Book Description
Born on a Blue Day is a journey into one of the most fascinating minds alive today -- guided by its owner himself. Daniel Tammet sees numbers as shapes, colors, and textures, and he can perform extraordinary calculations in his head. He can learn to speak new languages fluently, from scratch, in a week. In 2004, he memorized and recited more than 22,000 digits of pi, setting a record. He has savant syndrome, an extremely rare condition that gives him almost unimaginable mental powers, much like those portrayed by Dustin Hoffman in the film Rain Man.
Daniel has a compulsive need for order and routine -- he eats the same precise amount of cereal for breakfast every morning and cannot leave the house without counting the number of items of clothing he's wearing. When he gets stressed or is unhappy, he closes his eyes and counts. But in one crucial way Daniel is not at all like the Rain Man: he is virtually unique among people who have sev- ere autistic disorders in that he is capable of living a fully independent life. He has emerged from the "other side" of autism with the ability to function successfully -- he is even able to explain what is happening inside his head.
Born on a Blue Day is a triumphant and uplifting story, starting from early childhood, when Daniel was incapable of making friends and prone to tantrums, to young adulthood, when he learned how to control himself and to live independently, fell in love, experienced a religious conversion to Christianity, and most recently, emerged as a celebrity. The world's leading neuroscientists have been studying Daniel's ability to solve complicated math problems in one fell swoop by seeing shapes rather than making step-by-step calculations. Here he explains how he does it, and how he is able to learn new languages so quickly, simply by absorbing their patterns. Fascinating and inspiring, Born on a Blue Day explores what it's like to be special and gives us an insight into what makes us all human -- our minds.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting view inside an autistic mind.......2007-10-11
I thought this was a really interesting read. The perspective was like no other and while I certainly still could not say I know what it's like to be autistic, I felt that Tammet gave some good insight into his mind and how he thinks and how he views the world.
Excellent.......2007-10-10
As a mother of a child with high functioning Autism I found this book extremely interesting. However, even if I had no direct connection with Autism this book is very good. It is wonderfully written; engaging and quick to read. I appreciate Daniel Tammet sharing his story and highly recommend it to anyone.
Not Terribly Engrossing.......2007-08-07
The introduction for this book, in which Tammet describes his savant skills and his synesthesia, is really the most interesting part, and one wishes that the remainder of the book could have been so. As it is, it is a memoir about a life that, despite the curiosity of his Asperger's syndrome and his talents, is actually rather ordinary.
It is interesting to hear him describe the mental manifestations of his mild autism, but as the book moves on, it actually does not effect his life as much as you'd think. When you see him on television programs, in fact, you would hardly guess the mental stress he undergoes to interact with people.
Until late in the book, no one seems particularly interested in Tammet's outstanding language and math abilities, which seems a shame. The memoir has been produced precisely because he has been discovered, but I can't help but think that a different kind of book would have been a better, more interesting way to learn about Tammet. While his brain is fascinating, his life story isn't nearly so.
Nice book about synesthesia.......2007-08-03
This is a nice first person narrative about synesthesia. I enjoyed reading another person's perspective of synesthetic problem solving by means of spontaneous, intuitive pictures. I know of synesthetes that have had to go through extensive occupational therapy to heal hypersensitivities to light, sound, etc. I wonder how he just got over it at some point.
I rate this book a 5 star because it is rare to find a book about synesthesia written by the people who live it and know it best.
A beautiful book!.......2007-08-01
This is really a beautiful book. I really mean beautiful. Yes it is a great book and a great read, but the difference between this book and other great reads is that this is truly a beautiful book.
The author will take you right into his mind and will show you how he visualizes the world around him. You might think he is a genius, capable of feats we mere mortals are incapable of. For example, he can perform extraordinary math in his head. He can calculate the number Pie (22 divided by 7, or 3.14.....) to more than 22,000 digits in his head! In fact, he holds the world record! Give him any numbers, such as 34,768 multiplied by 67,879, and he'll spit out the answer in an instant, faster than it would take you to enter the digits in a calculator.
How can he calculate so fast? What is his secret? The author, Daniel Tammet, sees numbers as shapes, colors and textures. He also experiences emotions by visualizing numbers. He says, "If a friend says they feel sad or depressed, I picture myself sitting in the dark hollowness of number six to help me experience the same sort of feeling and understand it. If I read in an article that a person felt intimidated by something, I imagine myself standing next to the number nine...By doing this, numbers actually help me get closer to understanding other people (p. 8-9, Hodder 2006, paperback). On page 11, he says, "Some nights, when I'm having difficulty falling asleep, I imagine myself walking around my numerical landscapes. Then I feel safe and happy. I never feel lost, because the prime number shapes acts as signposts." He further adds, "Five is a clap of thunder or the sound of waves crashing against rocks. Thirty-seven is lumpy like porridge, while 89 reminds me of falling snow...The number four is shy and quiet...Prime numbers feel smooth, like pebbles."
