The Autistic Brain

Thinking Across the Spectrum

By: Temple Grandin, Richard Panek

Narrated by: Andrea Gallo

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

A cutting-edge account of the latest science of autism, from the best-selling author and advocate.

When Temple Grandin was born in 1947, autism had only just been named. Today it is more prevalent than ever, with one in 88 children diagnosed on the spectrum. And our thinking about it has undergone a transformation in her lifetime: Autism studies have moved from the realm of psychology to neurology and genetics, and there is far more hope today than ever before thanks to groundbreaking new research into causes and treatments. Now Temple Grandin reports from the forefront of autism science, bringing her singular perspective to a thrilling journey into the heart of the autism revolution.

Weaving her own experience with remarkable new discoveries, Grandin introduces the neuroimaging advances and genetic research that link brain science to behavior, even sharing her own brain scan to show us which anomalies might explain common symptoms. We meet the scientists and self-advocates who are exploring innovative theories of what causes autism and how we can diagnose and best treat it. Grandin also highlights long-ignored sensory problems and the transformative effects we can have by treating autism symptom by symptom, rather than with an umbrella diagnosis. Most exciting, she argues that raising and educating kids on the spectrum isn’t just a matter of focusing on their weaknesses; in the science that reveals their long-overlooked strengths she shows us new ways to foster their unique contributions.

From the “aspies” in Silicon Valley to the five-year-old without language, Grandin understands the true meaning of the word spectrum. The Autistic Brain is essential listening from the most respected and beloved voices in the field.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Temple Grandin and Richard Panek (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

The way I see my own brain

I have often gotten confused about the different way autistic brains work, mine included. This helps me understand more about my own way of thinking so that I don’t feel so bad about the way I try to talk to people about the things that I really think about.

I feel like there are some areas that I could expand on because it feels insufficient but I like where it leads.

Dr. Grandin helps me feel not so different anymore. I mean I am different. I have always known I am different. I just feel less isolated and that really means something to me.

So much wonderful information!

This book is full of information about current imaging and research about Autism, and very helpfully puts that research in context of the history of Autism diagnosis and research. I also found the section about the implications and dilemmas presented by the changes from DSM 4 and DSM 5 criteria for Autism and related conditions completely and utterly fascinating and thought-provoking. The section near the end about identifying an autistic individual's strengths was also uplifting. This book gave me many, many "Ah-hah!" moments that I wrote down for further personal research. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and a thoroughly enjoyable listen with a narrator who spoke with beautiful clarity.

I didn’t know what I didn’t know 

This book was like turning on a light switch. I’ve only known ASD from the clinical side. Temple brings it into living color. We are grateful for this book in ways that words cannot express. A must read.