disease on Slackjaw. The memoir was published in 1999.

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If you are blind these stories are motivation and for those with sight, it’s an opportunity to see into the world of those without sight. Though the stories show our differences they at the same time draw us closer to the world of those without sight.

We connect with their struggles better, appreciate their resilience, and celebrate with them their triumphs. So grab a copy of any of the best memoirs by blind authors as listed above or as per your preference.