Review of Allen Frances’ “Saving Normal.”

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“Saving Normal” is a provocatively titled book by the equally provocative Allen Frances. He has at times been demonized in the autism community, particularly for his views about the over-expansion of the autism diagnosis; whereas many in the autism community … Continue reading →

Book Review: “Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships,” by Grandin and Barron.

“Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships; Decoding Social Mysteries Through the Unique Perspectives of Autism,” is written By Temple Grandin and Sean Barron, with input and editing by Veronica Zysk. This is a remarkable book. It is quite unlike any other … Continue reading →

Review of “Different… Not Less.” (A Collection of Life Stories from Autistic Adults.)

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“Different… Not Less” is a compilation of life stories from 14 adults on the autism spectrum. The stories were brought together by Temple Grandin, who also has a chapter at the start and end of the book, and briefly introduces … Continue reading →

Review of Adam Feinstein’s “A History of Autism: Conversations with the Pioneers”

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Adam Feinsteins book, “A History of Autism: Conversations with the Pioneers”, is reminiscent of the better known book of two years prior, “Unstrange Minds” by Roy Richard Grinker. (Feinstein’s book was published in 2010, Grinker’s in 2008.) Both books consider … Continue reading →

“NurtureShock”: Book review from the perspective of a parent of an autistic child

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As a general rule I now steer clear of “normal” parenting books. I read a few before the birth of my first son, but they quickly became irrelevant in the face of his challenges. Indeed, not just irrelevant, but also … Continue reading →

The Errors and Impact of the NZ documentary, “Wired Differently”

In the wake of the passionate and high levels of interest in the autistic Christchurch looter case, “Sunday” released another autism related story last weekend, called “Wired Differently.” Even before the documentary aired, the teaser was under attack for inaccuracies, … Continue reading →

Review of Roy Richard Grinker’s “Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism”

“Unstrange Minds” is an anthropological approach to the questions of autism: Where did autism come from; who came up with the term and under what historical and cultural influences? How do different countries recognise and treat autism, and why do … Continue reading →

Review of Seth Mnookin’s “The Panic Virus”

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“The Panic Virus” is a tale of vaccines gone wrong and vaccines gone right, and how it is that autism got so tightly wrapped up with the issue of vaccine-injury. Seth Mnookin makes it easy to understand how desperate parents … Continue reading →

Review of Paul Offit’s “Autism’s False Prophets”

As I read “Autism’s False Prophets”, I found myself wishing that I’d read it years ago, so I could have been better informed and prepared to deal with all the misinformation about autism, and the dangerous therapies offered for autistic … Continue reading →

“Loving Lampposts” DVD Review

“Loving Lampposts” is a documentary about autism, specifically about attitudes towards autism, and the neurodiversity movement. It includes commentary about various therapies for autism, and interviews with some of the central personalities of the autism world, while telling the personal … Continue reading →