Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello fellow autistic people, I thought I would recommend this brilliant book by Nick Walker. It’s about the neurodiversity paradigm and autistic culture, it is basically a collection of her essays on these subjects.
I hope this interests you and you enjoy the book as much as I do!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neuroqueer-Heresies-Neurodiversity-Empowerment-Possibilities/dp/1945955260/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2D4T9NJO9MFI6&keywords=neuroqueer+heresies&qid=1660426637&sprefix=neuroq%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1
Thank you for the recommendation. I’m looking for some books to read on autism and the autistic experience as I haven’t read anything yet. I, perhaps wrongly, felt like I needed to wait for a diagnosis before doing any reading. It’s a year on from my diagnosis and I feel ready, after joining in here and exploring this website along with others, to do so.
Perhaps this will be the book I will start with. Do you, or anyone else for that matter, have any other recommendations to go alongside this one, as a good place to start my reading?
Thanks in advance.
I would recommend reading the following by autistic people:
Temple Grandin - The Autistic Brain, thats a good book about autism and also herself, and worth reading about her as age means she was a child when autism wasn't really know enough, and far from how things are today.
Chris Packham - Fingers in the Sparkle JarDara McNulty - The Young Naturalist
Bought those two as align closely, both as child and adult.
Two books I haven't bought yet but should be good based on what i know.
I can recommend Drama Queen by Sara Gibbs based on following her on twitter, though not bought it yet, though should.
Explaining Humans by Camilla Pang, recommended off twitter.
Also Pete Wharmby has a book coming out next March called Untypical, which should be good
NT authors:
The Complete Guide to Aspergers by Tony Attwood, controversial author but this book was useful to me to understand high-functioning autism
No problem. I can also recommend Aspergers In Love by Maxine C. Aston for those in relationships, because it highlights typical difficulties and issues that occur.
Buying the kindle version first is a good idea, if available, as you can instantly download it and start reading it, and then if you now its worth it for you then buy the paperback/hardback version later on.
Thank you for going to the lengths you have to write this all out. It’s nice to have a starting point. I wasn’t having too much luck on my own. I’m interested in the Temple Grandin book you recommended, it sounds like an ideal starting place. I’m interested in the Chris Packham book too as another good starting point. Thanks again.
Much of the book is more about describing how our thoughts affect us, and how our beliefs affect our thoughts, its working on a better version of yourself that moves away from negative or harmful thoughts or just those that undermine yourself.
Yes I imagine a book based on CBT would be less intense. You can work through it at your own pace.
I haven't had CBT therapy and that might not have worked, but that book is less intense though still about thinking rationally as that reduces anxiety than worrying about bad or unlikely outcomes based on past experience. I worked on different bits at a time as too much to try all at once each day.
Thanks for the recommendation, I shall research. I am glad the book helped you, CBT sometimes doesn’t work for autistic people.
I think Dara does want to follow in Chris Packham’s footsteps/or do some similar like nature conservation. I have seen him on Springwatch before, he would make a great presenter because he is so passionate and engaging when talking about wildlife.
Another great autistic person following their passions to make a difference!
He has his own website that you might be interested in:
https://daramcanulty.com/
And in the autism self-help book category....
I strongly recommend Overcoming Anxiety & Depression on the Autism Spectrum by Lee A. Wilkinson.
Its CBT based, and helped me greatly, hard work and took me a long time as kept slipping back. Also helped with frustration/anger, which it also covers, I'm sure many autistic people know those two well also.
He is, and I hope he follows in his footsteps though he may not want to of course, needs to do what's right for him, and he has been doing that carefully.
I have read Dara McAnulty’s book too, it is really descriptive. He is almost like a young Chris Packham.
Thanks for the other recommendations, I shall research.