The author also knows how to speak 11 languages (he even invented one of his own), and he can speak a language fluently from scratch in a week. He learnt Icelandic in one week during a TV interview in Iceland! He says, "Seeing words in different colors and textures aids my memory for facts and names."
In case you are wondering, Tammet sees days of the week as colors. Wednesday, the day he was born, is `blue'; thus the title of the book, `Born on a Blue Day'.
Is the author a genius?
Daniel Tammet has Savant Syndrome, an extremely rare form of Asperger's that gives him almost unimaginable mental powers, much like the Rain Man (Kim Peek) portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. But he is unique among people who have severe autistic disorders in being able to live a fully independent life. He travels by air alone and visits many countries for interviews, research, and to appear on TV. His first flight abroad was to Lithuania where he worked as a volunteer English teacher. It was there he realized that he could live an independent life. He also traveled to America on his own to film the documentary Brainman.
One reviewer said that statistics recently released placed one out of every 150 births as an autistic child. This is by no means a small number. But not all autistic children have the abilities of Tammet or Peek. It is believed that there might be fewer than 100 worldwide!
So what makes Tammet and Peek different from other autistic people, and particularly us?
Tammet's Savant talents likely resulted with a short bout with epilepsy at the age of 4. Scientists studying Tammet and other Savants believe that something in the brain triggers the Savant abilities. If scientists can pinpoint this trigger, can they make us all into supercomputers? The research into the brain is still ongoing, and I must say, is quite fascinating. A lot of it is explained in this book.
However one should not forget that we too have many abilities that we take for granted, such as our ability to communicate clearly (most autistics don't have this ability); understand each other; cope with our surroundings etc...
This book is an insight into what it is like to be a high-functioning autistic. The author explains his life from birth (as related by his parents) to the present time (2006). Some scenes are very touching, like the death of his cat, the illness of his father, and the loneliness he experienced. Other scenes are really funny, like how he didn't like shaving because he was very sensitive to the sound of the blade on his skin (his boyfriend Neil later shaved for him, and taught him to use an electric shaver which he liked using). In fact, sounds bother him, and he often plugs his ears with his fingers. He also says that he eats exactly 45 grams of porridge for breakfast each morning. How does he know this? Well, he actually measures his porridge!
He sometimes sleepwalks. As a child, his parents always made sure his room was tidy at night, for fear he would stumble on something while sleep walking.
He explains how since an early age he was attracted to males, and how he approached his first crush while in high school. He was politely rejected. He then met his true love through the internet years later. He didn't know how to tell his parents. When he finally mustered the courage and the words to face his parents, he was surprised that they immediately supported him. All they wished for was his happiness. He eventually moved in with his boyfriend Neil. They are still together today.
He explains how difficult it is to love as an autistic, and how autistics view love. There is also a chapter on his views on religion which I found inspiring. He says, "...my moral values are based more on ideas that are logical, make sense to me and that I have thought through carefully, than on the ability to `walk in another person's shoes'. I know to treat each person I meet with kindness and respect, because I believe that each person is unique and created in God's image." (p. 282).
He now joins scientists in exploring his mind. He does not mind being a guinea pig as long as there is a benefit to mankind. Imagine one day we can think like him. Imagine being able to solve any mathematical problem! I think it was Einstein who once said that we only use 5% of our brain. What if we can unlock the other 95% of our brain? Imagine being more powerful in processing information than the fastest computer! This is not a dream. People with Savant Syndrome can do just that. The Rain Man (Peek), for example, memorized over 7,000 books, and is able to retrieve any information with page numbers from any of these books!
I love reading books, and I am proud of my thousand plus book library. Imagine having the power to actually put this library in my mind! It would be like all the books in my library are scanned into my brain, giving me a Google like search within my own brain! Will scientists, with the help of Savants, help unlock the full potential of our brain?
Tammet is now a famous man. He has appeared on several Television shows such as with David Letterman and 60 minutes. Together with his boyfriend Neil they began an internet-based company specializing in teaching languages, which has become extremely successful and popular with millions of hits a month.
This is a beautiful book. You will live through the author his life story from his birth to the present time, and unlike other memoirs and biographies, you will find yourself living inside his mind.
One reviewer put it this way, "Being `normal' is nothing extraordinary. Being born Daniel Tammet was truly extraordinary!"
We are all different, and must all respect and love each other. This was my last thought as I read the last sentences of this book. He says, "Everyone is said to have a perfect moment once in a while, an experience of complete peace and connection, like looking out from the top of the Eiffel Tower or watching a falling star high in the night sky...I imagine these moments as fragments or splinters scattered across a lifetime. If a person could somehow collect them all up and stick them together he would have a perfect hour or even a perfect day. And I think in that hour or day he would be closer to the mystery of what it is to be human. It would be like having a glimpse of heaven." (p. 283-284).
This book will change your outlook on life. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and you'll know the meaning of beautiful!
Book Description
Framed with both humor and compassion, the book defines the top ten characteristics that illuminate the minds and hearts of children with autism. Ellen's personal experiences as a parent, an autism columnist, and a contributor to numerous parenting magazines coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum.
