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Ken Brandt

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://www.kenbrandt.com/

Twitter

KenBrandtAuthor

Genre

Memoir, Adventure, Humor and Comedy

Member Since

October 2020

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/kenbrandt

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Ken Brandt is the author of the adventure and humor filled memoir “Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight”. He has led a fun and adventurous life and had a successful business career despite (or perhaps in part because of!) his bad eyes.

Poor eyesight never impacted Ken’s vision of what life could be. Whether galloping across the Montana range, exploring claustrophobic (and fiery!) caverns, chasing a thief through the streets of 1980s New York, or taking a plunge from a plane, his adventures are sure to entertain. Complementing the adventures are his amusing and relatable anecdotes demonstrating the advantages of poor eyesight.

Ken has always had poor vision and slightly crossed eyes. He has undergone six e ...more

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Average rating: 4.69 · 39 ratings · 23 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight
by

Ken Brandt (Goodreads Author),

Rob Youl (Foreword)

4.69 avg rating — 39 ratings — 6 editions

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Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight

by Ken Brandt (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: adventure, biography, eyesight, humor, memoir, non-fiction, self-help, vision, favorites, visual-impairment, currently-reading

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Ken Brandt said: " I wrote this book, so don't think it would be fair for me to rate or review it. Instead, here is a review that appeared in New York Insights, that was written by their Editor: Viola Kanevsky, OD.

This month I came across a new book written by Ken Bra I wrote this book, so don't think it would be fair for me to rate or review it. Instead, here is a review that appeared in New York Insights, that was written by their Editor: Viola Kanevsky, OD.

This month I came across a new book written by Ken Brandt. A lighthearted short read, it gave me a different perspective of life with low vision and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know how their patients might perceive the world through less than perfect optics. Mr. Brandt, although he doesn’t explicitly say so, appears to suffer from the consequences of retinopathy of prematurity, including degenerative myopia, strabismus, retinal detachments, and cataracts.

Born in 1954, he was kept in an oxygen tent at UPMC in Philadelphia. Since the technology to monitor or regulate oxygen did not exist, and a fundus examination of preterm infants was not routinely performed, the results were the typical retrolentalfibroplasia seen in cases where uncontrolled oxygen is delivered to the pre-term infant. The rate of ROP in most prematureinfants has decreased significantly in developed countries over the past few decades due to better care in NICU, however, as more premies are now able to survive, these very tiny babies are at the highest risk for ROP. But let’s return to Ken Brandt, who hasn’t researched the precise causes of his vision loss, but is simply happy and grateful to rely on his optometrist’s andophthalmologist’s guidance. This book is not about ROP, it is not about loss, it is not about disadvantage. Rather, it is about finding silver linings and seeing the bright side of each situation because clarity and acuity are never simply a function of sharp vision.

Captain of his university’s parachuting team, Ken describes being excited about his new-found, thrilling hobby, only to meet with the disappointing pronouncement of his eye doctor, namely, that his detached retinas would not bear further assault from this turbulent amusement. Undaunted, he packs away the skills he has learned and tries his hand at metalworking at the tops of Manhattan skyscrapers. Two jobs in and his supervisor requests a letter from his eye doctor certifying his vision is adequate for working in construction. Once again, his eye doctor disagrees. What I very much enjoyed about this book was that every time I was ready to feel sorry for the man and ashamed of my profession for constantly limiting his choices, he surprised me with his bright and cheery outlook. Instead of lamenting the curtailing of a career he clearly enjoyed, he says, “maybe the eye doctor was right- maybe I avoided some injuries and prolonged my life by having to choose another line of work.” I’ve often felt sad watching someone with low

fumble with elevator buttons but no more - according to Ken, “a lot of poor-vision people are great walkers because of…not having a driver’s license, or…taking the stairs because we cannot find the elevator buttons.”

Peppered throughout the book are multiple knee-slappers that the last generation of eye doctors inflicted upon their patients. I must admit I rolled my eyes several times as I visualized my father’s optometrist doing his usual schtick at the end of his refractions, “Ever been to an optimistic optometrist? They’ll tell you that your glasses are half-full!” Bu Dum Tss! On the other hand, last week a kid asked me if I had any good optometrist jokes and I instantly pulled out another one from the book, that I thought would be awful, “What do you call low vision dinosaurs? Doyouthinktheysaurus?” The kid almost rolled off the chair. Never underestimate the power of borscht belt humor.

If you want a quick and amusing read that will give you insight into the world seen through the eyes of a partially sighted patient, I highly recommend, Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight by Ken Brandt. 2020, the year that should have been the year of vision, is the perfect time to contemplate what happens when things don’t go exactly as you had envisioned they would.

