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burdasnest's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
Truly a (western) cultural history of autism, rather than a clinical reference. There are contemporary people and families navigating autism in our modern world, accounts of folks centuries ago who were almost certainly autistic, and then individuals and families throughout the "discovery" and development process through to our current understanding of neurodivergence. Silberman does an excellent job of making every single one of their stories human, relatable, and interesting, and situating them in context. He also holds immense empathy for and interest in people on the autism spectrum, without being patronizing or dismissive. His writing felt like a hug, even while some of the stories were difficult to swallow.
While the underlying theme is acceptance and inclusion, this is not necessarily a detailed guide for activism. Which is fine, it's not in the scope of the book, but those looking for that kind of treatise rather than a comprehensive history should look elsewhere.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was that unfortunately, it heaps an uncomfortable amount of praise and credit on Asperger. But it was an issue of timing- this book was written and published just before comprehensive research on Asperger's involvement with the Nazis became available. I read the audiobook, but someone who read a more recent edition of the print said that there's an addendum at the end that addresses this controversy.
While the underlying theme is acceptance and inclusion, this is not necessarily a detailed guide for activism. Which is fine, it's not in the scope of the book, but those looking for that kind of treatise rather than a comprehensive history should look elsewhere.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was that unfortunately, it heaps an uncomfortable amount of praise and credit on Asperger. But it was an issue of timing- this book was written and published just before comprehensive research on Asperger's involvement with the Nazis became available. I read the audiobook, but someone who read a more recent edition of the print said that there's an addendum at the end that addresses this controversy.
youngthespian42's review against another edition
3.0
I read this after of recent diagnosis with autism. This is a comprehensive look at the history of autism and a great embracing of the evolving moment the scientific community is at with the autism spectrum. The book has a lot of content packed into it at times and read pretty dry but lots of information if you are jumping into the world of autism or want to learn more.
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
4.0
A truly comprehensive history of how we got to where we are today with all the terrible harm and mistakes that were done along the way.
This book touches on the idea of being autistic means running a different operating system to neurotypicals but still maintains that we're subject to a bunch of mini-conditions.
This book touches on the idea of being autistic means running a different operating system to neurotypicals but still maintains that we're subject to a bunch of mini-conditions.
kanejim57's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.5
A helpful and informative book on the unfolding journey of and...battles with/for, regarding people who interact with their world differently. I found this book to be helpful in understanding the rise of what we today call neurodiversity.
dwarrowdams's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
An amazing read that gave a clear overview of the history of autism and looked towards the future. Incredibly well-researched and important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Medical trauma, and Child death
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Antisemitism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, and Transphobia