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98th out of 131 books
—
298 voters
Hope Unseen: The Story of the U.S. Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer
A nervous glance from a man in a parked car. Muted instincts from a soldier on patrol. Violent destruction followed by total darkness. Two weeks later, Scotty Smiley woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, helpless . . . and blind.
Blindness became Scotty’s journey of supreme testing. As he lay helpless in the hospital, Captain Smiley resented the t...more
ebook, 256 pages
Published
September 14th 2010
by Howard Books
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You've graduated from The Military Academy at West Point and you've completed your Ranger Training, a required course for all First Lt.s. coming out of West Point, before you are allowed to lead soldiers in the field.
You're also a newly wed and looking forward to living a full life with your bride. Your orders come in and you are heading to Iraq. Both your wife and you have been church going, praying and Bible reading Christians all of your lives. So, everything is going your way and a year lo...more
You're also a newly wed and looking forward to living a full life with your bride. Your orders come in and you are heading to Iraq. Both your wife and you have been church going, praying and Bible reading Christians all of your lives. So, everything is going your way and a year lo...more
I am not usually a big fan of books about people who lived through a traumatic event, and I’ll tell you why. Some books tell readers everything about a person’s life, when really, we just want to know about the traumatic event and recovery, with enough backstory to make it meaningful. But please, don’t tell me about your sixth grade dance. Other books about traumatic events either don’t feel authentic, as in, the author doesn’t really let us see the ugly side of their journey because he/she does...more
Title: Hope Unseen
Author: Capt. Scotty Smiley http://www.hopeunseen.com/
Pages: 256
Year: 2012
Publisher: Howard Books
How many biographies have you read? Have you ever read any autobiographies? Hope Unseen is a very inspiring life story about “The U.S. Army’s First Blind Active-Duty Officer.” Many times throughout our lives we may have planned, prepared for and achieved our goals that were at one time a dream. Now, coming through the other side of such adversity, Captain Scotty shares his life an...more
Author: Capt. Scotty Smiley http://www.hopeunseen.com/
Pages: 256
Year: 2012
Publisher: Howard Books
How many biographies have you read? Have you ever read any autobiographies? Hope Unseen is a very inspiring life story about “The U.S. Army’s First Blind Active-Duty Officer.” Many times throughout our lives we may have planned, prepared for and achieved our goals that were at one time a dream. Now, coming through the other side of such adversity, Captain Scotty shares his life an...more
This cannot fail to be an inspiration to all who read it. Captain Smiley was first introduced to me at our church where he was invited to speak for the Memorial Day weekend service. His book was there for sale also and I purchased it and had him sign it after the service. Great experiences of suffering can either deepen one's faith or cancel it out, depending on what choices we make. Scotty Smiley and his wife, Tiffany, are two people who have allowed God to deepen their faith through suffering...more
Mar 12, 2011
Alexandria knox
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all Enlisted, NCOs, Comissioned, and civilians
Recommended to Alexandria by:
military professional reading list
A Hope Unseen, Inspiration from an Army Captain and What His Words on Leadership and Life Have Taught Me
It is devotion to duty and selfless service that makes America the nation it is today. This is my review of Hope Unseen by Captain Scotty Smiley. This book is amazing. It is one of the recommended books on the Military Professional reading list. Captain Smiley is an Active Duty Army Officer who lost his sight in Iraq. His book touched me so much because I was born totally blind myself, and my...more
It is devotion to duty and selfless service that makes America the nation it is today. This is my review of Hope Unseen by Captain Scotty Smiley. This book is amazing. It is one of the recommended books on the Military Professional reading list. Captain Smiley is an Active Duty Army Officer who lost his sight in Iraq. His book touched me so much because I was born totally blind myself, and my...more
Captain Scotty Smiley, might not see things like we do, but it doesn't mean he doesn't see what is important and how to live his life despite seemingly difficult circumstances. While serving in Mosul in Iraq he became the target of a suicide bomber and subsequently lost his eyesight. He could have dealt with things as most of us would have and simply come home and attempt to live a life as best as he could now being completely blind, but he didn't. He did things most of us only imagine. He scale...more
Oh, this book was great. I picked it up Friday and spent a good portion of my weekend in its pages, finishing it up on Sunday. Scott Smiley is a good balance of light-hearted and profound as he details his journey from West Point cadet to battalion leader in Iraq to blind active duty officer now teaching leadership at West Point. His tremendous faith in God and love for his family & friends & country shines through and uplifts. Read it read it read it!
A Remarkable story! Hope Unseen by Captain Scott Smiley and Doug Crandall works in so many ways. Scott Smiley was a platoon leader in Iraq when a bomb blinded him for life but not before he helped save the men under his command. He received the Purple Heart. He climbed up a mountain, surfed in Hawaii, got his M.B.A. from Duke and won the MacArthur Leadership Award--all while blind! This is also a great faith story. He was strong in the faith of the Lord, lost it, and now he gives talks in church...more
I thought this book was full of raw emotion well put into words. It is honest and was a boost for me in the faith department. I have been to West Point, so I understand a lot of the lingo, but I think it would be very meaningful to someone who didn't have that background as well. I wouldn't want to be in CPT Smiley's shoes, but I appreciated him showing me what it might be like. He is truly a hero and a leader of character and I am honored that he is still serving in our Army.
