The World I Live In

"The World I Live In" by Helen Keller is a collection of essays written in the early 20th century. In this work, Keller shares her profound reflections on life, drawing on her experiences as a deaf-blind individual. The text delves into themes of perception, identity, and the power of human connection, emphasizing how she navigates her world through touch and imagination. At the start of this memoir, Keller introduces her audience to the significance of touch in her life, describing the tactile sensations that shape her understanding of the world around her. She begins with a tender moment with her dog, illustrating the emotional depth that can be experienced through physical connection. Keller speaks of how her hand serves as her primary means of interacting with her environment, allowing her to engage with beauty and ideas despite her inability to see or hear. This opening sets the stage for a thoughtful exploration of the nuances of sensory experience and the rich inner life that can flourish even amid significant challenges. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and her hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old. She then communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven, when she met her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan. Sullivan taught Keller language, including reading and writing. After an education at both specialist and mainstream schools, Keller attended Radcliffe College of Harvard University and became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.