Attend a Virtual Jewish Book Council Talk by David S. Tatel on Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice
Thursday, February 6 at 2:00 P.M. on Zoom
Free and open to the public. Register for this event in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYocO6prT0pGNcgOHk_JsBtv60Ia8k0k-0M
Falmouth Jewish Congregation invites everyone to this free, virtual Jewish Book Council author talk on Thursday, February 6 at 2pm, an event marking JDAIM: Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (February). A full listing of JBC author talks can be found at the website homepage, too.
"Vision is charming, wise, and completely engaging. This memoir of a judge of the country’s second highest court, who has been without sight for decades, goes down like a cool drink on a hot day." —Scott Turow, #1 bestselling author of Suspect
“With modesty and wit, this winning memoir recounts the remarkable career of a civil rights lawyer who succeeded Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — the nation’s second most powerful court — all while battling a disease that left him blind. His book is at once a meditation on his vision of equality under the law and a memorial for it.” — Editor's Pick (New York Times)
This event marks JDAIM: Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month
David Tatel served nearly 30 years on America’s second highest court, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where many of our most crucial cases are resolved — or teed up for the Supreme Court. He has championed equal justice for his entire adult life; decided landmark environmental and voting cases; and embodied the ideal of what a great judge should be. Yet he has been blind for 50 of his 80-plus years. Initially, he depended upon aides to read texts to him, and more recently, a suite of hi-tech solutions has allowed him to listen to reams of documents at high speeds. At first, he tried to hide his deteriorating vision, and for years, he denied that it had any impact on his career. Only recently, partly thanks to his first-ever guide dog, Vixen, has he come to fully accept his blindness and the role it has played in his personal and professional lives. His story of fighting for justice over decades, with and without eyesight, is an inspiration to us all.
Visit David S. Tatel's excellent website to learn more and link to articles, podcast, essay and more:
https://www.davidtatel.com/
Listen to an interview on NPR with Terry Gross of Fresh Air:
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/03/g-s1-8041/a-retired-federal-judge-reflects-on-going-blind-and-losing-faith-in-the-supreme-court
Read Adam Liptak's piece in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/27/us/david-tatel-vision-blindness-supreme-court.html
What critics are saying
“A moving, thoughtful, and inspiring memoir from a thought leader and federal judge who has vision for the things that matter most.” — Brian Stevenson
“The one-word title of this compelling and deeply personal memoir is perfect: his half-century of blindness notwithstanding, Judge David Tatel’s vision of justice has never dimmed.” — Linda Greenhouse, author of Justice on the Brink
“Tatel’s brilliantly told story isn’t just important for our personal lives but also for our lives as citizens.” — Timothy Shriver, chairman, Special Olympics
“One does not have to agree with his politics to recognize a man of vision and grace.” — Michael W. McConnell, director, Stanford Constitutional Law Center
“David Tatel has written the book that his friends and admirers always hoped he would write but expected he would NOT.” — Nina Totenberg, author of Dinners with Ruth
“Read this book, and you will have a whole new vision of what it means to be a truly remarkable person.” — Geoffrey R. Stone, professor, University of Chicago Law School
“Deeply moving and packed with wisdom.” — Frank Bruni, New York Times