G1216 Hello darkness, my old friend; how daring dreams and unyielding friendship turned ones mans blindness into an extraordinary vision for life

Title of the book: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend; How Daring Dreams, and unyielding friendship turned ones mans blindness into an extraordinary vision for life 

Author: Sanford D. Greenberg

Publisher: Post Hill Press

Publishing Date: 2020

ISBN: 978-1-64293-497-7

Summary:

As seen on the Today Show and as featured in People Magazine!

The remarkable and inspiring story of a Columbia undergrad from a poor Jewish family who, after losing his eyesight to disease during his junior year, finds the power to break through the darkness and fulfill his vision for a life of great professional success and distinguished public service.

It’s a bitterly cold February in 1961, and Sandy Greenberg lies in a hospital bed in Detroit, newly blind. A junior at Columbia University from a Jewish family that struggled to stay above the poverty line, Sandy had just started to see the world open up to him. Now, instead of his plans for a bright future—Harvard Law and politics—Sandy faces a new reality, one defined by a cane or companion dog, menial work, and a cautious path through life.

But that’s not how this story ends.

In the depth of his new darkness, Sandy faces a choice—play it “safe” by staying in his native Buffalo or return to Columbia to pursue his dreams. With the loving devotion of his girlfriend (and now wife) Sue and the selflessness of best friends Art Garfunkel and Jerry Speyer, Sandy endures unimaginable adversity while forging a life of exceptional achievement.

From his time in the White House working for President Lyndon B. Johnson to his graduate studies at Harvard and Oxford under luminaries such as Archibald Cox, Sir Arthur Goodhart, and Samuel Huntington, and through the guidance of his invaluable mentor David Rockefeller, Sandy fills his life and the lives of those around him with a radiant light of philanthropy, entrepreneurship, art, and innovation.

Author Info:

Sanford D Greenberg is Chairman of the Board of GOvernors of The John Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute, the largest clinical and research enterprise in ophthalmology in the United States. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a Trustee Emeritus of The John Hopkins University and John Hopkins Medicine, which incorporates the School of Medicine and the Hospital.

President Clinton appointed Dr. Greenberg to the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation and advises both the President and Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering. He served as Chairman of the Rural Health Care Corporation, created by Congress to bring the benefits of telemedicine to America's rural areas. Dr. Greenberg wasa founding director of the American Agenda, an organization establishe by Presidents Carter and Ford to identify for President Geroge H.W. Bush the six most urgent problems confronting the nation and to recommend bipartisan solutions. he also served as a director fo the National Committee on United States -China Relations. 

He is co-editor of the book THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY SYSTEM, which discusses the methods used by American Presidents to obtain policy advice for the management of the federal government. 

Dr. Greenberg received his B.A. as Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University in 1962. He earned his M.A. and PhD from Harvard University and his MBA from Columbia University. He was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University and attended Harvard Law School. He lives in Washington D.C. with his wife, Sue; they have three children and four grandchildren. 

Personal Opinion:

It's easy to admire the author, Sanford D. Greenberg, for all he has accomplished in his life and for his drive. And while the story is about his accomplishments and numerous achievements, Sanford focuses a lot on the people that backed him up and were always there for him as well as focus on his background and family. For me personally, the trials he experienced and what he has accomplished,  it's truly breathtaking. The memoir is also a platonic love letter to his friend, Art Garfunkel ( yes, Simon and Garfunkel) and I often wished that I could see more instances of their lives outside of school. Still for something beautiful and inspirational, I would highly recommend this book. 

This was for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)