au_ro 's review for:

Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman

3.0

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The book is primarily a history of what other folks have thought about autism, concluding with two chapters on what neurodivergent folks in the modern day are doing for autism. If you're autistic hoping to learn more about yourself and your community, this isn't the book for you, but it does still have its merits as a comprehensive history of how neurotypical people have treated autistic people. My main criticism of the book is Silberman discusses horrifying atrocities against autistic folks in what I can only presume is meant to be a 'neutral' tone, but instead feels like a refusal to condemn or criticize the people in history who have horribly maligned and abused autistic people. There is no such thing as neutrality, there is only acceptance of the status quo or defiance. CW for the book: graphic descriptions of abuse/neglect of disabled people, pathologization of autistic people, medical malpractice, medical abuse, disregard of bodily autonomy, child abuse, child death, purposeful killing of children and disabled adults, death of disabled people, institutionalization, invalidation of disabled people, autism mommies, extended discussion of Nazis and the Holocaust, discussion of "curing" autism and other disabilities, mild queerphobia directed towards intersex individuals, outdated language for autistic/disabled people, etc.