Non-Fiction Books

By Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 27, 2025

This collection highlights memoirs, autobiographies, and inspirational accounts by or about individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These works share personal journeys, triumphs, and challenges and offer insight into the lived experience of blindness. If there are other titles you’d like to see included, please let me know!

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Memoirs & Autobiographies

Alexander, Sally Hobart. Taking Hold: My Journey Into Blindness. A moving account of a third-grade teacher's emotional journey through vision loss, as she learns to navigate fear, anger, despair, and ultimately, acceptance.
Bocelli, Andrea. The Music of Silence: A Memoir. World-renowned tenor Bocelli shares his early life in Tuscany, his diagnosis of congenital glaucoma, and how music helped him transcend the pain of blindness.
Brandt, Ken. Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight. With humor and optimism, Brandt explores how low vision shaped his adventurous life. A lighthearted and empowering read for those with visual impairments and the people who support them.
Charles, Ray. Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story. The legendary musician shares candid reflections on his blindness, musical influences, personal struggles, and rise to fame.
Cheng, Shirley. Embrace Ultra-Ability! Wisdom, Insight & Motivation from the Blind Who Sees Far and Wide. Blind since childhood, Cheng offers motivational wisdom and reflections on embracing ability beyond disability.
Hanson, Michael. The Unseen Trail: The Story of a Blind Hiker's Journey on the Appalachian Trail. Hanson recounts his solo trek across the Appalachian Trail and reflects on how technology and determination empower independence.
Hull, John M. Touching the Rock: An Experience of Blindness. A philosophical and sensory-rich journal of Hull's experience losing his sight, exploring themes of identity, family, and faith.
Irwin, Bill. Blind Courage. Irwin shares his inspiring story of hiking the Appalachian Trail with his guide dog, Orient, and how his faith transformed his life.
Kleege, Georgina. Sight Unseen. Kleege examines blindness from both personal and cultural perspectives, challenging stereotypes and media portrayals of people who are blind.
Kurson, Robert. Crashing Through: The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See. This is the gripping story of Mike May, blinded at age 3, who later received a pioneering stem cell treatment to partially restore sight—and faced complex consequences.
MacIntyre, Scott. By Faith, Not By Sight: The Inspirational Story of a Blind Prodigy, a Life-Threatening Illness, and an Unexpected Gift. MacIntyre, the first blind finalist on American Idol, shares his musical journey and battles with kidney failure, showing resilience and faith.
Martin, Harry. What Blind People Wish Sighted People Knew About Blindness. A practical and approachable guide to blindness from a lived perspective, offering advice on respectful interaction and inclusion.
Matthews, Rob. Running Blind. Born with a congenital eye condition, Matthews turned to athletics and became a record-breaking Paralympic champion.
Milsap, Ronnie. Almost Like a Song. The country music star recounts his childhood in rural North Carolina, life challenges, and his rise to fame.
Naumann, Jens. Search for Paradise: A Patient's Account of the Artificial Vision Experiment. Naumann shares his experience with a medical trial to regain vision through brain-implanted technology—and the emotional aftermath of losing it again.
Quietwater Noriega, DeAnna. Fifty Years of Walking with Friends (2021)
A memoir chronicling the author's life with multiple guide dogs, from college to family life and career.
Roberts, Jason. A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler The remarkable story of James Holman, a blind adventurer who circled the globe and fought injustices in the 19th century.
Runyan, Marla. No Finish Line: My Life As I See It. Diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at nine, Runyan defied expectations to become an Olympian and role model for athletes with disabilities.
Smiley, Scotty. Hope Unseen: The Story of the U.S. Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer. After being blinded by a suicide bomber, Smiley rebuilt his life through faith and determination, becoming a decorated military leader and inspirational speaker.
Stovall, Jim. You Don't Have to be Blind to See. Stovall, founder of the Narrative Television Network, shares motivational tools to achieve success regardless of limitations.
Sullivan, Tom. Adventures in Darkness: Memoirs of an Eleven-Year-Old Blind Boy. A coming-of-age memoir about Sullivan’s eleventh year and his desire to lead a normal life while adjusting to blindness.
Sullivan, Tom. If You Could See What I Hear. Sullivan’s iconic autobiography, later adapted into a feature film, tells of his life as an actor, singer, and entertainer living with blindness.
Tenberken, Sabriye. My Path Leads to Tibet: The Inspiring Story of How One Young Blind Woman Brought Hope to the Blind Children of Tibet. Blind herself, Tenberken shares her mission to bring literacy and education to blind children in Tibet by inventing Tibetan Braille and founding a school in Lhasa.
Weihenmayer, Erik. Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See: My Story. The inspiring memoir of the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. Weihenmayer’s story is a testament to determination and pushing beyond limits.

Historical and Biographical Accounts

Chambers, Diane Lane. Words in My Hands: A Teacher, a Deaf-Blind Man, an Unforgettable Journey. The powerful story of teaching communication to Bert Riedel, an 86-year-old pianist who had been deaf-blind for decades.
Blair, Clifford R. Shadows Behind the Wall. (2016)
A fictionalized but realistic portrayal of life at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, following a teen adjusting to vision loss and the challenges of institutional life.
O'Connell, Deirdre. The Ballad of Blind Tom, Slave Pianist. The true story of Blind Tom Wiggins, a blind and autistic musical savant born into slavery who amazed audiences across the U.S. and Europe.

History of Visual Impairments

Professional Practice

Vision Professionals

Professionalism

Teacher Resources

Professional Publications

VI Book Resources

Family Resources

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The mission of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments is to provide all persons involved in education students who are blind or visually impaired with the necessary resources to help each student become successful members of their communities and to equip those in the visual impairment field with resources to meet the wide range of needs of the students they serve.

Non-Fiction Books

​Memoirs & Autobiographies

​Historical and Biographical Accounts

Memoirs & Autobiographies

Historical and Biographical Accounts