Notes on Blindness

Notes on Blindness chronicles theologian John Hull's experience of losing his sight in his mid-forties. The book is adapted from audio diaries Hull recorded between 1983 and 1986, capturing his transition into total blindness. Hull documents the physical and practical challenges of navigating life without sight, from teaching university classes to caring for his young children. His observations include detailed accounts of how blindness affects memory, spatial awareness, dreams, and social interactions. Through a combination of personal reflection and philosophical inquiry, Hull examines what it means to perceive the world differently. The work explores the nature of consciousness, identity, and human adaptation. The narrative transcends mere autobiography to become a meditation on the relationship between sight, knowledge, and human experience. Hull's perspective as both subject and observer creates a text that speaks to fundamental questions about how humans understand and move through the world.

Readers describe Hull's memoir as an intimate window into the experience of losing sight, with many noting its philosophical depth and emotional resonance. Multiple reviews highlight his detailed observations of how blindness transformed his perception of time, space, and identity. Readers appreciated: - Raw honesty about grief and adaptation - Vivid sensory descriptions - Academic but accessible writing style - Insights into daily blind experience Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - Academic tone can be dry in places - Limited coverage of practical coping methods Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (80+ ratings) One reader noted: "Hull captures the psychological journey of sight loss with remarkable precision." Another commented: "The diary format lets you experience his transition alongside him." A critical review stated: "The philosophical musings sometimes overshadow the personal narrative."

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🔹 John Hull began recording audio diaries about his experience of going blind in 1983, creating over 16 hours of material that would later become the foundation for this memoir. 🔹 The author discovered that his dreams gradually changed as he lost his sight - in early dreams he could still see, but after about five years of blindness, visual elements disappeared entirely from his dreams. 🔹 Hull coined the term "deep blindness" to describe the state where not only sight is gone, but the memory of visual experiences begins to fade away. 🔹 The book was adapted into an award-winning documentary film in 2016, which used innovative sound design and visual techniques to help sighted viewers understand Hull's experience. 🔹 As a professor of religious education, Hull drew fascinating parallels between his blindness and religious faith, exploring how both require trust in what cannot be seen.