Mexico By Touch: True life experiences of a blind American DeeJay

by Larry P. Johnson

Book Overview

. AT AGE 18 HE TRAVELED ALONE TO MEXICO CITY . BECAME THE TOP DEEJAY FOR THE #1 TOP 40 RADIO STATION IN MEXICO . DROVE A CAR ON A MAIN THOROUGHFARE IN THE MEXICAN CAPITAL . COMPETED AGAINST STEVIE... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1410735907
• ISBN13: 9781410735904
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: 1st Book Library
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Amazing Story

Larry's story is so incredible, I'm surprised no one has turned it into a movie yet. At times funny, at other times heartbreaking, this is the story of a life that would be amazing even for someone without a disability. Add in the fact that Larry is blind and had to fight inaccessibility and discrimination and you have a story definitely worth reading.

Magnificent and inspirational!

While reading Larry Johnson's "Mexico by Touch" I experienced a whole host of emotions. What a magnificent journey into a most improbable adventure! Larry's life has been such an inspiration to anyone who has been blessed to be touched by him. Although Larry's incredible radio presence drew a generation of Americans to his show with absolute regularity, it's his persona that is most entrancing. Whether you've been fortunate enough to have lived in Mexico and know Larry Johnson or are reading this from Australia - this book is absolutely for you! While reading this book you feel you can just reach out and touch the colorful culture, feel his fear and trepidation, and thrill in his overwhelming success in life. To tout this book as "inspirational" is a clear understatement - but we're stuck with common words. So it's a wonderfully "inspirational" story that will keep you turning the pages quickly till the very end. Warning: if you have convinced yourself that you just can't succeed because of some "unfair" card dealt to you, Larry will convince you to keep trying. No disability can keep you from achieving resounding success, love, and utter happiness in life. Larry Johnson is the proof! What a wonderful, exciting, and beautiful story found between these covers!!

Mexico By Touch - What "adventure" is all about

A few days ago I finished reading Larry Johnson's new book, "Mexico by Touch". I enjoyed it immensely, and highly recommend it to everyone. As somebody who grew up in Mexico City and knew Larry Johnson only via his nightly radio show, I knew I'd like the book before I picked it up. What I didn't expect was the degree of universal appeal this book will have for all readers. The book covers a period of almost 50 years, from Larry's first trip to Mexico (by train accompanied by just his seeing-eye dog) in 1952 to a poignant return visit to Mexico City in 1998, 24 years after he had left Mexico to settle in San Antonio in 1974. It includes many wild stories and adventures, which are all the more amazing considering his blindness--a subject which is treated matter-of-factly throughout the book and is not the central theme. One hilarious episode was his foot race with Stevie Wonder down the hallway of Mexico City's Hotel Camino Real one morning at 3AM! The story of his life in Mexico, including his travels, studies, loves, career, marriage and kids was fascinating. It's interesting to reflect on how well Larry was able to get to know and experience Mexico, compared to how woefully incomplete and inadequate my previous image of Larry had been. I found it supremely ironic to compare Larry's total lack of sight to the narrow bandwidth of a two-hour nightly radio program through which I *thought* I had gotten to know him so well. In this context, I was clearly much more blind than he ever was. One of the most touching moments in the book took place when a high school girl, one of his best fans, got a bunch of kids to sneak into the Radio Capital studio before Larry's 10:30PM show, and they surprised him with an on-the-air birthday party. Here's an excerpt: "I was speechless. For the first time in my career as a radio announcer, I didn't know what to say. I felt tears welling up in my eyes and a huge lump in my throat. I thought I would cry. I felt truly humbled and embarrassed by so much attention from these my fans. But I also felt their love, their loyalty and their joy. It was one of the greatest thrills I've experienced in all my 22 years of broadcasting. Those kids were great. How they managed to squeeze themselves into the nooks and crannies of the studio and not make a sound during those moments before I went on the air was truly amazing." Stories like this, plus many other amazing adventures made this book a truly great read. Highly recommended!

"Mexico by Touch" is Worth Every Minute of Your Time

This book gives a rare view of an individual who has been totally blind from the age of six months. Through this window, we learn a great deal about the challenges of participating in a world where total blindness is a factor. This book teaches us that the human spirit can mold remarkable results in the life of a child who was taught that he could do anything that any other child could do. Don't miss this opportunity to see the world of this writer from his late teens through his young adult years.

Mexico by Touch Truly Outstanding

Never have I read a more entertaining real life book written by an individual who while disabled, one would never know it. Mr. Johnson is truly gifted and talented to have shared ho he first went to Mexico to become independent, gained a career, a family and meet more famous people in a humous way while experiencing a senory impairment that would have kept so many in their bed room. My hat is off to this brave American whose sense of humor and frank intellect seems to have no end! I would recommend this book to one and all with and without disabilities alike. Dr. Dennis R. Dildy Marble Falls, Texas