Bob R. (fastreader) -
Helpful Score: 2
Well written account of the daring life of Mike Mays, blinded at three years of age and the challenges he faced when offered the opportunity to see again forty years later. Not your usual biography. Reads like a novel.
Also read Shadow Divers by the same author.
Also read Shadow Divers by the same author.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was absolutely awesome and amazing! This man has had more adventures blind than most of my seeing friends put together! And then there is the amazing journey of moving back in to the world of sight! Hard to put down. 5 stars!!!
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fascinating book about a most unusual, and successful even while still blind, man. The part I enjoyed most and felt I learned a lot from was how he adjusted to regaining his sight.
Seeing, for him, constantly involved mental work to figure out what each image was. Many blind from infancy or birth people who regained their sight have regretted it--found this constant awareness and effort too much to deal with. But in the case of this man, when the situation seemed not to be improving, he found a way of his own around it.
Although written a bit formulaically, as these "reportage" type stories about the exciting experiences of others often are, it is really an interesting book and, as I have indicated, the best parts are about how he adjusted to seeing. Not good literature, by any means, but certainly worth reading.
Seeing, for him, constantly involved mental work to figure out what each image was. Many blind from infancy or birth people who regained their sight have regretted it--found this constant awareness and effort too much to deal with. But in the case of this man, when the situation seemed not to be improving, he found a way of his own around it.
Although written a bit formulaically, as these "reportage" type stories about the exciting experiences of others often are, it is really an interesting book and, as I have indicated, the best parts are about how he adjusted to seeing. Not good literature, by any means, but certainly worth reading.
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
I am glad a had a read a few other Memoirs before, I read this one. Having experience with other true life stories, was useful because this story was different in a few ways.
1. It was not written by the main character
2. It wasnt a sensationalized tell all
3. It had some important, interesting and well explained scientific information about sight, and how it related to the Main character
4. It is not written in 1st person, so you get to know some of the other key players in this story.
Mike May the man who has been known for Crashing through all his life. He skied, and set skiing records, he worked for the CIA, he started businesses, he rode a bike, and he just never gave up. He owes his fearless attitude to His mother Ori Jean. She fought for his life after the accident, and then fought his right to a full life when he survived the explosion but was now blind. She moved the entire family to a town that had the rare integration of blind and sighted kids schooled together. His whole family didnt give his special treatment due to his blindness, he was treated like a sighted child when it came to chores. Because of his families can do attitude, Mike was not afraid, and he often crashed into things. He would just keep going. He was amazing while blind, but getting his sight was another idea he decided to risk and crash through. When he gets his sight, it is amazing how wonderful the world was to Mike. His crashing through attitude helped him through some tough adjustments during his first year of being sighted. You will never take your eyesight and ability to read for granted again after reading this book.
1. It was not written by the main character
2. It wasnt a sensationalized tell all
3. It had some important, interesting and well explained scientific information about sight, and how it related to the Main character
4. It is not written in 1st person, so you get to know some of the other key players in this story.
Mike May the man who has been known for Crashing through all his life. He skied, and set skiing records, he worked for the CIA, he started businesses, he rode a bike, and he just never gave up. He owes his fearless attitude to His mother Ori Jean. She fought for his life after the accident, and then fought his right to a full life when he survived the explosion but was now blind. She moved the entire family to a town that had the rare integration of blind and sighted kids schooled together. His whole family didnt give his special treatment due to his blindness, he was treated like a sighted child when it came to chores. Because of his families can do attitude, Mike was not afraid, and he often crashed into things. He would just keep going. He was amazing while blind, but getting his sight was another idea he decided to risk and crash through. When he gets his sight, it is amazing how wonderful the world was to Mike. His crashing through attitude helped him through some tough adjustments during his first year of being sighted. You will never take your eyesight and ability to read for granted again after reading this book.
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
I am glad a had a read a few other Memoirs before, I read this one. Having experience with other true life stories, was useful because this story was different in a few ways.
1. It was not written by the main character
2. It wasnt a sensationalized tell all
3. It had some important, interesting and well explained scientific information about sight, and how it related to the Main character
4. It is not written in 1st person, so you get to know some of the other key players in this story.
Mike May the man who has been known for Crashing through all his life. He skied, and set skiing records, he worked for the CIA, he started businesses, he rode a bike, and he just never gave up. He owes his fearless attitude to His mother Ori Jean. She fought for his life after the accident, and then fought his right to a full life when he survived the explosion but was now blind. She moved the entire family to a town that had the rare integration of blind and sighted kids schooled together. His whole family didnt give his special treatment due to his blindness, he was treated like a sighted child when it came to chores. Because of his families can do attitude, Mike was not afraid, and he often crashed into things. He would just keep going. He was amazing while blind, but getting his sight was another idea he decided to risk and crash through. When he gets his sight, it is amazing how wonderful the world was to Mike. His crashing through attitude helped him through some tough adjustments during his first year of being sighted. You will never take your eyesight and ability to read for granted again after reading this book.
1. It was not written by the main character
2. It wasnt a sensationalized tell all
3. It had some important, interesting and well explained scientific information about sight, and how it related to the Main character
4. It is not written in 1st person, so you get to know some of the other key players in this story.
Mike May the man who has been known for Crashing through all his life. He skied, and set skiing records, he worked for the CIA, he started businesses, he rode a bike, and he just never gave up. He owes his fearless attitude to His mother Ori Jean. She fought for his life after the accident, and then fought his right to a full life when he survived the explosion but was now blind. She moved the entire family to a town that had the rare integration of blind and sighted kids schooled together. His whole family didnt give his special treatment due to his blindness, he was treated like a sighted child when it came to chores. Because of his families can do attitude, Mike was not afraid, and he often crashed into things. He would just keep going. He was amazing while blind, but getting his sight was another idea he decided to risk and crash through. When he gets his sight, it is amazing how wonderful the world was to Mike. His crashing through attitude helped him through some tough adjustments during his first year of being sighted. You will never take your eyesight and ability to read for granted again after reading this book.
Sandi K W. (Sandiinmississippi) reviewed Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure and the Man Who Dared to See on + 265 more book reviews
This description of a man's journey back to sight has just the right amount of medical and technical detail. It caused me to think about details of the whole sight process I'd never considered. When the man is blinded as a small child he develops into a very adventuresome and outgoing person - concerned with 'being and looking cool' as well as determined to experience as much as life has to offer. He had an athletic and business career beyond what sighted people usually expect. Then a chance encounter gave him an opportunity to regain his sight. Before the book I'd never heard of the procedure. But 'Crashing Through' explores both the problems and the additional adventures ahead of him. Highly recommend this clearly written and personal account.
Kristy K. reviewed Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure and the Man Who Dared to See on + 22 more book reviews
hard to get through
