Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

How Daring Dreams and Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness into an Extraordinary Vision for Life

By: Sanford D. Greenberg, Art Garfunkel - introduction

Narrated by: Art Garfunkel

As seen on the Today Show and as featured in People magazine!

The remarkable and inspiring story of a Columbia undergrad from a poor Jewish family who, after losing his eyesight to disease during his junior year, finds the power to break through the darkness and fulfill his vision for a life of great professional success and distinguished public service.

It’s a bitterly cold February in 1961, and Sandy Greenberg lies in a hospital bed in Detroit, newly blind. A junior at Columbia University from a Jewish family that struggled to stay above the poverty line, Sandy had just started to see the world open up to him. Now, instead of his plans for a bright future - Harvard Law and politics - Sandy faces a new reality, one defined by a cane or companion dog, menial work, and a cautious path through life.

But that’s not how this story ends.

In the depth of his new darkness, Sandy faces a choice - play it “safe” by staying in his native Buffalo or return to Columbia to pursue his dreams. With the loving devotion of his girlfriend (and now wife) Sue and the selflessness of best friends Art Garfunkel and Jerry Speyer, Sandy endures unimaginable adversity while forging a life of exceptional achievement.

From his time in the White House working for President Lyndon B. Johnson to his graduate studies at Harvard and Oxford under luminaries such as Archibald Cox, Sir Arthur Goodhart, and Samuel Huntington, and through the guidance of his invaluable mentor David Rockefeller, Sandy fills his life and the lives of those around him with a radiant light of philanthropy, entrepreneurship, art, and innovation.

©2020 Sanford D. Greenberg (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Among the best and most inspirational memoirs I’ve ever read

This is truly a treasure. Sandy’s story is an inspiration to people with all kinds of limitations. True, he is an exceptional human being. Not everyone has the intellect and character that he possesses. But we do not have to let our limitations define us. Art Garfunkel‘s reading was truly wonderful. And the fact that they have been such a close lifelong friends makes it even more meaningful. Thank you Audible for this unforgettable experience.

Good story of perseverance

Very interesting and inspiring story; great beginning and middle; in my humble opinion the writer becomes a bit boastful toward the end, i.e., whom he knows, (big wigs in politics and American culture). Also a lot politically-leaning (there are no surprises about the author’s political affiliation etc, still) - many readers don’t share the same love and reverence about certain former presidents or politicians.

Inspiring, heart-warming, poetic

So so good. Poetic and powerful. A story for the ages of perseverance, hope and friendship through the incredible challenges face by Greenberg.

great and inspiring book

this is a wonderfully inspiring book. i would def recommend it to my friends. i enjoyed both the book and the narrating

Powerful

This narrative speaks to the reader on so many levels—it transcends simply being a biography of Greenberg’s life.

Challenged by this Brilliant Book & Story

I listened to this book because I myself am vision impaired….as readers cannot put down an amazing book I could not stop listening to this incredible inspirational story! How Sandford d Greenberg rose above his circumstances and made something amazing of his life is fantastically heart warming and outstanding. I would recommend this audible book to everyone…..to read of the amazing friendship between Sandford and Art Garfunkel was extremely interesting and an indication of how good friends can make such an impact on our lives…..well written, brilliant book!

Too disjointed. Flowery voice.

The flowery reading style of Art Garfunkel spoiled this book for me. I enjoyed the initial insight into blindness, but the book became very disjointed. Very disappointing.

Loved the story and slice of recent history

Loved 99% of it but the end was not as good as the rest of the book. Greenberg's life, juxtaposed with the era where it all took place, was fascinating. His "party" at the end of the book wasn't as engaging. Art Garfunkel's voice is still one of the gentlest voices around and he was the perfect narrator.

Beautiful, positive and uplifting

Brilliantly delightful to hear an improbable blindness being turned into a beautiful, positive uplifting story.

Moving and Inspirational

I had never heard of the author of this autobiography. A genius who lost his eyesight because a physician who was incompetent and unwilling to see that the procedure he was following was blinding his young patient. San Greenberg, his family, and friends took an unusual road. They allowed him to deny that he was blind and therefore allowing him to reject government assistance. His motivation allowed to move around our sighted world. Was it his girlfriend/wife and later his 4 children who became real reason for his ability to keep dreaming for sight for everyone.