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sksrenninger's review against another edition
4.0
I might not have picked this up if I could have scanned it first instead of reading as an ebook: I personally am not as interested in the people who did the first research on autism as I am in learning more about the experience of autism itself, so the book improved a lot for me once we made it into the later portions of the 20th century and the first-person stories of autistic people living life. Seems like there’s enough “autism” info out there that prioritizes the stories and experiences of the surrounding allistic people. I loved the anecdotes and quote throughout; both me and my autistic loved one found them very relatable
being_b's review against another edition
4.0
A (long!) look at the history of what we now call 'autism spectrum disorder.' A lot of it is grim (I read about 20% of the book very, very quickly with my eyes nearly squinched shut because it was so painful), some of it is hopeful, and I'm very glad to see the whole "story so far" presented all together in one place.
madisnowg's review against another edition
5.0
tw: ableism, child abuse
y’all ever cry at the end of a 500-page nonfiction tome on the history of autism?
this book is beautiful, from front to back. it is well-researched, unflinching in its examination of the medicalized abuse of autistic people, and tender (so tender!) in its storytelling, but still with no hint of sentimentality. silberman’s respect, enjoyment, and delight in autistic culture and its figures leaks through every page.
ableism is insidious and often a quieter kind of violence. only in tracing the history of different bodies can we see the ties to present-day oppression. silberman’s complex historical narrative will be the comprehensive supporting research people use to make sense of themselves and make right the world around them in a very beautiful way.
five stars. i am very grateful for this book.
y’all ever cry at the end of a 500-page nonfiction tome on the history of autism?
this book is beautiful, from front to back. it is well-researched, unflinching in its examination of the medicalized abuse of autistic people, and tender (so tender!) in its storytelling, but still with no hint of sentimentality. silberman’s respect, enjoyment, and delight in autistic culture and its figures leaks through every page.
ableism is insidious and often a quieter kind of violence. only in tracing the history of different bodies can we see the ties to present-day oppression. silberman’s complex historical narrative will be the comprehensive supporting research people use to make sense of themselves and make right the world around them in a very beautiful way.
five stars. i am very grateful for this book.
uriah's review against another edition
4.0
A thoroughly researched history of autism, though some chapters were written quite dully.
percy_roy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75