Customer Reviews:
Good book but could be an article.......2007-10-05
The author says the book was originally an article she wrote. She got a huge response and made the article into a book. I think the desired effect of the book isn't probably any better than an article. The ten things are good ones, but maybe not enough for a book. This is a worthwhile book if you are new to working with kids with autism/autism-like features. It is a worthwhile book if you are a parent have feel like you have no clue how to interact with your child (though you do -- use your heart, do what you feel led to. Pray. God will help). As far as learning anything earth-shattering -- no. It is common sense.
Great Quick read.......2007-10-03
This book is a great way to help family and friends learn more about Autism. The book is fast and informative. Anyone can understand it's concepts and empowers people to do something for those affected by Autism in their life.
A Keeper.......2007-10-02
It hasn't been that long since I discovered that Sam has some form of Autism, still not clear what form although I definitely have some strong opinions, but this is the first book I picked up that addresses children and autism specifically.
I am reminded of when I had a stillborn baby.
I had to take my time before I could read anything about stillbirth. It was too painful for a while to even crack open a book.
That is how this has been, there has been quite a bit of grief associated with this realization, so when I began to read Ellen Notbohn's book the tears began to flow because I knew I had found a kindred spirit. The first big distinction she makes, as reviewers have noted, is that my child has autism, he is not "autistic." He is not the disorder. He is Sam, still perfect little Sam, who just so happens to have autism. It is not just semantics and word order, it is state-of-heart.
This invaluable resource gives a short-nuts-and-bolts approach in the beginning and then embellishes with detailed ideas and suggestions for living this life with your child.
I kept thinking, "If I had read this last year, I would have recognized Sam in the pages, we wouldn't be in this educational quagmire we are in..." and then I remembered another very important tidbit in the book.
Patience. Patience. Patience.
There are numerous gems in this title. I wish I had read it years ago, so I could recognize this possibility in my child.
It is highly engaging, practical and easy to follow. I will share it with other family members so they will understand how to relate to my little boy.
A Great Read!!.......2007-09-04
Get it! Read it! This was a wonderful book that put so many things into perspective for me. I have ordered more copies to give to grandparents and my child's teacher. Excellent book!
A good resource for educating friends and family.......2007-08-26
This book is a good, quick read. It provides a broad overview of the typical symptoms associated with ASD. I don't know if I'd rush out and buy a copy for everyone I know, though. Some chapters explain extreme cases of the disorder. I would read it, then maybe recommend certain chapters to friends and family based on your child's individual personality. Maybe even make notes about your child in the margin and then pass the book around. Since ASD is really different in every child, it's hard to make an exact description of the "Ten Things" they'd want you to know. However, the author does make a good attempt, and she presents the information in a way that is easy to understand.
Average customer rating:
- Wonderful read
- Great
- RULES...Rule #1...READ THIS BOOK!
- KCS: how to live with a neurotic sibling
- Terrific!
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Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
Cynthia Lord
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0439443822 |
Book Description
Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules-from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"-in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful read.......2007-10-16
As a mom of special needs kids, I loved this book! It's from the perspective of a typical sister, which is a nice perspective. The book also shows how loving the sister can be, which is a wonderful change from most books, on any subject. A lesson from the book can be that no matter how frustrated you are, you can still be nice.
Great.......2007-10-15
This is a wonderful book about a girl's life dealing with her struggle to be normal with a pretty profoundly autistic younger brother. She really works hard to be honest with herself, and is not always successful. Unlike a lot of children's books, this one even has an ending I can live with. It's touching without being saccharine, satisfying without being overly neat and tidy. Just a wonderful book with great characters (including the parents, who veer from the stock set appearing in most children's books).
RULES...Rule #1...READ THIS BOOK! .......2007-10-11
Cynthia Lord has created a wonderful, endearing and entertaining story that opens up discussion for so many life lessons. Working with kids with autism, I welcome with open arms this enjoyable teaching tool. I would recommend this as required reading for kids from 4th grade all the way through 7th. I think the characters are realistic and they teach from the heart. It is a good tool for teaching kids (and adults) about taking the extra step to learn more about those around us. I loved the relationship between Catherine and Jason and enjoyed "watching" Catherine create new words for Jason which opened up his world a bit more. Kudos to Ms. Lord on her Newbery Award. Education, compassion and understanding are lessons this book offers. Joanna Keating-Velasco, author, A IS FOR AUTISM, F IS FOR FRIENDA Is for Autism F Is for Friend: A Kid's Book for Making Friends with a Child Who Has Autism
KCS: how to live with a neurotic sibling.......2007-10-09
KCS: How to live with a neurotic sibling
Looking closer can make something beautiful.
Sometimes people laugh when they like you. But sometimes they laugh to hurt you.
Some people think they know who you are, when really they don't.
