Planet of the Blind: A Memoir

by Stephen Kuusisto and Kuusisto Stephen

Book Overview

"The world is a surreal pageant," writes Stephen Kuusisto. "Ahead of me the shapes and colors suggest the sails of Tristan's ship or an elephant's ear floating in air, though in reality it is a middle-aged man in a London Fog rain coat which billows behind him in the April wind." So begins Kuusisto's memoir, Planet of the Blind, a journey through the kaleidoscope geography of the partially-sighted, where everyday encounters become revelations, struggles,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385333277
• ISBN13: 9780385333276
• Release Date: December 1998
• Publisher: Bantam Dell
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Vivid and moving memoir

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.

Powerful and redemptive

I read Stephen's book late into the night and then got up and read more in the morning. The book not only brought me new understanding of the world of blindness, it spoke intimately of the journey of self-acceptance. Stephen's story is threaded through with grace, and his language is musical. A deeply spiritual memoir; you will finish it changed.

The Power of Imagination triumphs the Power of the Senses

Kuusisto powerful prose reminds one of the awesome power of the imagination in this touching memoir of struggle and finally acceptance. Not a typical movie of the week redemption story, but a hard fought tale of the struggles of the author and his view of himself. We too are then reminded of our own struggle with our own view of ourselves. We travel with the author as he denies his "limitations" and goes through the world as if he can see. Comical in concept, touching in delivery. Its strength reminds us that we should be grateful, and accept the limitations of others and ourselves with grace. Great description of the perils such as curbs, dogs and low hanging branches, what we ignore in our daily lives, reminds us of how much we miss around us.The book also suggests great issues of the demand for perfection in our society, and how we deal with it, or our lack of it. A thoroughly depressing section on his experiences in Finland, serves to those with all our senses how lucky we truly are.This book does what good writing is suppose to do, expand our repetoire of experiences.

Thank you Stephen Kuusisto

As the mother of two legally blind children, Planet of the Blind is what I have searched for since their birth. The book is both beautifully and painfully written. I feel empowered and enlightened. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder what the world is like for them. As a result of reading Stephen's story I feel I have a better understanding. Thank you Stephen for sharing your story.

Compelling and Accurate. A Must Read!

Being visually impaired myself, I found this book to be a very striking and accurate discription of what life is like for those who cannot see. Mr Kuusisto wrote this from the heart, thus making this book a very touching and personal work of art. His encounters, from inner coping to inter-personal relationships, parallel many lives of the visually impaired community. He draws the reader quickly and effectively into his world, and never allows the reader to leave it. The book will make an impact on the reader for the rest of his/her life. I highly recommend this "must read" book for any person, not only to learn about the blind world, but to experience it. Also, this book would be a valued gift to those who are blind to learn that they are not alone in this world.