Eyes to the Wind

A Memoir of Love and Death, Hope and Resistance

By: Ady Barkan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - introduction

Narrated by: Bradley Whitford

In this “gripping story of resistance and the triumph of human will” (Senator Elizabeth Warren), activist and subject of the documentary Not Going Quietly Ady Barkan explores his life with ALS and how his diagnosis gave him a profound new understanding of his commitment to social justice for all.

Ady Barkan loved taking afternoon runs on the California coast and holding his newborn son, Carl. But one day, he noticed a troubling weakness in his hand. At first, he brushed it off as carpal tunnel syndrome, but after a week of neurological exams and two MRIs, he learned the cause of the problem: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. At age thirty-two, Ady was given just three to four years to live. Yet despite the devastating diagnosis, he refused to let his remaining days go to waste.

Eyes to the Wind is a rousing memoir featuring intertwining storylines about determination, perseverance, and how to live a life filled with purpose and intention. The first traces Ady’s battle with ALS: how he turned the initial shock and panic from his diagnosis into a renewed commitment to social justice—not despite his disability but because of it. The second, told in flashbacks, illustrates Ady’s journey from a goofy political nerd to a prominent figure in the enduring fight for equity and justice whose “selfless activism fighting to make health care a right should be an inspiration to us all” (Senator Bernie Sanders).

From one of the most vocal advocates for social justice, Eyes to the Wind’s “primary question is existential: how to live when you are dying? Barkan’s answer is to share, open up, act, and capital-R Resist, and his memoir, clearly and candidly written, establishes a legacy” (Booklist).

Includes an excerpt from the song “Eyes to the Wind” by The War on Drugs!

Inspirational and beautiful Memoir

Being a RN in California and part of NNU has kept me active in the Medicare for All struggle for many years. Ady is the most inspirational warrior in this fight and I’m grateful he has shared his personal life story with the world to motivate us to continue fighting for a Single Payer Universal health system in America!

Incredible

Eyes to the Wind is an incredible story that will leave you inspired, laughing, and crying. I’m so grateful to Ady for taking his precious time and attention to write this book.

The narration by Whitford is moving and powerful. Five stars to both the story and the narration.

Everyone should read/listen to this book

Ady’s story is both sad and joyous. The diagnosis of ALS focuses his fight for equality in ways one wonders would happen without it. A brilliant mind in a deteriorating body, Ady turns his advocacy for justice issues into a specific fight for healthcare. His story is empowering in the face of tragedy and I found myself crying at the unfairness yet inspired by his continued fight for his fellow humans.

Inspiring!

This is well narrated by Bradley Whitford. I absolutely recommend this. I’ve listened the past 2 days on a solo road trip. I have teared up a few times, but it’s mostly inspiring. It’s reinforced a lot of what I’ve recently been grappling with regarding civic action and political resistance as well as humanity in general.

Stop whatever you are doing and read this now

A heartfelt and humbling reminder that if you are unhappy with the current US administration and its absurdities, you must do everything in your power to work to save our democracy. If you don’t have kids, do it for Ady’s son, Carl. Thank you, Ady, for your amazing work — pre & post-ALS.