Catherine would rather live like a normal person. It's hard enough putting up with her autistic brother, but with a potential friend next door, she feels even more embarrassed about him. And there's Jason, another potential friend. Do you think Catherine can make friends with them without letting her brother get in the way of her? (you have to read Rules to find out)
Rules takes place somewhere on the mainland close to the ocean, during recent times. Catherine is an artistic person and is used to covering up for her brother, David, but only to a certain point. She is patient enough with David but isn't willing to take full responsibility over him. Catherine doesn't really like going out in public with David because she hates the funny looks people give him (he goes around quoting Frog and Toad and his rules). however, she feels all right about him in the end. Catherine has made a bunch of rules for both her and David to follow.
David seems to always be shouting out random things, but what he says has some hidden meaning that only Catherine can understand. David goes to a therapy class/OT. He needs constant reminding to "chew with his mouth closed" or "keep his pants on in public". David doesn't understand that some people are trying to tease him and aren't laughing with him.
Jason is paraplegic and can't speak. He has to use a communication book with words in it so he can converse with others. He's pretty much like "normal" people his age in personality, but is probably more observant than others due to his disability. Jason goes to the same therapy center as David.
Jason has been going to OT before David, but only then did Catherine really notice him. His mom caught her sketching him, and that is how they got to be friends. Kristi, who would probably become really popular, moves in next door to Catherine. Catherine really doesn't want her to know about David, but she finds out anyway and their relationship doesn't get to a good start. She makes an effort to make friends with Kristi but she seems to like this guy who Catherine dislikes. Catherine gets closer to Jason but when the community center holds a dance, she uses her rules as excuses to hide behind.
I really enjoyed this book, and in some ways I could relate to the characters in it. Being an older sister, I knew how Catherine felt dealing with david. I learned not to judge people by the way they act or look because they could be a totally different person on the inside ("don't judge people by their covers") and not to restrain yourself with tons of rules. David couldn't understand what to do or what not to do, so Catherine made all those rules for them (kind of like The Giver, where if you broke one of their many rules you'd get in big trouble). But then she made unnecessary rules for herself that took away some of her freedom. Cynthia Lord's writing style included lots of details and I was able to understand everything. It had some Christian perspective in it, with Catherine opening a lot of opportunities for Jason and showing him the world in a different perspective. She learned that she didn't have to follow all those rules that she made. The pacing is a steady medium with some fast parts. The title is what it is mostly because of all the rules Catherine made. I would recommend this book to anyone in general, because there's not really anything inappropriate in it and I think everyone can relate to at least one character.
Terrific!.......2007-09-30
This is an award winning book that tells what it's like to be the normal sibling in a family with a special child. The protagonist is realistically drawn and her difficulties protecting her autistic brother from the harsh realities of prejudice and small-minded cruelty will touch your heart. Although targeted for the upper elementary or middle school audience, readers of all ages would benefit from the expressive and moving portrait Cynthia Lord paints of the conflicts faced by the members of families with special kids.
Book Description
Finally a social skills program that covers all the bases!
Whether it's learning how long one can look at somebody without being accused of staring; how to shift topics, despite one's desire to stick with that all-consuming special interest; how to say no to peer pressure; or dealing with a sensitive topic - it's all here...and more. In this comprehensive and user-friendly book, the author translates years of experience working with students with Asperger Syndrome and social-communication difficulties. After brief introductory chapters on skills to target, instructional strategies, behavior management, promoting generalization, etc., as well as a special chapter by Brenda Smith Myles on relevant characteristics of autism spectrum disorders, the reader is presented with the essence of this must-have resource: 70 of the skills that most commonly cause difficulty for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and social-communication problems. The presentation of each skill consists of a reproducible skill handout, as well as activity sheets listing ways teachers and parents can demonstrate, practice, and reinforce the skill in the classroom and at home. A concluding chapter on promoting peer acceptance offers sensitivity training programs for both students of various age groups and school staff, making this a complete social skills training package for students of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2007-09-03
This book has step by step instructions on social skills and I love the easy to read and teach format. I don't know if my son has Asperger's, but he really struggles with social skills and this has been a great help to us.
very practical workbook.......2007-08-06
I found this book very useful. It lists skills a child should have, which are so inherent to those who don't have this probelm, they are actually hard to think of on your own. For each skill it gives examples and ways to encourage gaining the skill. Every parent whose child's social skills aren't up to par with their peers will benefit from this book.
Great for Social Skills Training.......2007-03-10
This book is an excellent resource for those who want to assist children and young adults with social skills training. There are clear cut lessons and activities that cover a variety of topics from how to greet others to asking someone on a date. Very valuable for those who need concrete examples of the correct way to approach many different social situations. Could be used for children on the autism spectrum, but also for any child who could benefit from practice in social interaction, even those who are shy. Anyone who lives and works with students who have social skills defecits would find this book useful.
Easy reading, understanding, and easy to use lessons.......2007-02-23
This book is not only good to help those in the autism spectrum with lacking social skills, but they can also be applied easily to teaching any children without autism. It is straightforward easy to use, to the point. Definitely worth the money, and was recommended to me by several mothers with more than 2 children with autism. Thanks!
