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selaadin's review against another edition
4.0
A very good resource for research into autism, especially with its links and contrasts with mental disorders.
jonas_gehrlein's review
5.0
A bit short but comperehensive overview over autism.
Quite good description of the handicaps with Theory of Mind and weak central coherence.
It focuses maybe a bit to much on cases but absolutely recommendable for anyone who wants to know more about the disorder,
Quite good description of the handicaps with Theory of Mind and weak central coherence.
It focuses maybe a bit to much on cases but absolutely recommendable for anyone who wants to know more about the disorder,
edders's review
3.0
Following the recommendation in An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks I bought this book to gain a more detailed and scientific understanding of autism. Though I have no contrasting evidence, this book seems to hold up well since it's original publication in 1989 and my copy dating to 1994. It is a measured, interesting and readable bit of work which works from typical autistic presentation and aims to draw together the many disparate features of autism underneath one theoretical developmental defect. Quite a mouthful, but then so much of this type of writing is! That said, overall this book was well written and did not confuse or deliberately favour jargon or medicalisation.
The final theory expounded in 'Autism' is that the disorder is developmental and is most simply expressed, cognitively, as a problem in developing a theory of mind. Theory of mind is the idea that I as a person have one mind and other people surrounding me have different minds, with different aims and different information to act from. The way it is presented makes it convincing that this is something that those with nuclear autism struggle with, even when they are not comorbidly mentally retarded (as very many autistic people are). There is a fascinating analysis of language in autistic people and it contrasts with analysis of normal language and communication. Analysing why autistic people communicate in an unusual way made me reflect on how we normally communicate, and that was very interesting. There is such a huge divide between the plain information of the words we say and what we intend to communicate that I am only now appreciating.
Overall this was an enjoyable, interesting and educating read. I have only given it a moderate review because I am skeptical of how well it has held up into the present day, as so often scientific findings are overturned by later findings. This notwithstanding this is a good book in its own right and I recommend it.
The final theory expounded in 'Autism' is that the disorder is developmental and is most simply expressed, cognitively, as a problem in developing a theory of mind. Theory of mind is the idea that I as a person have one mind and other people surrounding me have different minds, with different aims and different information to act from. The way it is presented makes it convincing that this is something that those with nuclear autism struggle with, even when they are not comorbidly mentally retarded (as very many autistic people are). There is a fascinating analysis of language in autistic people and it contrasts with analysis of normal language and communication. Analysing why autistic people communicate in an unusual way made me reflect on how we normally communicate, and that was very interesting. There is such a huge divide between the plain information of the words we say and what we intend to communicate that I am only now appreciating.
Overall this was an enjoyable, interesting and educating read. I have only given it a moderate review because I am skeptical of how well it has held up into the present day, as so often scientific findings are overturned by later findings. This notwithstanding this is a good book in its own right and I recommend it.
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