Connecting Dots

A Blind Life

By: Joshua A. Miele, Wendell Jamieson

Narrated by: Greg D. Barnett

In this extraordinary memoir, a scientist who became blind at a young age shares how he navigates the world around him, and how his contributions led to cutting‑edge work in accessibility—packed with humor, adventure, and insights on life and disability.

At the age of four, Joshua Miele was blinded and badly burned when a neighbor poured sulfuric acid over his head. It could have ended his life, but instead, Miele—naturally curious, and a born problem solver—not only recovered, but thrived. Throughout his life, Miele has found increasingly inventive ways to succeed in a world built for the sighted, and to help others to do the same. At first reluctant to even think of himself as blind, he eventually embraced his blindness and became a committed advocate for disability and accessibility. Along the way, he grappled with drugs and addiction, played bass in a rock band, worked for NASA, became a guerilla activist, and married the love of his life and had two children. He chronicles the evolution of a number of revolutionary accessible technologies and his role in shaping them, including screen readers, tactile maps, and audio description.

Connecting Dots delivers a captivating first-person perspective on blindness and disability as incisive as it is entertaining, and ultimately triumphant. Joshua Miele's story is one of one ordinary blind life with an indelible impact.

Connecting Humanity

Not knowing what I was getting into when I started this book, I continued and was completely captivated. Inspiring is an understatement. Joshua’s story is for Everyman. Real people living real life in really remarkable ways. I felt like was there with him for all his experiences. Very well written and equally well narrated. I put this at the top of my list for re-reads.

Fascinating story of resilience

This story because it’s 100% true serves as a reminder to all of us that adversity doesn’t have to be a limitation. I absolutely loved how the book was written and learning about Josh‘s life. The worst part about this audiobook was the presentation. I could not focus on anything except for the sharp inhales that the narrator did when reading this book. It’s too bad because the story is fantastic and I believe the person who read it ruined it.

A good listen

I liked this more than I expected to and I would definitely recommend it. What an interesting guy and a life well lived. I hope my path crosses with Josh's sometime in Berkeley.

Compelling story of a blind man’s life well lived

I read the entirety of this book in a single sitting. Josh‘s experience up blindness, and his brilliant creative mind is remarkable.

Great story, breathy reader

Fascinating and entertaining life story. I was distracted by the reader, though, who sounded asthmatic. You could hear him breathing after every sentence.