Kernel Books
Welcome to the Kernel Book Series
There are currently thirty Kernel Books which tell the stories of blind men and women. When the first editor, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, was asked why he chose the name Kernel Book, he said: "... In the first place, I suppose it has to do with whim. I thought the title was catchy, so I used it. But there is something more. We wanted to go to the very heart of blindness, trying to show our readers what it's really like; and, for that matter, what it isn't like."
If you are blind, what do you think and how do you look at things--not how do you look at them physically, but your point of view and perspective? In short, how do blind people live and feel on a daily basis? What we are trying to do is to cut through the sentimentality and misconceptions to the very 'kernel' of the subject of blindness.
Online Access
The entire text of each Kernel Book released--since our very first volume, What Color Is the Sun, was published in 1991--is available online. Each volume bears a catchy name but, more importantly, it bears an important message about blindness--a message delivered by witty authors writing about intriguing, yet everyday, situations.
Alphabetical Listing (follow this link)
Chronological List (see below)
- Freedom
Freedom (Audio) - Beyond the Funny Tree
Beyond the Funny Tree (Audio) - Celebrate
Celebrate (Audio) - Imagine
Imagine (Audio) - The Lessons of the Earth
The Lessons of the Earth (Audio) - To Reach for the Stars
To Reach for the Stars (Audio) - The Car, the Sled, and the Butch Wax
The Car, The Sled, and the Butch Wax (Audio) - Not Much of a Muchness
Not Much of a Muchness (Audio) - Summit
Summit (Audio) - Safari
Safari (Audio) - Reaching for the Top in the Land Down Under
Reaching for the Top in the Land Down Under (Audio) - I Can Feel Blue on Monday
I Can Feel Blue on Monday (Audio) - Oh, Wow!
Oh, Wow! (Audio) - Reflecting the Flame
Reflecting the Flame (Audio) - Remember to Feed the Kittens
Remember to Feed the Kittens (Audio) - To Touch the Untouchable Dream
To Touch the Untouchable Dream (Audio) - Gray Pancakes and Gold Horses
Gray Pancakes and Gold Horses (Audio) - Wall-to-Wall Thanksgiving
Wall-to-Wall Thanksgiving (Audio) - Like Cats and Dogs
Like Cats and Dogs (Audio) - Beginnings and Blueprints
Beginnings and Blueprints (Audio) - Old Dogs and New Tricks
Old Dogs and New Tricks (Audio) - Tapping the Charcoal
Tapping the Charcoal (Audio) - Toothpaste and Railroad Tracks
Toothpaste and Railroad Tracks (Audio) - When the Blizzard Blows
When the Blizzard Blows (Audio) - Standing on One Foot
Standing on One Foot (Audio) - The Journey
The Journey (Audio) - Making Hay
Making Hay (Audio) - As the Twig Is Bent
As the Twig is Bent (Audio) - The Freedom Bell
The Freedom Bell (Audio) - What Color Is the Sun
What Color Is the Sun (Audio)
Ordering Kernel Books
There is no charge for Kernel Books as long as supplies last. For a current listing of available formats, visit NFB Publications in our Literature section. This page will provide all of the information you will need to order Kernel Books from our Independence Market.
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