A must for all kids with social skill issues.......2007-01-09
Jed Baker has done it again. This is a nice follow-up to his social picture book. This is done nicely because you can pick and choose which areas you need to work on. Most children could use help with social skills to reduce anxiety, regardless of whether they have issues. My son does not have aspergers and his social skills issues are minimum but with practice the skills he has have been greatly refined.The program can be used in parts at home by parents with minimal training or in a school environment with speech therapists etc.
Amazon.com
Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.
Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca
Book Description
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.
This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.
Download Description
Narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions.
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order, and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher's carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.
Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher's mind.
And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon's choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.
"Mark Haddon's portrayal of an emotionally dissociated mind is a superb achievement. He is a wise and bleakly funny writer with rare gifts of empathy."
IAN McEWAN, AUTHOR OF
ATONEMENT AND AMSTERDAM
"I have never read anything quite like Mark Haddon's funny and agonizingly honest book, or encountered a narrator more vivid and memorable. I advise you to buy two copies; you won't want to lend yours out."
ARTHUR GOLDEN, AUTHOR OF
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
"The Curious Incident brims with imagination, empathy, and vision -- plus it's a lot of fun to read."
MYLA GOLDBERG, AUTHOR OF
BEE SEASON
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating book.......2007-10-16
Marc Haddon does an amazing job in his first-person account of the life of Christopher Boone, who is an autistic teen grappling with the death of a neighbor's dog. I found this book to be both humorous and poignant and would recommend it as an excellent read.
A Very Interesting Narrator.......2007-10-16
From the first person perspective of an autistic teenager, the book's story is, at first, structured around a mystery. This, in itself, is unique. But the book is truly remarkable primarily for its ability to capture the character of its narrator. The character really comes alive, and his thought processes, while foreign, are realistic and intriguing. I was quite impressed. The book's author, Mark Haddon, creates a truly three-dimensional character, well-rounded, real, and interesting.
Please note: this book focuses its pages on developing real characters with realistic though processes. As a result, the book largely lingers in the narrator's head; there is a lot of thought and not so much action. I do NOT mean to suggest that there are no action sequences! There are, and some of them are quite dramatic. Still, while the narrator remained interesting for the duration of the book, and while I cared about him and his struggles, I did periodically desire to read about more action and less thought. This is, of course, mere personal preference. Overall, it was a great book.
wild.......2007-10-16
This book was worth the wild ride -- really makes you a little OCD about colors and numbers for a while after.
Creative and entertaining.......2007-10-14
This short book is written from a perspective of a 15 year old autistic boy. The reader gets into the head of this boy and understands why the kid behaves certain ways. Haddon's writing is creative and funny. In an enteratining and objective way, the author attempts to make the reader understand the actions of this autistic boy.
As someone who has very limited real life experience with autism, I cannot comment on how acurate Haddon's portrayal of autism is but nevertheless Curious Incident is a very entertaining read. Readers may find parts of the book tedious and boring, but overall, it is a very pleasant book.
A coming of age story more than a mystery (a review of the audiobook).......2007-10-12
The mystery portion of this book is really a relatively small part of the book, but the death of Wellington, a neighbor's dog is the action that starts a starts a chain reaction that causes 15 year old Christopher Boone to go on the adventure of his life and wrap up any number of loose ends. I'd dare to say that we have some similarities with Huckleberry Finn in this book.
Throw in the fact that Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome and you've got a remarkable book. Is it equal to all of the hype? Probably not, but how could any book be THAT good?
I "read" this book as an audiobook and it was extremely well narrated by Jeff Woodman. He pulled this one off quite well.
A recommendation for those interested in a similar book I recommend the sci-fi book "Speed of Dark" by Elizabeth Moon. It deals with an adult with autism in the near future.
Average customer rating:
- Must have for the newly diagnosed
- OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome....
- Excellent Resource for AS!
- Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome
- Not what I expected
|
The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Completely Revised and Updated: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration
Patricia Romanowski Bashe ,
Barbara L. Kirby ,
Simon Baron-Cohen , and
Tony Attwood
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1400081521
Release Date: 2005-03-29 |
Book Description
Asperger Syndrome has become an increasingly common disorder. One in 300 individuals may have AS—exhibiting characteristics such as average to high intelligence, obsessive behavior, intense special interests, and difficulty dealing with everyday social situations—and it is now more prevalent than childhood cancer and Down’s syndrome.
As the mother of a boy diagnosed with AS in 1994, Barbara Kirby found scant resources and support. She developed the internationally renowned OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) Web site in 1995 to help other parents find the information they need. She teamed up with Patricia Romanowski Bashe, now co-owner of OASIS and herself the mother of a son with AS, to write The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome, which has become the standout authority in the field and a must-have for this growing audience.
Now Bashe and Kirby have crafted a fully revised edition of this comprehensive resource for parents, teachers, therapists, and anyone who knows or works with someone with AS. In addition to discussing what AS looks like and how parents can guide their unique child through the social, emotional, and intellectual challenges of growing up, this edition includes new developments made in AS research over the past four years, new thinking on diagnosis and evaluation, the latest approaches to medication and social skills development, and tips on navigating the maze of interventions, therapies, and special education. The authors know firsthand the joys and frustrations of raising children with AS, and they share their own experiences as well as those of dozens of parents facing the same issues.
