Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
Crashing Through by Robert Kurson
Add Crashing Through to bookshelf
Add to Bookshelf

Reading Guide

Crashing Through

The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See

A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See

The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See

The Extraordinary True Story of the Man Who Dared to See

By Robert Kurson

By Robert Kurson

By Robert Kurson

By Robert Kurson

By Robert Kurson
Read by Doug Ordunio

By Robert Kurson
Read by Doug Ordunio

By Robert Kurson
Read by Christopher Evan Welch

By Robert Kurson
Read by Christopher Evan Welch

Best Seller
Paperback $18.00

Aug 19, 2008 | ISBN 9780812973686

Ebook $11.99

May 15, 2007 | ISBN 9781588366252

Audiobook Download $20.00

May 15, 2007 | 613 Minutes

Audiobook Download $14.98

May 15, 2007 | 363 Minutes

All Formats
+
    Crashing Through by Robert Kurson
    Audiobook Download
    May 15, 2007 | ISBN 9781415938720 | 613 Minutes

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (3) +
    • $18.00

      Aug 19, 2008 | ISBN 9780812973686

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • May 15, 2007 | ISBN 9781588366252

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • May 15, 2007 | ISBN 9781415938720

      613 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • May 15, 2007 | ISBN 9780739343166

      363 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About Crashing Through

    Mike May spent his life crashing through. Blinded at age three, he 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. It would allow him to drive, to read, to see his children’s faces. But the procedure was filled with gambles, some of them deadly, others beyond May’s wildest dreams. 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.

    Praise for the National Bestseller Crashing Through:

    “An incredible human story [told] in gripping fashion . . . a great read.”
    –Chicago Sun-Times

    “Inspiring.”
    –USA Today

    “[An] astonishing story . . . memorably told . . . May is remarkable. . . . Don’t be surprised if your own vision mists over now and then.”
    –Chicago Tribune

    “[A] moving account [of] an extraordinary character.”
    –People

    “Terrific . . . [a] genuinely fascinating account of the nature of human vision.”
    –The Washington Post

    “Kurson is a man with natural curiosity and one who can feel the excitement life has to offer. One of his great gifts is he makes you feel it, too.”
    –The Kansas City Star

    “Propulsive . . . a gripping adventure story.”
    –Entertainment Weekly

    NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

    About Crashing Through

    In his critically acclaimed bestseller Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson explored the depths of history, friendship, and compulsion. Now Kurson returns with another thrilling adventure–the stunning true story of one man’s heroic odyssey from blindness into sight.

    Mike May spent his life crashing through. Blinded at age three, he 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. It would allow him to drive, to read, to see his children’s faces. He began to contemplate an astonishing new world: Would music still sound the same? Would sex be different? Would he recognize himself in the mirror? Would his marriage survive? Would he still be Mike May?

    The procedure was filled with risks, some of them deadly, others beyond May’s wildest dreams. Even if the surgery worked, history was against him. Fewer than twenty cases were known worldwide in which a person gained vision after a lifetime of blindness. Each of those people suffered desperate consequences we can scarcely imagine.

    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.

    About Crashing Through

    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 refuse 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.

    About Crashing Through

    BONUS FEATURE: Exclusive interview with Robert Kurson and Michael May

    In his critically acclaimed bestseller Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson explored the depths of history, friendship, and compulsion. Now Kurson returns with another thrilling adventure–the stunning true story of one man’s heroic odyssey from blindness into sight.

    Mike May spent his life crashing through. Blinded at age three, he 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. It would allow him to drive, to read, to see his children’s faces. He began to contemplate an astonishing new world: Would music still sound the same? Would sex be different? Would he recognize himself in the mirror? Would his marriage survive? Would he still be Mike May?

    The procedure was filled with risks, some of them deadly, others beyond May’s wildest dreams. Even if the surgery worked, history was against him. Fewer than twenty cases were known worldwide in which a person gained vision after a lifetime of blindness. Each of those people suffered desperate consequences we can scarcely imagine.

    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.

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Read An Excerpt

    Reading Guide

    Also by Robert Kurson

    Rocket Men
    Pirate Hunters
    Shadow Divers
    See all books by Robert Kurson

    Also by Robert Kurson

    Rocket Men
    Pirate Hunters
    Shadow Divers
    See all books by Robert Kurson

    Also by Robert Kurson

    Rocket Men
    Pirate Hunters
    Shadow Divers
    See all books by Robert Kurson

    Also by Robert Kurson

    Rocket Men
    Pirate Hunters
    Shadow Divers
    See all books by Robert Kurson

    About Robert Kurson

    Robert Kurson earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His award-winning stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Esquire, where he was a contributing editor. He is the New… More about Robert Kurson

    About Robert Kurson

    Robert Kurson earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His award-winning stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Esquire, where he was a contributing editor. He is the New… More about Robert Kurson

    About Robert Kurson

    Robert Kurson earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His award-winning stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Esquire, where he was a contributing editor. He is the New… More about Robert Kurson

    About Robert Kurson

    Robert Kurson earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His award-winning stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Esquire, where he was a contributing editor. He is the New… More about Robert Kurson

    Product Details

    Category: Biography & Memoir

    Paperback | $18.00
    Published by Random House Trade Paperbacks
    Aug 19, 2008 | 336 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9780812973686

    Category: Biography & Memoir

    Ebook | $11.99
    Published by Random House
    May 15, 2007 | 320 Pages | ISBN 9781588366252

    Category: Biography & Memoir | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $20.00
    Published by Random House Audio
    May 15, 2007 | 613 Minutes | ISBN 9781415938720

    Category: Biography & Memoir | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $14.98
    Published by Random House Audio
    May 15, 2007 | 363 Minutes | ISBN 9780739343166

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Raise kids who love to read

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

     An online magazine for today’s home cook

    An online magazine for today’s home cook