Chapter Thirteen, Chapter Fourteen, and "Blindness: A Left-Handed Dissertation"

Chapter Thirteen

Select one of the ten lessons from "Guide Dog Wisdom" (page 173) and explain how it relates to events in your own life.

Chapter Fourteen 

Why did Hingson decide to begin sharing his 9/11 experiences? Has it helped others?

Blindness: A Left-Handed Dissertation

Evaluate Kenneth Jernigan's premise that blindness and left-handedness are both merely "annoyances." How does he structure his argument? Is he successful in persuading the reader that his assertion is true?  

Chapters Ten, Eleven, and Twelve

Chapter Ten

1. Do you agree with Kenneth Jernigan's definition of blindness? Why or why not?
2. Re-read Hingson's second paragraph on page 125 ("If there is just one message about blindness ..."). How has his life been spent living this philosophy?

Chapter Eleven

1. The opening of the chapter shifts the book's point of view dramatically, and these shifts continue throughout this section. Are these changes effective, or are they too jarring? Why?

Chapter Twelve

1. Evaluate the impact of 9/11 on Hingson's personal and professional life. How did the events of that morning change him?

Chapters Seven, Eight, and Nine

Chapter Seven

Hingson writes, "For blind people, emerging technology is changing the rules of the game, and the sky's the limit." Name some of these changes, and describe the role that Hingson has played in making them a reality.

Chapter Eight

Provide examples of how Hingson's blindness has been both a help and a hindrance in his professional career.  

Chapter Nine

Address the role of religion in the author's life. In what ways does the shepherd-and-sheep image have special significance to him?