HCM CITY (VNS)— A Vietnamese translation of the autobiography Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic, an Australian who was born without arms and legs, was introduced to readers at a meeting in HCM City on Tuesday.

Vujicic wrote Life Without Limits in 2010 when he was 27 years old. In it, he describes how he overcame his disabilities.

Since he was born, Vujicic has suffered from Tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive congenital disorder characterised by the absence of all four limbs.

Vujicic tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured trying to deal with them as a child and a young adult.

"For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation," he writes.

But once he found his own sense of purpose – inspiring others to make their lives and the world better – he found the confidence to live a rewarding and productive life without limits.

Today, Vujicic can play golf, swim and surf and is now an internationally successful speaker. He has also given more than 1,600 speeches to millions of people in 24 countries and territories.

He calls on young people to find purpose in life and never give up despite difficulties.

He will visit Viet Nam in May next year to meet readers and take part in various programmes.

Life Without Limits was translated into Vietnamese by Nguyen Bich Lan, a young woman who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at aged 13.

Despite her poor health, she has made enormous efforts to study English and become a distinguished English teacher and translator.

The 36-year-old has translated 24 books from English into Vietnamese.

The Viet Nam Writers' Association last year awarded her its top honour for her translation of Slumdog Millionaire.

"People with disabilities are silently overcoming difficulties in life and will feel that they are encouraged by what Vujicic says in the book," Lan said.

Viet Nam is the 20th country in the world that has purchased the copyright to translate Life Without Limits.

The Vietnamese version, Cuoc Song Khong Gioi Han, was published by Tri Viet (First News) Co and HCM City's General Publishing House. The country's major libraries own 30,000 copies of the 416-page book. Those who buy the book will also receive a DVD about Vujicic's life. — VNS