READ THIS: HOPE UNSEEN: The Story of the U.S. Army’s First Blind Active-Duty Officer by Capt. Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall

This Read This critique is sponsored by Star Vodka, the premiere American luxury vodka, and the only vodka Peachy Deegan drinks! http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/12/brave-cold-star-vodka-now-comes-with.html
Let's start off by saying thank you to Tiffany Smiley; we think she should have been given co-author credit for this book because it is just as much her story, and her intelligent decisions for the long term are key to the overall success of this story and the lives of the people in it.


Although we were happy the word whom was used correctly on page five, this is not the most well-written book we have read and that disappoints us because the story itself is so outstanding. Or perhaps because the story is so outstanding we are holding the writing to a higher standard to do the story justice. We have reviewed over 200 books in the last two years, and few have had as convincing a storyline as this one, and for better or for worse, it is true. As you read these words on the computer screen, we want you to remember two things: first, you are lucky to be an American and we firmly believe this is the best country in the world, and second, you are lucky to see.


Often in life people do not know what they've got until it's gone, and that is not a comment directed at Scotty Smiley; it is an overall comment.

Captain Scotty Smiley is the Army’s only active-duty blind officer. He lost the use of both eyes when a car bomber blew himself up in front of Scotty’s vehicle. A recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, he currently commands the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center.


After you read this book, which you really should, you will have a new appreciation for all of your favorite things you see. Thanksgiving is a holiday we associate with appreciation and it was then that Peachy Deegan met Tiffany and Scotty Smiley: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/11/daylight-injured-vets-get-balloons-eye.html


Scotty Smiley is a personality that is larger than life and that will become immediately apparent in the first few pages of the book. The word can't is not in his vocabulary, he is an overachiever (like everyone should strive to be, we believe), and we love how he continually proves that he can accomplish feats that others may doubt he can achieve. Like Erik Weihenmayer (we love people from Connecticut that went to Boston College!), Smiley starts off the story by climbing Mount Rainier, as a blind person, of course.


The best part of the story is when Scotty Smiley surfs. "It was like riding a roller coaster in the dark. I had no idea what was out in front of me or when I was going to stop. But eyes or no eyes, I was engaged in life." (p. 158) It is not only Scotty that will impress you; in addition to Tiffany you will meet key characters like Andrew Harris that will touch your heart.


Our panel comments:



Reading "Hope Unseen" by Captain Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall was truly an inspirational experience. Captain Smiley is an incredible man, a true hero. His story is a love story- love for his childhood sweetheart turned wife, love for his country and love for God. My emotions ran wild reading this heart-wrenching true story. I was anxious to find out what had caused his blindness, terribly sad at the point when I finally read about the tragedy, angry at the individual who took away Captain Smiley's sight, hopeful that this hero would get his life back and finally inspired.


Captain Smiley seemingly had it all. He was raised in a loving, religious family. He married his childhood sweetheart. He graduated from West Point. He made it through Ranger School. He went to Iraq to serve his country. Then, in an instant, life as he knew it was done. How does one go forward when a tragedy of this magnitude happens?


Reading this story really made me stop and think: think of all that I have and how blessed I am and how would I proceed...would I be able to proceed if it was all taken away? Captain Smiley not only proceeded with his life, he triumphed! He didn't let himself be defined by his blindness. Instead he took on challenges that many people with sight wouldn't attempt (surfing, skydiving, climbing Mount Rainier to name a few)! And to top it all off, he remained an active-duty officer and ultimately ended up teaching at West Point. To say this man is inspirational is really an understatement. It is said that God doesn't give you more than you can handle and Captain Scotty Smiley exemplifies this statement better than anyone I know. I loved reading this story...it made me smile and at times it brought me to tears. Thank you to Captain Smiley for sharing his life story with us and for serving his country. Every American needs to read this book and send out thanks to all the men and women who protect us each and every day. God bless them all!


With Scotty Smiley, Doug Crandall captivates this account beyond belief of Smiley's childhood to being an adult with countless achievements even while blind. Not only is Smiley a hero , his wife and many others never stopped encouraging him to succeed. He is an accomplished scholar, athlete, soldier and student of the Bible. While at West Point he taught Sunday school to the children. Being injured in Iraq and blinded, he then climbed Mount Rainer. If this doesn't warm your heart and tears warm your checks you missed the fact that he teaches "Leadership" at West Point. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that these acts of valor put individuals in the unbroken line of patriots that risk their lives so freedom may live. Facing the future is hard enough without adding blindness. What a role model we have teaching in our Academy. Lastly, a big cheer for Tiffany, his wife.


Whom You Know highly recommends Hope Unseen and we look forward to featuring Scotty Smiley as a Mover and Shaker! We think you've got a lot more to give and we can't wait to hear more.


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Five years ago, Captain Scotty Smiley was on top of the world. A twenty-five year old Army officer, he was strong, fit, and whip-smart, married to a kind and beautiful woman, had graduated from West Point, survived Ranger school, and was shipping out to Iraq to fight for his country. But on April 6, 2005, the six month anniversary of his tour of duty, a suicide bomber set off a car bomb thirty meters from Scotty’s vehicle. Shrapnel penetrated his brain, and two weeks later, Scotty woke up in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, critically wounded and unable to see.


This tragic event would have defeated many others, but for Captain Scotty Smiley, it was only the beginning. This fall, he shares his remarkable journey of faith, hope and courage with the help of writer Doug Crandall in a new book: HOPE UNSEEN: The Story of the U.S. Army’s First Blind Active-Duty Officer (Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster: September 14, 2010: hardcover, $24.99). This inspiring story of an American hero will warm the hearts and capture the imaginations of readers of all kinds.

Buoyed by his devoted family, his loyal friends, and his unwavering faith in God, Scotty embarked on the frustrating, uphill battle to reclaim his life and career – now as a blind man. Since his injury, Scotty has climbed Mount Rainier, surfed, skied, skydived, earned an MBA from Duke Business School, completed a triathlon, and serves today as the Army’s first ever active-duty blind officer. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a ESPY Award, as well as the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award. Captain Smiley taught leadership at West Point and now commands the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army MedicalCenter.


“I thank God every day for the life I have been given,” says Scotty. Although his injury irreversibly damaged his body, his blindness became the catalyst for a life lived full-throttle in the spirit of hope. At a time when bad news fills the headlines, his story brings good news to anyone struggling with life’s challenges.


About the Authors:
Captain Scotty Smiley is the Army’s only active-duty blind officer. He lost the use of both eyes when a car bomber blew himself up in front of Scotty’s vehicle. A recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, he currently commands the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center. He and his wife Tiffany are the proud parents of two young children. Doug Crandall served in the Army for thirteen years, including the last five at West Point where he was an award-winning leadership teacher and later the Executive Officer to the Dean. Doug now lives in Richland, Washington with his wife Stephanie and their children.


HOPE UNSEEN: The Story of the U.S. Army’s First Blind Active-Duty Officer
by Capt. Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster: September 14, 2010: hardcover, $24.99



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