If you want a quick and amusing read that will give you insight into the world seen through the eyes of a partially sighted patient, I highly recommend, Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight by Ken Brandt. 2020, the year that should have been the year of vision, is the perfect time to contemplate what happens when things don’t go exactly as you had envisioned they would. ...more "

May 09, 2021 04:29AM · see review

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Ken’s Recent Updates

Ken Brandt liked Ebenezerezekiel's review of Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight: "Positive Vision is a unique and uplifting memoir that blends humor, adventure, and perspective. Ken Brandt shares his life experiences with honesty and wit, showing how challenges—especially vision-related ones—can be approached in a completely diffe" Read more of this review »
Jul 07, 2026 03:00AM · see review
Ken Brandt liked P Bagel's review of Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight: ""Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventures and Advantages of Poor Eyesight" by Ken Brandt is like a wild ride through life, full of unexpected twists and turns, all while showing us the silver linings of not-so-perfect eyesight. This memoir is a deligh" Read more of this review »
Jul 07, 2026 03:00AM · see review
Ken Brandt is now following Ebenezerezekiel's reviews
Jul 07, 2026 02:58AM · like
Ken Brandt liked that Lizzy is now a friend of Ken
Jul 07, 2026 02:53AM
Ken Brandt commented on Jane’s update " Interesting point. On the one hand I completely agree. On the other hand, if my body could be used for something useful after I die, that would be nic ...more " Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars Jane Mcconnell shared a highlight from Man Who Never Was: World War II's Boldest Counterintelligence Operation (Bluejacket Books) by Ewen Montagu See all Jane’s notes and highlights for this book even in the stress of war one’s natural respect for the sanctity of the human body remains a powerful instinct.
Jul 07, 2026 02:48AM
Ken Brandt liked Jane’s update Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars Jane Mcconnell shared a highlight from Man Who Never Was: World War II's Boldest Counterintelligence Operation (Bluejacket Books) by Ewen Montagu See all Jane’s notes and highlights for this book even in the stress of war one’s natural respect for the sanctity of the human body remains a powerful instinct.
Jul 07, 2026 02:46AM
Ken Brandt is now following Cath Staincliffe Author of The Fells (Detectives Donovan & Young #1)
Dec 03, 2025 04:15PM · like

More of Ken's books…

Quotes by Ken Brandt (?)

“Although my vision is far from 20/20, 2020 is a great year to write a book about enjoying the adventures and advantages of poor eyesight.”
― Ken Brandt

3 likes

“See the Bright Side
Everyone with poor eyesight must be a bit adventurous to do some of the same things routinely
done by people with normal eyesight. If you are not there yet, you might be in the future: Many people’s vision deteriorates a bit as they age, pushing them into this adventure zone.
Clearly good sight is better than bad sight, however, in my experience, there are some positives to having poor vision.
For me, a longer life, more adventure and discovery, and greater creativity and imagination are the bright side of poor vision. I believe my bad eyesight has contributed to better handeye coordination, balance, presentation skills, and enhanced use of my other senses. Poor vision also makes it easier to enjoy a more beautiful world and improve racial harmony. Seeing the bright side makes life more fun for you and those around you.
Once you’ve done everything you can to protect your eyes, take care of your eye health, and safely improve your vision, then:
• Relax and be grateful for whatever sight you have;
• When you decide to go for something, give it a red-hot go, and
• Love the challenges, see the bright side, appreciate the advantages, and enjoy the adventures of poor eyesight.”
― Ken Brandt

tags: adventure, eyesight, humor, inspirational, self-improvement, vision

1 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Goodreads Reviewe...: Twitter	111	589	Mar 31, 2026 01:55PM
Memoir Authors: * Introduce Yourself	1908	1072	Jul 02, 2026 10:56PM

Ken’s Quotes

tags: adventure, eyesight, humor, inspirational, self-improvement, vision

1 likes

“Watching television requires less of an effort than reading newspapers and magazines, which is its greatest danger. (Chapter 12)”
― Michelle Passoff, Lighten Up!: Free Yourself from Clutter

tags: time-management

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“There are times when it is prudent to turn the other cheek, especially when it comes to spouses, family members, and friends. Courtesy and love are contagious and are far more effective over the long-haul than trying to ruin the reputation and well-being of another. (Chapter 7)”
― Jon M. Huntsman Sr., Winners Never Cheat: Everyday Values We Learned As Children but May Have Forgotten

tags: courtesy, love, patience

3 likes

“... action makes all the difference. (Chapter 1)”
― Michelle Passoff, Lighten Up!: Free Yourself from Clutter

tags: self-improvement

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“Indulge your passion for science…but let your science be human, and such as may have a direct reference to action and society. Be a philosopher; but amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.”
― David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding