Lisa is joined by Michael Hingson who talks about his book Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero.
Michael Hingson is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, technologist and motivational speaker. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks with the help of his guide dog, Roselle. This story of teamwork and his indomitable will to live and thrive is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog and the major motion picture currently in production, coming in September 2013.
Michael Hingson and his guide dog, Roselle, saved dozens of lives by guiding him and his co-workers down 78 floors and out of Tower One just before it collapsed on 9/11. In Thunder Dog, Michael leads us through his moment-by-moment account from inside the tower. The book is also an inspiring look at Michael’s accomplishments in life. Sadly, Roselle passed away in July 2011 but posthumously won the American Humane Association Hero Dog Award for 2012 in a star-studded gala in Beverly Hills, and televised in a special feature presentation on Hallmark Channel.
Despite being blind all his life, Michael has a master’s degree in physics from University of California Irvine and is an accomplished technologist. Michael has worked with inventor, futurist, Ray Kurzweil for more than 30 years and was instrumental in the development of the first reading machine for the blind. Today, the Kurzweil brand is the preeminent name in educational software and technology for students with disabilities for which Michael is a national sales manager—improving the lives of children, students and adults with physical and learning disabilities through assistive technologies. Michael Hingson has a deep commitment to education and is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards. Innovative Speaker’s Network named Michael Hingson “one of America’s top 10 educational speakers”. Michael is a member of NACA and a member of the National Speaker’s Association.
In countless TV and radio appearances, newspaper features and magazine articles, Michael Hingson does much more than recount his 9-11 story; he continuously explores the broader lessons of his life and experiences as a blind person in today’s world and shares these lessons to educate, inspire and empower audiences world-wide. Michael has appeared on Larry King five times, and other major national broadcasts such as the Today Show, Fox and Friends, the 700 Club, Joy Behar, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and the Hallmark Channel.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
An instant New York Times bestseller, Thunder Dog tells the true story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the life-changing power of faith and trust in the face of terror.
When one of four hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson, a district sales manager for a data protection and network security systems company, was sitting down for a meeting. His guide dog, Roselle, was at his feet.
Blind from birth, Michael could hear the sounds of shattering glass, falling debris, and terrified people flooding all around him. But Roselle sat calmly beside him. In that moment, Michael chose to trust Roselle's judgment and not to panic. They were a team.
As you relive that fateful day in September 2001 alongside Michael and Roselle, you'll learn:
Praise for Thunder Dog:
"Chapter by chapter of this intriguing work will keep you spellbound. Thunder Dog celebrates the