In this
inspirational and moving memoir—reminiscent of When Breath Becomes
Air and The Bright Hour—activist Ady Barkan explores his life with
ALS and how his diagnosis gave him a profound new understanding of
his commitment to social justice for all.
Ady Barkan loved
taking afternoon runs on the California coast and holding his newborn
son, Carl. But one day, he noticed a troubling weakness in his hand.
At first, he brushed it off as carpal tunnel syndrome, but after a
week of neurological exams and two MRIs, he learned the cause of the
problem: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou
Gehrig’s disease. At age 32, Ady was given just three to four years
to live. Yet despite the devastating diagnosis, he refused to let his
remaining days go to waste.
Eyes to the Wind is
a rousing memoir featuring intertwining storylines about
determination, perseverance, and how to live a life filled with
purpose and intention. The first traces Ady’s battle with ALS: how
he turned the initial shock and panic from his diagnosis into a
renewed commitment to social justice—not despite his disability but
because of it. The second, told in flashbacks, illustrates Ady’s
journey from a goofy political nerd to a prominent figure in the
enduring fight for equity and justice who is “willing to give [his]
last breath to save our democracy” (CNN).
From one of today’s
most vocal advocates for social justice, Eyes to the Wind is
an evocative and unforgettable memoir about activism, dedication,
love, and hope.