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Just One Book

Damojo

Is there one book on Autism that you would recommend as a way of explaining yourself to others? You know, "Here, read this, it will help you understand what goes on in my head." (Sort of like that book on a different topic that my mum gave me when I was 12.)

  • in reply to profdanger
    profdanger said:
    The true Autistic agenda

    Isn't it, though. Is it just me, or is it a more general Autistic thing, that I see people as just people? Maybe it's one of those Theory of Mind things: I assume everyone is the same as me. It's not that I'm colourblind, or genderblind, or whatever; I can see that people are different. I just don't get what all the fuss is about. Who has the time to be worrying about who other people are hanging out with, or damning them for wanting a better life, or condemning them for having a bit of fun? Read a book. Go for a walk. (Though I think I'll leave it to others to host the kink parties, I'm not good with crowds, strangers, organising things, or wearing non-cotton clothing. Besides, I'd probably forget where I left my ball gag and then where would I be?)

  • in reply to Damojo
    Damojo said:
    "Deep down, don't I really want to be a polyamorous trans woman in a hierarchical polycule living on disability benefits, working part-time in an artists commune and going to kink parties of an evening?"

    Joy The true Autistic agenda Joy

  • in reply to profdanger
    profdanger said:
    There is a great deal of focus given to those with Autism who are not white males

    Yep, book 2 has a similarly broad focus, then. Devon has you asking yourself questions like, "Deep down, don't I really want to be a polyamorous trans woman in a hierarchical polycule living on disability benefits, working part-time in an artists commune and going to kink parties of an evening?" Devon explains all the words as he goes along, though, so I was sort of able to keep up. He really does give everything a wonderfully normal feel. I think I'll give book 1 a go.

  • in reply to Damojo

    Oh interesting! I haven’t read Unmasking for Life yet, but I think yes, Unmasking Autism might answer your questions a little better? The book really focuses on people’s (including his own) experiences with discovering they have Autism. There is a great deal of focus given to those with Autism who are not white males, so that might help you as well.

    Several of the books you listed I haven’t read or heard of, so I’ll have to check those out! 

    And no problem! Glad to help!

  • in reply to profdanger

    I just finished Unmasking for Life by Devon Price—that's book 2—I haven't read book 1 yet. I liked book 2. It gave me a lot to think about. Dr. Price really pushes out the boundaries on what we might seek to be in life and how we might want to live it. I think that book was the reason for asking my question: I learned a lot, but it's a book that's beyond explaining what is and more about exploring what might be. Do you think book 1 would be more the former kind of book? I'll give it a go.

    I read a few others recently (the only common theme being that they were all 99p specials in the Kindle store in the past year):

    • The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin
    • Girl Unmasked by Emily Katy
    • Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things? by Pierre Novellie
    • Neurotribes by Steve Silberman
    • Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
    • Do You Know Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
    • Untypical by Pete Wharmby
    • The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
    • Unmasking for Life by Dr. Devon Price

    None of them is really what I'm looking for, though. There are some great books and I learned a lot, but not really what I would hand to someone else as a first book, an Autism primer.

    The search continues ... unless your suggestion turns out to be "The One". Thanks, .

  • Unmasking Autism by Devon Price is the best one that explains myself that I have found so far. The author does a great job explaining how a person can go without recognizing Autism for so long and what that does to the psyche over time.