Filled with practical information and emotional support, this is the most complete and authoritative guide available. Whether your child has been diagnosed or troubling symptoms are just becoming apparent, this book will point you in the right direction as you face the particular challenges of loving and raising a child with Asperger Syndrome.
Customer Reviews:
Must have for the newly diagnosed.......2007-09-17
Very informative. Very detailed. This is a must have for Parents just starting to discover Aspergers.
OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome...........2007-09-15
This is an excellent resource book. A must have for family members dealing with Asperger Syndrome!
Excellent Resource for AS!.......2007-05-07
This book is a definite addition to any parent's resource library on AS. It is comprehensive and has so much to offer, that it can't be digested in one read. It must be referred to over and over again. Should be purchased for pediatricians, school counselors and anyone who comes in frequent contact with your AS child. The entire family should read this to better understand the AS child.
Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome.......2007-03-24
This book has helped me understand how difficult it is for someone with AS. It is everything that it says it is and more, my husband and I were feeling so hopeless and unsure of the next step. This book explained everything good and bad without sugar coating it.
Now when we run into a stumbling block I turn to the Oasis Book.
Not what I expected.......2007-03-09
Asperger Syndrome is a lot more subtle than the book would seem to indicate. Yes, Asperger is related to autism, but it is hardly the debilitating issue that this book would seem to imply.
This book makes it look like only children are diagnosed with this and have a seriously debilitating disorder as a result. AS is rarely such a disabling disorder and many people are never diagnosed with it except through adult counseling.
The information, though suspect because of the range of disability, is still very good and very well presented.
Product Description
This book offers practical suggestions and advice for how to teach and learn those subtle messages that most people seem to pick up almost automatically but that have to be directly taught to individuals with social-cognitive challenges. Given the serious consequences that can befall a person who violates a social rule, the strategies and detailed lists of curriculum items make The Hidden Curriculum a much-needed resource.
Customer Reviews:
Good reference but scant on practical strategies.......2007-07-25
I purchased this book a year ago and it sat on my shelf until today. I dusted it off because I am developing a community-based social skills coaching program for an adolescent with high-functioning Autism. I recalled that the book had a nice list of the hidden curriculum for a variety of social situations (e.g. eating at a restauant, telephone skills, rules for dating, reading body language). There were a few in there that I never would have thought of. This was helpful as a jumping off point for making goals and developing a concise script for the sessions.
There is a section in the book on the strategies to teach the hidden curriculum, but it is limited in content. There is a brief description of a technique, examples of worksheets one could use, but there are no blank reproducible materials of the worksheets they used as examples.
I would recommend this book for those just starting out in the field and teachers or parents who want to know what words to use to explain to their child the "unwritten social rules."
By the way, I would also recommend that you "do not talk about how mucus looks or feels in the throat or looks in your tissue." :)
Totally Unhelpful!.......2006-04-02
I bought this book because a reviewer said it would teach people with Asperger's syndrome how to make and manintain eye contact. It doesn't. It just says you should make and maintain eye contact, it doesn't teach you how. This book only tells you what society expects of you, so if you already know what society expects of you, but just cannot figure out how to do it smoothly, don't buy this book. If you already know stuff like, "pull up your pants before coming out of the bathroom", don't buy this book.
Great Resource for Social Skills.......2006-02-19
This book is a must have for anyone whose life is touched by someone with autism. Myles teaches her readers that teaching social skills is not an insurmountable task. It just requires a conscious effort by all.
Finally! A simple solution!.......2005-04-24
One of the missing components to the concept of teaching "social skills" to children and young adults on the autism spectrum, is that instructors focus on textbook manners instead of teaching REAL life practical knowledge. The Hidden Curriculum explains that every society has unstated rules, the things that no one explains to you, but which you are supposed to pick up somehow on your own. Remember how awkward and geeky most of us were in Jr. High? And there were always the "cool kids" who somehow knew just how to dress, just what to say and meanwhile you (and I) were clueless? It's because they understood the unstated rules, they had an unkanny ability to pick up the exact tools necessary for "coolness." As we grow up, we learn better how to adapt to social situations, we know how to behave in a variety of settings, even perhaps cross culturally. Adults grow into a sense of ease in our surroundings, we know what we are supposed to do. Now, imagine that you never got over that awkward phase, you were perpetually spending your life roaming around trying to figure out the world with little to go on. No one pulled you aside and explained, "This is how it is, Kid." That's exactly what it's like for our kids on the spectrum. Well, here comes The Hidden Curriculum to the rescue! Not only does it explain many of these "unstated rules" (many of which are humorous--who doesn't know you should take tuna in your school lunch because it stinks? many of our AS kids!) It also goes beyond to explain how to uncover them. It highlights how crucial it is for us as parents, as educators and just as a society to literally pull our AS folks aside and say, "These are the rules." For example, "Don't pick your nose." Good advice right? But p-leeeze, everybody picks their nose! (Okay, not me, but everybody else! :-) What we really need to teach our kids is not, don't pick your nose, but not to pick their nose where people can see them. Sound silly? Our children and friends on the autism spectrum just need for us to teach them one little tidbit like this every day and they'll find their way with increasing ease. And wouldn't you have liked someone to pull you aside in Jr. High and done the same for you? Let's equip our kids with the real skills to make their way in the world. The Hidden Curriculum does just that!
