The Autistic Brain
A cutting-edge account of the latest science of autism, from the best-selling author and advocate.
When Temple Grandin was born in 1947, autism had only just been named. Today it is more prevalent than ever, with one in 88 children diagnosed on the spectrum. And our thinking about it has undergone a transformation in her lifetime: Autism studies have moved from the realm of psychology to neurology and genetics, and there is far more hope today than ever before thanks to groundbreaking new research into causes and treatments. Now Temple Grandin reports from the forefront of autism science, bringing her singular perspective to a thrilling journey into the heart of the autism revolution.
Weaving her own experience with remarkable new discoveries, Grandin introduces the neuroimaging advances and genetic research that link brain science to behavior, even sharing her own brain scan to show us which anomalies might explain common symptoms. We meet the scientists and self-advocates who are exploring innovative theories of what causes autism and how we can diagnose and best treat it. Grandin also highlights long-ignored sensory problems and the transformative effects we can have by treating autism symptom by symptom, rather than with an umbrella diagnosis. Most exciting, she argues that raising and educating kids on the spectrum isn’t just a matter of focusing on their weaknesses; in the science that reveals their long-overlooked strengths she shows us new ways to foster their unique contributions.
From the “aspies” in Silicon Valley to the five-year-old without language, Grandin understands the true meaning of the word spectrum. The Autistic Brain is essential reading from the most respected and beloved voices in the field.
Bio
Temple Grandin, author, animal scientist and autism activist, received her master’s degree in animal science from ASU (1975) and PhD from the University of Illinois. She was honored in Time Magazine’s 2010 list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World,” and the HBO movie based on her life, starring Claire Danes, won seven Emmy Awards. She is a professor at Colorado State University.
Praise for this book
[Grandin’s] most insightful work to date. … 'The Autistic Brain' is something anyone could benefit from reading, and I recommend it to anyone with a personal or professional connection to autism or neurological difference.
John Elder Robison author of Look Me in the Eye
"Grandin has reached a stunning level of sophistication about herself and the science of autism. Her observations will assist not only fellow autistics and families with affected members, but also researchers and physicians seeking to better understand the condition."
Jerome Groopman The New York Review of Books
