The Blind Man Game: A Memoir of Art, Activism and Adaptation

by Paul Boskind

Overview

Dr. Paul Boskind, a successful psychologist and LGBTQ+ advocate, thought he had everything under control. Diagnosed with a blinding retinal disorder at twenty-one, he defied the odds, building a fulfilling life. But years earlier than expected, his vision began to fade.

The Blind Man Game is Paul's poignant journey of self-discovery as he navigates the emotional turmoil of losing his sight and sense of self. With his future uncertain, Paul must draw on his expertise and inner strength to confront grief, fear, and a world no longer designed for him.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798891382077
Publisher:	Amplify Publishing
Publication date:	01/28/2025
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Dr. Paul Boskind holds a PhD in clinical and school psychology from Hofstra University. Paul is a successful businessman and psychologist who built a nationwide, behavioral health practice including psychology, counselors, social workers, psychiatry, and nurse practitioners. At the age of twenty-one, Paul was diagnosed with an inherited retinal disorder and was told he would go blind. This prognosis was his motivation toward completing his education and striving for financial success.

A determined and vibrant gay man, Paul has worked diligently for LGBTQ+ rights. In the past decade, Paul has seen a significant decline in his vision, creating much emotional distress and adjustment problems. He has a definitive approach for coping with loss and grief, which stems from his experience as a psychologist in treating patients and his willingness to embrace the sadness and struggles with going blind.

Paul grew up poor in a household of dysfunction and chose to extricate himself from his family of origin to create a new and healthy surrogate family and friends. His is a story of hope and determination, which will compel readers and motivate them to overcome burdens.

Editorial Reviews

2024-11-18
In this conversational memoir, a psychologist navigates a life with deteriorating vision.

As a teenager, Boskind was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a genetic condition that leads to decreased vision over time. Cataracts, diagnosed later, made it even harder for the author to move through the world like he used to do. When readers meet him at the beginning of this memoir, in 2022, he’s not only grappling with the logistics of his newly worsened disability, but also contending with grief. Knowing that his sight will continue to deteriorate as he ages, he braces himself for what’s to come by playing what he calls the “blind man game”—going about his daily activities the way that he would if his vision was completely gone. He doesn’t mask his fear and disappointment, but he also meets his uncertain future with relentless positivity: “Don’t stop. Keep moving forward. Keep dancing!” he tells himself when experiencing moments of doubt. Boskind’s affecting emotional honesty extends to other areas of his life in this remembrance, including his upbringing in a financially struggling family who wouldn’t accept it when he came out as gay. The author balances these and other sad stories with positive accounts of a supportive chosen family, financial stability (the author currently owns three homes, including an Irish castle), and friends in the U.S. government. Such a full life is difficult to contain in a single book, and readers may feel overwhelmed with information at times. The book’s organization doesn’t help, as the author often introduces important names and facts without adequate context; for example, Boskind alludes to Ireland’s Clonbrock castle multiple times before mentioning that he owns it, and he mentions knowing famous political figures long before explaining his role as a fundraiser for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Structural flaws aside, however, the positivity in this story is moving.

A remembrance that offers a comforting reminder that grief can give way to new perspectives.

Kirkus Reviews