Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien (1949-1999) was an American journalist, poet, and author known for writing about his experiences living with severe disability after contracting polio in childhood. He spent most of his life in an iron lung and wrote extensively about disability rights, sexuality, and his daily experiences as a severely disabled person. His most notable work is the autobiographical essay "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate," which was later adapted into the 1996 Oscar-winning documentary "Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien" and the 2012 feature film "The Sessions." O'Brien earned a bachelor's degree in English from UC Berkeley and worked as a journalist for Pacific News Service and other publications. O'Brien published several collections of poetry including "Breathing," and his autobiography "How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man's Quest for Independence" was published posthumously in 2003. His writing style was characterized by unflinching honesty and dark humor as he addressed themes of mortality, independence, and human dignity.

Mark O'Brien's readers emphasize his raw honesty and courage in confronting disability, death, and sexuality through his autobiographical essays. His writing style connects with readers through straightforward prose and dark humor. What readers liked: - Direct, unsentimental perspective on living with disability - Blend of serious topics with moments of humor - Clarity and precision in descriptions of medical experiences - Poetic elements in his prose works What readers disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in certain essays - A few readers noted repetition between his different works - Limited availability of his complete works Online ratings: Goodreads: "How I Became a Human Being" - 4.0/5 (200+ ratings) "Breathing" - 4.2/5 (150+ ratings) Amazon: "How I Became a Human Being" - 4.5/5 (50+ reviews) Notable reader comment: "O'Brien's voice is unflinching yet tender - he makes the unimaginable both accessible and profound." - Goodreads reviewer

How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man's Quest for Independence (2003) A memoir detailing O'Brien's life with polio, his experiences in an iron lung, and his journey through education, relationships, and writing.

The Man in the Iron Lung (1997) A collection of autobiographical essays focusing on O'Brien's medical experiences and daily life while dependent on an iron lung for breathing.

Breathing (1982) A poetry collection exploring themes of disability, sexuality, religion, and personal identity through O'Brien's perspective as a quadriplegic poet.

Chronicle of the Catholic Church in the 1980s (1994) A journalistic account of Catholic Church controversies and developments in Berkeley during the 1980s, based on O'Brien's reporting work.

Love and Life: Poems (1989) A compilation of poems addressing romantic relationships, physical disability, and spiritual faith from O'Brien's unique viewpoint.