by Frank Bruni
First published 2022
Frank Bruni examines how a sudden medical crisis reshaped his understanding of loss and resilience. In late 2017, the New York Times columnist awakened to discover his vision had mysteriously blurred. What initially seemed like debris in his eye proved far more serious. A rare stroke had severed blood flow to his optic nerve during the night, leaving him permanently blind in his right eye. Doctors warned that the same condition could attack his remaining eye, potentially stealing his sight completely. Bruni chronicles his adaptation to this frightening new reality through both medical and emotional journeys. He connects with friends and strangers who have weathered their own physical challenges, collecting insights about human endurance. The book traces how confronting his vulnerability forced him to reconsider what truly mattered in his life. While his physical world grew dimmer and more uncertain, Bruni discovered unexpected clarity about gratitude and purpose. His account reveals how limitation can paradoxically expand perspective, showing readers the difference between losing something precious and finding something valuable.
Genres: medical, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, health, 21st-century, disability
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, self-discovery
Setting: New York
Period: 2017
423 pages · Library Binding · Thorndike Press Large Print
Content warnings: medical-trauma