Bridging the Gap & Crossing into Neuro-neutral Grounds.......2004-12-24
This is another book that people on the autism/Asperger's (a/A) spectrum have been praying for! This sterling work helps decode and identify tacit Social Codes & Rules. For many people on the a/A spectrum, learning these nonverbal subtleties is a major challenge. a/A related conditions are neurobiological and affect sensory processing and integration as well as communication. People on the a/A spectrum encounter a wide range of social difficulties, many of which are addressed in this book.
This work gives good advice on how to make and maintain eye contact; how to position oneself when talking to and listening to another; how to appear natural in practicing these skills. This book also gives a good explanation of how to "read" people socially and how to learn to anticipate possible seeming changes in the Tacit Social Codes & Rules. People with neurotypical (NT) brains already know these Rules and NT readers also can benefit from this book by seeing what people on the a/A spectrum contend with. Rather, people on the a/A spectrum learn these behaviors cognitively as this is not intuitive knowledge among the a/A population. Once the Rules are learned, the next step is understanding when and how and to apply them.
Make a place for this book. It is every a/A navigator's best friend when it comes to improving social skills and interpreting human behavior. It is a bridge from the a/A population to the NT population and moves all, a/A and NT readers alike onto neuro-neutral ground. The information found in this book makes communicating in the NT world so much easier and so much more logical!
Average customer rating:
- The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome
- The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome
- Helpful, but Highly Repetitive
- Aspergers guide
- Great book
|
The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome
Tony Attwood
Manufacturer: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1843104954 |
Customer Reviews:
The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome.......2007-10-08
Tony Attwood had been recommended to me by a therapist specializing in autism spectrum disorders as one of the best authors of material on AS. I purchased this book and have found it to be very complete and informative and helpful in more fully understanding Asperger's Syndrome. It is very professionally written. I would definitely recommend this as standard reading/reference to anyone interested in AS.The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome
The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome.......2007-10-07
I went through two highlighters on this book! It is a good explanation of Asperger's Syndrome and the ways of dealing with it. As I read different abilities and disabilities associated with the "disorder," I recognized many of my friends and relatives as having at least some shades of the disorder. Perhaps there are more Aspies out there that this book would help with "self-diagnosis" and "self-help" than anyone really knows. If you know someone who was "wierd" to his/her classmates, suggest they read this book. Suddenly, they may find that "wierd" is indeed an honor.
Helpful, but Highly Repetitive.......2007-09-01
Attwood's book provides good insight to Asperger's Syndrome, bringing out the key symptoms (emotional "deafness," motor clumsiness, difficulty making and keeping friends, preference for solitude, liklihood of accompanying depression or anxiety disorder, etc.), as well as suggestions for adults on how to help a growing-up child with these symptoms. On the down-side, however, the book is more than a bit repetitive, and would benefit from at least a chapter or two on self-help for adults. (Realistically, on the other hand, it is not too difficult to figure out appropriate strategies for oneself while reading through the book.)
Aspergers guide.......2007-08-07
My son was diagnosed with a mild case of Aspergers. His therapist suggested this book. I am so glad I listened to him! This book is easy to understand and has helped us to understand our son and help him better. This book is a must for any family member(grandparents included). I am actually using it like a study book. I am highlighting parts that I find most applies to our son.
Great book .......2007-08-05
Very good book with a lot of excellent information. I'd recommend this as the first book to be read on the subject of Asperger's Syndrome, because it provides an excellent foundation of knowledge on the subject.
Book Description
In this must-have resource, "two teachers from Minnesota" share their successful use of the simple concept of 5-point scales to help students understand and control their emotional reactions to everyday events that might otherwise set in emotion escalating reactions. Whether it is inappropriate touching, obsessions, yelling, hitting or making hurtful statements to classmates, this clearly illustrated book shows how to break down a given behavior and, with the student's active participation, develop a unique scale that identifies the problem and, just as important, suggests alternative, positive behaviors at each level of the scale.
Customer Reviews:
A must buy for any adult working with a special needs child.......2007-02-11
You can make this work for just about any problem. I now just hold up a finger and my child knows what I am trying to say even my younger child is getting it.
Finally.......2007-02-06
Finally, a basic book listing basic skills for people who do not understand "thinking outside the box." I'm so happy to see something that can help educators and families find hands-on techniques for those who are clueless, hopeless, and helpless.
What a great idea!!.......2007-01-07
This book has been very helpful with my Asperger son and my non-Asperger son. As a teachers aide, I have used it the the kids at school and some teachers have borrowed my book and are using it themselves. It has pages to copy so that you can make your own 5-point scale. Just wonderful!!!