Really good read that I just couldn't put down. Its the story of a soldier who lost his eyes in a car bomb in Iraq and his struggle dealing with a new life of blindness. Scotty is also a man of faith and the book talks a lot, very honest and frank, about the subsequent loss of faith and his renewing his faith through what would be a testing time for anyone. I liked how the book wasn't just about Scotty, it is also about his wife, who's also had her life turned upside down by Scotts blindness.
I g...more
I g...more
Encouroat the challenges. aging telling of a man who struggles to accept an awful situation. I appreciate that he doesn't sugarcoat the challenges. Since he is honest about the hardship, the victory is also believable. As a teacher, I especially liked his honest portrayal of his first teaching experiences. I plan to use his story in my class - to help students realize you only lose if you quit trying!
I've been searching for a Christian biography where someone struggles with their faith. There is no such struggle in this book. I feel like it skimmed the edges of his "real" feelings. I'm disabled. I could imagine the loss of sight. I wonder if an able-bodied person felt what he felt through his writing. I don't think so, but my opinion might be biased, because I was hoping for something different.
This is a very moving story about an officer in the Army who loses his sight while serving in Iraq. You will follow him on his journey through the loss of his sight to accomplishing goals he never thought possible.
This book is not about the tragedy of something lost but about the hope for a future. From mountain climbing to surfing you will follow this brave man as he conquers adventures even a man with sight may find hard.
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how it showed the positive and nega...more
This book is not about the tragedy of something lost but about the hope for a future. From mountain climbing to surfing you will follow this brave man as he conquers adventures even a man with sight may find hard.
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how it showed the positive and nega...more
This was a gift from a good friend and BOY what a great gift it was. He's endured unimaginable challenges, but still Capt. Scotty Smiley praises God. It's a great story, humourous anecdotes, and just what you need when you start feeling sorry for yourself or wondering what God's purpose really is.
Everyone should read this book. Written with complete honesty of his thoughts and feelings. This man has amazing integrity to choose life and life abundantly instead of defeat. Also so encouraging to see how the hand of God has worked in his life and to remind us all the joys of walking by faith!
Read this for book club - not really my cup of tea as I'm not really a fan of heavily inspirational stories. The best part, by far, was the description of the scene where he was injured. That chapter was quite compelling, and I wish the writing in the rest of the book had been able to stand up to that.
My hat's off to Smilely for his service and for conquering graduate level statistics without the add of scratch paper, chalk board or calculator. Wow. Otherwise, this book is strictly for God's sheep, of which I am not. This and the lack luster writing brought on the low rating.
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Hope Unseen is a wonderful account of one man's faith in God through unexpected circumstances. Captain Smiley candidly shares his experiences, thoughts, trials, and triumphs with the reader. Scotty and Tiffany Smiley's lives are a testimony of God's faithfulness to His children and are an inspiration to others.
This was one of the most inspiring books I've read in a long time. This man is amazing and it really helps you prioritize your life. So well written that you laugh and cry with Scotty and his family and friends. Must read book.
Imagine you have lost your eyesight and now you not only have to relearn everyday tasks as a blind person, but you also want to continue your military career? Active Duty Army Officer, Scott Smiley inspires the reader with his stalwart faith and courage in his book, Hope Unseen. Scott found the strength to reclaim his career, despite his injuries while serving in Iraq, and pursued his athletic achievements even after losing his eyesight. He climbed Mount Rainier, surfed, skydived, won an ESPY a...more
The amazing story of a soldier who lost his eyesight in war but retained his commission as a blind officer in the United States Army; also of his wife who refused to give up or to sign away her husband's career.
This is a very engaging story of strength, loss, faith in God and learning to do the most with the life you are given. It is an autobiography but in no ways is it dry and boring. I strongly recommend this book.
My niece and her husband gave me this book to read. What a heart wrenching yet hope filled book. If all of us could approach life at Captain Smiley it would be a better world
Scotty was able to overcome a horrible challenge of blindness through his faith, family, and friends. What he did was inspiring. But the book could have been better written.
Who says blind people can't be in the military? Scott Smiley, former Army ranger, speaks of his battles with faith and hope in God after shrapnel takes his vision.
inspirational story about a family friend of ours. I love the honesty and vulnerability expressed throughout this book. Well worth the read!
I loved reading this book. The way Captain Smiley tells his story helps you to live those few years right alongside Tiffany and him. I love the way he talks about his faith, and how he takes you on the journey of his high and low points. Great story. Great book.
Excellent book about hope and courage and the love of life. Scotty and Tiffany are truly amazing people.
Really enjoyed this book - Steve has heard Scotty Smiley speak earlier this year...what an amazing story.
This book, while a very easy read was inspiring. Scott suggests we all look toward the future and see the positives in life. He explains how easy it is to get lost in the complaints, worries and fears we all share.
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