A Man’s Unbelievable Journey And Accomplishments
Joshua A. Miele (Author), Wendell Jamieson – contributor (Author), Greg D. Barnett (Narrator)
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The extraordinary memoir of a scientist who became blind at a young age—how he navigates his experience and channels his genius into decades of 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 delusional neighbor poured sulfuric acid over his head in a crime that shocked New York. 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, deconstructed and reconstructed myriad technologies, 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: In 2021 Miele won a MacArthur “Genius” award for his work in accessibility. His story demonstrates the normality of blindness as he lives, loves, invents, raises a family, and takes pride in his blind identity. It also introduces us to an extraordinary cast of characters, from his loving if eccentric family, to his rock-and-roll buddies and first loves, to the devoted teachers and brilliant colleagues whose encouragement and collaboration supported his success. It’s a riveting romp, interweaving tales of invention and independence with humor, struggle, and achievement —the story of one ordinary blind life with an indelible impact.
- Listening Time: 9 hours and 32 minutes
- Authors: Joshua A. Miele, Wendell Jamieson – contributor
- Narrator: Greg D. Barnett
- Audible.com Release Date: March 04, 2025
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
An Unforgettable Beginning
This memoir immediately caught my attention. At the young age of four, Miele’s life was irrevocably changed when he opened the door to a neighbor who threw acid in his face. The attack left him with severe injuries, including the loss of his eyesight and the need for multiple reconstructive surgeries. Yet, Incredibly, Miele viewed these challenges not as disabilities but as obstacles to be overcome.
Embracing Life’s Challenges
I was particularly drawn to Miele’s experiences with his family, hospital time, and school life. His positive attitude towards his blindness and disfigurement was nothing short of inspiring. He approached his circumstances as challenges to be met head-on rather than limitations to be pitied. But along the way, he is aware of much that could be done to make the entire blind community more self-sufficient. At one point in the book, he makes a sad but humorous point by purchasing vice-grips and heading to the sidewalk. I won’t spoil the point he was making, but it was an important one.
An Inspirational Journey
Listening to this audiobook was a truly inspirational experience. The author offers an unflinching look at the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of his life. Each listening session left me eager to return and hear more of his incredible journey. His openness and honesty about his experiences provide valuable insights into the complexities of living with blindness and facial disfigurement. It was hard for me to imagine his dreams and his determination to make them come true.
A Desire for More Depth
While the memoir was profoundly moving, I found myself wishing for more detail on how Miele accomplishes daily tasks as a blind person. His story hints at innovative approaches and tools he has developed or utilized, but it wasn’t enough for me. Understanding the practicalities of his life could provide additional inspiration and guidance for others facing similar challenges. Or, of course, people like me, who gain so much from others’ strength.
Final Thoughts
The narrator did a great job of presenting the story.
Don’t overlook this fascinating story about an extraordinary man. Joshua Miele’s memoir is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the capacity to rise above even the most daunting challenges. I highly recommend CONNECTING DOTS to anyone seeking a thought-provoking memoir that is hard to forget.
My thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to listen to this audiobook before its publication. I was not obligated to post a positive review.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. Joshua A. Miele is a prominent blind scientist, designer, and thought leader in accessible technology and disability. He is a recipient of the 2021 MacArthur Fellowship, an Amazon Design Scholar, and Distinguished Fellow at UC Berkeley’s OBI. He is known for creating inclusive technologies that address critical needs and challenge societal assumptions, and for speaking with frank humor about the lived disability experience. Dr. Miele helps guide the non-visual customer experience for Amazon devices, and advises widely on accessible design, research methods, and disability inclusion. He is the father of two adult children and lives with his wife in Berkeley, California.
Wendell Jamieson worked for four major New York City newspapers during a 32-year journalism career, twice being part of Pulitzer Prize-winning teams. During his tenure as Metro editor of The New York Times, Metro staff members won two Polk Awards and were Pulitzer finalists on four occasions. He is currently the Editorial Director of Nicholas & Lence Communications in Manhattan. He is the author of Father Knows Less (Putnam; 2007) and New York by New York (Assouline; 2018). He grew up in Brooklyn and lives there still, with his wife, Helene Stapinski. They have two grown children, Dean and Paulina.
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