Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think differently by Steve Silberman
Book summary
One line summary: A history of Autism from the earliest research to highlighting the growing neuro diversity movement researched by journalist Steve Silberman. Foreward is by neurologist Oliver Sacks (9 July 1933 - 30 August 2015)
Rating: Recommend to others
Format:
Kindle
Narration: N/A
Chapters: 12 plus an introduction and epilogue
Table of Contents:
Introduction: beyond the geek syndrome
The wizard of Clapham common
The boy who loves green straws
What Sister Viktorine knew
Fascinating peculiarities
The invention of toxic parenting
Princes of the air
Fighting the monster
Nature's smudged lines
The Rain Man effect
Pandora's box
In autistic space
Building the Enterprise: designs for a neurodiverse world
Epilogue: the mayor of Kensington.
Pages / Length: 544
*Notes progress: started
*What’s it about / The book in 3 sentences
A history and evolution of the Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism
A collection of the stories of the individuals and families that fought and strived to find answers for themselves and their childrens difficulties.
The development, criteria and understanding of Asperger’s syndrome and autism and how this has changed over the years.
*How I discovered / Who recommended
Liked the book cover and was recommended as part of Kindle unlimited
*Impression / big Ideas:
Chapter 1 The Wizard of Clapham Common.
chapter is a review of the lives of Henry Cavendish ( the father of modern Physics) and Paul Dirac (one of the greatest theoretical physicist). Cavendish appeared to have great struggles interacting socially. For example one story states he accidentally bumped into a maid on his stairs he immediately set about constructing a second private set to avoid this happening again. While Dirac similar seemed to struggle until he married “you have made a wonderful alteration to my life. You have made me human” (p36,p2,L9)
The chapter also introduces Oliver Sacks and how he proposed the possibility of both men having ASD. Oliver Sacks books An Anthropologist on Mars, and THe Man who mistook his wife for a hat, by his writing on these cases.
The final part introduces the shift from a single discreet condition of Leo Kanner tot he spectrum approach of Lorna Wing. This approach and the 1994 DSM change of emphasis shifted the public’s understanding of Autism resulting in many parents becoming “amateur researchers themselves, like the man who calculated the density of the earth in his back yard with the help of his global network of correspondence.” (Silberman P45, p1,L6)
Chapter 2 The Boy who loves Green Straws
Overview of 11 year old Leo Rosa, routines and how his parents manage, including the us of Starbucks green straws as part of his “stimming’ routine. THese struggles extend beyond home to having to get him an appropriate education that he I legally entitled to.
The chapter touches on the various “cures” that were promoted including the work of Paediatrician Martha West and “holding therapy” where a parent would hug there child for an hour each day. The influence of ABA, diet “leaky gut syndrome” - the Andrew Wakefield stuff). This is done via the journey Leo’s parents went through and ends with idea of making peace with autism as a lifelong disability rather that a disease of children that can be cured.
Chapter 3 - What Sister Viktorine Knew
*Three Quotes / Summary Notes
[one line/ paragraph summary of book / key idea]
Journalist Steve Silberman’s well researched history of Autism from the early work of Dr Hans Asperger and Dr Leo Kanner, who both identified(separately) key criteria. Right up to the emergence of the neurodiversity movement.
The very large book (546 pages) uses research, anecdote and personal stories to outline the the history of Autism. Some of these also look at people from history who displayed key traits but before the condition was recognised. Like the scientist Henry Cavendish (10 October 1731 – 24 February 1810, considered the father of modern physics) who appeared to have great struggles interacting socially. For example one story states he accidentally bumped into a maid on his stairs he immediately set about constructing a second private set to avoid this happening again.
There are also personal stories of family and professionals who helped fight to shape our understanding of autism. How the film ‘Rainman’ came to be as well many other fascinating stories and information. I enjoyed this book a lot and thought it was not only well written but that Silberman had clearly done his homework in researching the book. It is not one that I would recommend for everyone but if someone was interested in a really good overview of autism then
this is the book to choose.
Buy it here
Audiobook version here