Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice

Tatel shares in this inspiring debut how he navigated a flourishing legal career while living with the genetic condition that cost him his sight. Born in 1942 in Washington, D.C., Tatel noticed his vision starting to decline as he approached adolescence. In 1958, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which causes the retina to break down over time. Shortly before Tatel was diagnosed, his father died of a brain tumor, leaving Tatel in the care of his emotionally distant mother, who urged him to “live a normal life” despite his diagnosis. He followed suit by graduating from law school at the University of Chicago, helping found the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, landing a position in Jimmy Carter’s administration, and being appointed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals by Bill Clinton in 1994. Along the way, Tatel struggled to come to terms with his declining vision, and hid his diagnosis from friends and colleagues. With encouragement from his wife, Edie, however, Tatel grew to accept his condition, accepting help first from a guide dog and then from emerging digital technologies. Throughout, Tatel’s humility and tenacity shine. The result is a stirring reflection on an extraordinary life. Agent: Gail Ross, Ross Yoon Agency. (June)