Scott MacIntyre has been blind since birth, but he has never let that stop him from chasing his dreams.

His book, appropriately titled By Faith, Not By Sight, provides a glimpse into his life and the obstacles that he has faced–not only with blindness, but with a life-threatening illness that nearly claimed his life. Through all of the struggles he endured, one common thread hold them all together: his faith. He held onto what he knew was true–that God was/is in control and that at the end of the obstacle, he’d be able to look back and see everything in context.

Scott was in the top ten during season eight of American Idol, and his life inspired thousands through that experience. Though I’ve only seen a couple of episodes of that show, it was really great to get a behind the scenes look at what it’s like to be a contestant and the challenges that they face. His faith is evident throughout the book, even after he was eliminated from the show unexpectedly:

God had already saved me from so much and blessed me with so much more. In my darkest moments, I had realized that with every obstacle comes an opportunity to trust him. Getting eliminated wasn’t the end. Although I couldn’t see where I was going, I knew God was leading me and I was willing to follow. My reality has always been driven by faith and not by sight.

I read this book in one day because it so captivated my heart. He tells his story with a refreshing and genuine humility that is inspiring. So often, people who reach “celebrity status” seem to possess a false humility that merely covers their pride. Scott possesses a genuine humility and a thankfulness for everyone who has helped him get to where he is today–living his dream and sharing his incredible talent with the world.

Among other things, the book has made me really think about what it would be like to be blind and it has given me a greater appreciation for people with that disability and for those who work with the blind. I also loved reading about his family and the incredible relationship they all have. His parents never told him that he couldn’t do something because he was blind–they challenged him to figure out how to make it happen. Because of their belief in him, he went on to accomplish amazing things!

This is a great story, and it belongs in every household.

 I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.