• Crashing Through

  • The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See
  • By: Robert Kurson
  • Narrated by: Doug Ordunio
  • Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (575 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Crashing Through  By  cover art

Crashing Through

By: Robert Kurson
Narrated by: Doug Ordunio
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Blinded at age three, Mike May defied expectations by breaking world records in downhill speed skiing, joining the CIA, and becoming a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and family man. He had never yearned for vision.

Then, in 1999, a chance encounter brought startling news: a revolutionary stem-cell transplant surgery could restore May's vision. The procedure was filled with risks, some of them deadly, others beyond May's wildest dreams. There were countless reasons for May to pass on vision. He could think of only a single reason to go forward. Whatever his decision, he knew it would change his life.

Beautifully written and thrillingly told, Crashing Through is a journey of suspense, daring, romance, and insight into the mysteries of vision and the brain. Robert Kurson gives us a fascinating account of one man's choice to explore what it means to see - and to truly live.

©2007 Robert Kurson (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"A remarkable story of courage and endurance." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Crashing Through

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    310
  • 4 Stars
    183
  • 3 Stars
    60
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    190
  • 4 Stars
    77
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    207
  • 4 Stars
    66
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining, Educational, Exceptional

I found myself totally amazed by the true story of Mike May. His "go for it" determination in spite of being blind was incredible. He accomplished so much that many sighted people would even have the nerve to try. Then, his insights into seeing and how sighted people take so much for granted astounded me. I can only imagine his contribution to the science of sight and assistance to the unsighted. This was a very fascinating, fun read (listen!) and I unreservedly recommend it. #InsightIntoTheBlind #SightForTheSeeing #SetYourMindToIt # tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic must-read or must-listen to book.

Not only is Mike Mays story simply amazing, it is motivational for anyone who faces any challenges. It would be hard to find somebody who has overcome as many challenges as this stories main character has. Kudos to his wife in this story for being an amazing supporter of him, not to mention being highly patient and tolerant. The book is exceptionally well written, highly detailed and informative, and very well narrated. I can't recommend it highly enough. There are no negatives about it whatsoever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great book. A really really great book!

I really enjoyed this. I’ve now read lol of Kurson’s book and enjoyed them all

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing inspiring story

Robert Kurson has done it again! Intense details and the real life tragedy turned scientific miracle! Truly a fascinating account of a brave strong fearless man and his beautiful family.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Story

This was enjoyable and interesting - kept my attention to the very end. The reader, however, was not as articulate as I would have liked and occasionally slurred a word. This would not change my enthusiastic recommendation for this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An inspiration and a godsend for me!

The book provides a very palatable insight into what it is like to be blind. It provides an understanding of vision itself in a hard-to-put-down cadence. I recently had a health event that has left me partially blind. I couldn't have read Mike May's story but being able to listen to it as I have been healing has truly been balm to my spirit. Mike' sense of adventure and attitude towards obstacles is contagious and I found myself excited to not just hear the next chapter of the book but to face the next chapters of my life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

whao this was amazing

I learned A lot about vision, and gave me new perspective on out senses and how we perceive the world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Now through a glass darkly...

The title "Crashing Through" implies a momentous breakthrough that never quite appears in the book. Granted, the story is about a man, Michael May, who gains sight after more than 43 years of blindness, and his struggle to make sense of visual information after so many years of dormancy. But I kept waiting for a breakthorough to normalcy that never happens.

As it turns out, sight is more complex than any of us might have suspected, requiring far more than simple sensory input. Yet May is a remarkable man and his willingness to let us share in the intimate details of this struggle makes this a singular read. Without May's insights this would just be another story of science falling short of the mark. With it, we are treated to a far deeper awareness of the complexities of vision, an appreciation for its gifts, and understanding of what it must be like to see, even just a little, after so many years of blindness.

This book has done what I expect of all great books, it has left me pondering the significance of many of its values and ideas and has been the source of many conversations with my friends and family.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An Amazing Life and Excellent Book

It's been awhile since I've listened to a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend to all my book-loving friends. Kurson's descriptions regarding the perceptions of the newly sighted are mind-bending. Mike May is an incredible inspiration, especially to our young people. I plan to encourage our school to use all or part (for the elementary kids) of this book for our next community reading program. (Last book was Three Cups of Tea - another BRAVO book!)

When I recommend this book to a friend who has already ready it, we both say, "Wasn't it marvelous?". Use your credit, dig in and enjoy. Oh, and the narrator is quite good too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book

This is the best book I have listened to in a long time. I am a teacher for the blind and low vision so I love learning more about it. This book taught me so much and was an incredibly interesting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful