The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum
Ratings4
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings4
Average rating3.8
WINNER OF 'BEST NON FICTION' IN THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS 2013 It's estimated that one in almost a hundred people are diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum but there is far more hope for them today than ever before thanks to groundbreaking new research. In this fascinating and highly readable book, Temple Grandin offers her own experience as an autistic person alongside remarkable new discoveries about the autistic brain, as well as genetic research. She also highlights long-ignored sensory problems as well as the need to treat autism symptom by symptom, rather than with an umbrella diagnosis. Most exciting of all, she argues that raising and educating children on the autistic spectrum needs to be less about focusing on their weaknesses, and more about fostering their unique contributions.
Reviews with the most likes.
There is so much science packed in this book, I have to read it in short bursts. Lots of thought-provoking research and findings
The reason the age and year published help to place this is that the author has a more “practical” view (some circles might say “boomer”). It's very much oriented around succeeding in school/work and refers to “aspies” in Silicon Valley and loves the pattern, word, art, engineering sort of categories for people that have “ASD”. I find it hard to be enthralled with an “advocate” when they are mostly advocating for equal exploitation under jobs. It is a great discussion to talk about everyone's value, but it becomes a stunted discussion when it focuses on jobs/education (education that is geared towards jobs) over individuals rights to fit in a system that allows them to best function.
There's some interesting ideas, but, maybe just because of the time, none of them are exactly novel.
Not looking for an advocate to fawn over the engineering of an iphone design and touting the failure of iphone designs being that apple just didn't have the right “aspie” mixture working on any given project.
