Blindingly Obvious: The beautiful vision of Minnie B. Leader and blind social pioneer

by Minnie Baragwanath

This is the moving story of a woman who, throughout her life, has refused to be defined by what others think she can or cannot do.Minnie Baragwanath was diagnosed, at the age of 15, with a congenital condition that left her legally blind. However, she did not meekly accept the limitations that blindness might have imposed on instead, she dug in her heels and set about improving not only her own life but also the lives of all New Zealanders with access needs.The dramatic events of Minnie’s life – losing her sight, being admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Japan at 19, becoming a television presenter, participating in the New York Marathon, surviving life-threatening illnesses, founding and leading innovative organisations, receiving prestigious awards (including the New Zealand Order of Merit) – are related in vivid detail. Minnie looks candidly at both her challenges and her triumphs, giving the reader the opportunity to share her exceptional experiences.This book has the potential to change our views of what ‘disability’ means. Minnie’s far-reaching ideas on how our society could be transformed – to everyone’s benefit – are not just intellectual they are based on her experiences, and on those of the many people with disability with whom she has worked.There is a growing demand for information about ‘diversity and inclusion’. This book, with its keen insight into what it means to be in meaningful relationship ‘with’ one another, and in particular how we as a society choose to relate to leaders and pioneers of a more progressive world, breaks new ground on those subjects.“This book speaks to what is possible from the edges if you are willing to risk everything to make a real and lasting difference. Buy it, read it. You will be challenged and changed.”—JOHN ALLEN, CIVIC LEADER AND ACTIVISTAuthor Minnie Baragwanath has always had a love of language and the written word. Before her sight deteriorated during her teenage years as a result of a congenital sight condition, she read widely and always imagined she would become a writer one day. However, this dream became more distant as her sight worsened and her access to the literary world gradually disappeared from view.Despite struggling to see her books, Minnie persevered, majoring in English Literature during her Bachelor of Arts degree in her late teens, and then completing a Bachelor of Communications in her mid-20s. Today, 30 years on and thanks to the advent of new technology, including digital platforms and audio books, the literary world is now, finally, wide open to her.At the time of writing Blindingly Obvious Minnie was living in Auckland New Zealand with her niece Caitlin and wee dog Floyd. However, shortly after her book was published in 2023, Minnie made the decision to move to Whanganui, a small progressive town in the North Island of New Zealand with a vibrant creative community. Minnie consciously made this move so she could continue her writing and also be creative in other fields.Blindingly Obvious is her first book, and she hopes it will not be her last.“I encourage you to read this book with a sense of urgency because the sooner you do, the better chance we collectively have to see the blindingly obvious state of the world and why/how this needs to change. Minnie’s beautifully crafted words have shed a unique spectrum of light on what it takes to truly ‘be’ and what it means to genuinely stand ‘with’ each other as we look to design an accessible, inclusive and e

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2023

Reviews

[Megan Baragwanath · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got to the end of this book I felt inspired by Minnie’s resilience. Minnie throughout her life has had hundreds of times where she could have given up, times that were so very difficult that you or I could not have coped with. Times that you or I might have had as a worst nightmare, Minnie had to live with. Minnie came very very close to giving up in Japan, (she was travelling at the time throughout Japan and was hired to teach English at a Japanese school which was incredibly difficult) a place where for a legally blind person she was, “incredibly alone.” Imagine not being able to, “see nor speak,” the language that surrounds you. Think of how difficult simple daily tasks such as going somewhere, eating and getting changed was for Minnie, “I now felt unable to control anything in my life in Japan - what I ate, what I wore, where I went and who I could talk with.” Minnie lasted that nightmare for 6+ months. Although she ended up in a mental hospital in a horrible condition, Minnie lived through it. I cannot imagine how scared she must have been - she was only 20 when she lived through that ordeal. I am inspired by not only how she lived through Japan but by how she overcame it. Minnie did not let all of the hardships she lived through hold her back in life; she let them shape her into the determined person she is today striving for better access for disabled and blind people. The resilience Minnie has had throughout life is something we can only admire. By writing this book she has not only given us a sight into what life is truly like for a blind woman, but she has given us all the opportunity to feel inspired by what she has overcome. When I now think my life is difficult I will think of Minnie’s because just as John Allen said about this book, “You will be challenged and changed.”

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a moving and inspirational book! Minnie blew me away with her bravery, vulnerability, and her ability to not let her significant health challenges define or limit her. She demonstrates the tremendous value of taking risks for personal growth and development. A thought-provoking question she is asked in a social change workshop is; ‘Who do we choose to be in this world?’, a question I’m still pondering. Another significant takeaway message for me as a health professional is the importance of collaboration, connections, and being ‘with’ ourselves and ‘with’ others if we are to make a genuine and lasting difference in people’s lives. I’ve also gained a new appreciation for how inaccessible our cities and spaces are for so many people, and I’m going to think about what I can do to start some conversations about this in my community and workplace.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a woman!! I live in Auckland- how come I haven’t heard of her before?
Such an inspiring book with many life lessons for everyone abled or disabled.

[Daria Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening, challenging, and inspiring. This book has given me a great deal of things to think about, and take action on, in my professional and personal spheres.