Save your Money.......2006-07-16
This is a great concept, but not worth buying a book over.
It is a simple strategy that can be applied in any context -
Rate the behavior; rate the desired behavior.
It gets a mediocre smile or 3 stars.
Helpful and easy to implement.......2006-06-25
It was very easy to implement the program, and my student got it right away.
Book Description
This career planning guide is written specifically for high-functioning adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum, their families, teachers, and counselors. The two authors weave together a unique blend of information and advice based on personal experiences. Temple Grandin draws from her own experience with autism spectrum disorders and her professional career, and Kate Duffy uses her expertise on employment issues and the mother of two teenagers with autistic-like behaviors. The result is an extremely useful and practical book that introduces step-by-step processes for the job search with a major section on the impact ASD has in the workplace, including managing sensory problems, how to nurture and turn talents and special interests into paid work, jobs that are particularly suited to individuals on the spectrum, and much more. First-hand accounts of job experiences and advice from individuals representing a broad range of careers particularly suited for high-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum round off this exciting new resource.
Customer Reviews:
Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism.......2007-07-14
Fantastic book! Chock-full of practical ideas for coping in the real world, from someone on the autism spectrum who is highly successful in her life
Limited information.......2007-05-23
By my having AS, along with ADHD, I was looking for a book that would give me some insight on the type of careers that people with AS may gravitate towards and how those with AS cope and succeed in an NT work environment.
For careers, not much insight as the gist was to try and make a career out of your special interest, which can vary among aspies. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it means that the career options are many for those of us with AS.
My second objective of learning how aspies can function effectively in the workplace was more disappointing. Most of the advice was things you could find in traditional career books. Not much on how to interview well, given our social challenges, or how to promote accomplishments because of the tendency to want to work alone. These are just two examples.
The book does a fair job of explaining AS and how it could present challenges in the workplace, but all in all, nothing insightful that can be used to find or succeed in a career.
Autism Education.......2006-11-04
Most of this book offers parents assistance in educational needs of their lower functioning autisitc children. However, the list of possible job types is limited to manual laborer jobs. After having worked (and lived) with children in the autistic spectrum, I believe they are capable of much more than this book offers them. I would liketo see the authors add a list of secondary schools that offer admissins to children on the autistic spectrum along with assistance in the application process.
A must read for teens, adults and parents!.......2006-08-10
Dr. Grandin has taken her knowledge, expertise and sensitivity one step further in Developing Talents: Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. She offers many ideas for those affected by or those working with these individuals. This area is filled with people of talent who are underemployed. An example of one of the suggestions offered - an individual who is interested in cartoons and spends their days drawing - all day - being encouraged to go to a museum of cartooning, learning about different kinds of cartoons, the history of cartoons which expands their interest - meeting others with the same interest. It is not enough to have a talent or the intellectual ability to understand complex things. Without work, Dr. Grandin explains, her life would not have had order, content or meaning. She covers many different kinds of jobs that people on the autism spectrum can accommodate to and ones that would be more difficult for them. The book is well thought out and because Dr. Grandin is herself on the spectrum and spends so much of her time speaking to others at her many presentations she has analyzed a great deal of what works and what does not. This book is an absolute must read! I run a large group for parents, professionals and individuals and it is one of my first recommendations. This book gives concrete suggestions and hope.
As a parent of an Asperger teen, this book was confirming and enlightening.......2006-02-23
As a parent of a teenager with Aspergers, alot of Ms. Gradin's recommendations confirmed what I already thought: sell the skills not the personality, go into areas where your interests/fixations lie and consider working as a consultant in your area of expertise. Finding recommendations I already thought of didn't make me feel like those parts of the book were a waste. On the contrary, it is nice to have affirmation from an outside source, particularly one intimately knowledgable of autism.
Other recommendations she makes were new to me. I had not thought of them, but they make alot of sense. She encourages people to go out and interview people in their field of choice to learn what they can about the industry. For neurotypical people, this would be akin to networking. For autistics, it is couched in a manner far easier for them to manage. People on the autism spectrum are probably not going to be good at social networking. But they would be very good at the interviews she recommends. She takes classic job networking and reworks it into research. I know my son LOVES researching more information on his interests, but digs in his heels at the thought of socializing.
Ms. Gradin also discusses the different styles of learning/thinking and which jobs are good for those type of people. My son happens to have amazing visual spatial abilities and is currently taking CAD in high school where he is getting straight A's. He now wants to become an architect which is exactly one of the fields Ms. Gradin reommends for visual spatial people on the spectrum.
Other beneficial feature of the book are the list of sources for information, examples of people in a wide selection of fields and Temple Gradin's personal observances.
I'm greatful to Ms. Gradin for writing books on autism. As hard as I try to understand my son, the fact that my brain is wired differently then his means I will always approach him with a bias, unintentional or otherwise. Her books clarify and explain things I could ponder for years and still not quite grasp.
I would also highly recommend her Animals In Translation book.
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