Temple Grandin

How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

By: Sy Montgomery

Narrated by: Meredith Mitchell

Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

When Temple Grandin was born, her parents knew that she was different. It wasn’t until years later that she was diagnosed with autism, a brain disorder that makes communication difficult. Today, Dr. Temple Grandin is a brilliant scientist and professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Her world-changing career has revolutionized the livestock industry - each year, half the cattle in the United States are handled in cruelty-free facilities she has designed. She is also a passionate advocate for autism, using her experience to prove that people with this disorder can have “normal” lives.

To achieve this unprecedented success, Temple used a unique ability: she thinks visually, the same way animals do. Because she thinks in pictures, she can see the world as a cow, or a dog, or a pig might see it. And so she knows that animals raised for food deserve good lives and should be treated with respect. Now she gives them their voices.

©2012 Sy Montgomery (P)2012 AudioGO

Insightful and educational

Watching the movie about Temple inspired me to listen to this book. I felt the book was excellent for giving a person insight into autism if you know of someone that has autism. It helped me to better understand why they do what they do. If we can understand their perspective on things, we can work together to accomplish any task, rather than being frustrated that they don't communicate 'my way'.

I don't even have the words!

This book was life altering!! It made me see autism in a whole new light.

encouraging and inspiring

This was an easy to listen to story that was heart felt, encouraging and informative. It helped me understand things about myself and loved ones who encounter Autism in our lives.

Thank God for Temple Grandin

This book was very informative about Temple Grandin’s life work and her life experience as it relates to Autism. I think this book would be of interest to anyone that is curious about how others experience life, to those that are on the Autism spectrum and to anyone that loves animals. She makes the most of her life and has made the lives of food animals better in doing so.

Excellent review of autism and associated brain function misunderstandings.

I was enlightened on atopic with which I only had a cursory knowledge of.
Would recommend this book to all educators.

Excellant ! A Must "hear"....read

Well done. Absolute vital information for All.
The information obtained should be "common knowledge". That concept needs to be revisited today....what truly is common knowledge anymore?? A wonderful book indeed. Important.

Read this to understand about the autistic mind in the behaviors behind it

Very insightful I really liked it! Also love her compassion for life and children and animals

Temple Grandin

I have greatly admired Temple Grandin ever since I saw the movie about her life. To think that her father wanted her institutionalized at around 3 years old was heartbreaking to learn. Her mother was a wonderful woman! I have a grandson who has Autism & know first hand how difficult it is for these children. The thing really is if you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism. Each person is unique & while that person may share some common issues, that person has his/her own unique differences. But Dr. Grandin understands all of this. She also understands animals & how to treat them & to treat them humanely. I so admire her for wanting to remain her own unique self & not wanting to change a thing. She is truly wonderful just as she is!

Young Adult ~ Easy to Understand

Would you listen to Temple Grandin again? Why?

I will be listening to this book again. This was a very quick listen. A book that you can listen to in one afternoon.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

This isn't actually a story as much as a partial memoir written for a younger audience. I didn't realize this when I purchased the book but it didn't matter because I still found the information very useful. I especially enjoyed the advice on animal husbandry.

Any additional comments?

If you know nothing about Autism and also enjoy cattle or sheep then take a look.

Good insight into the thoughts of an Autistic pers

I enjoyed this book, and learned a lot about Autism and how and why Autistic people think and act the way they do. I also learned a lot about cattle. Temples's life and success in her career, in spite of and because of her Autism, was amazing to learn about, and my admiration for her grew after learning more about her struggles.

I have Autism, Excellent book

I saw Temple Grandins film many years ago, just after I was diagnosed aged 19 (now 36). since then I have followed her story ever since. I am so glad that audible has her books, I love to read, but I also love to knit and crochet, among other activities, thank you Audible for providing this service. I would recommend Temple's books to every one, not just those with Autism. the more people who hear them, the better Autism would be accepted and understood, as too the people who have Autism.
how many times have you seen a screaming child in a shop, most people think they are spoiled, or bad. I helped one little boy by giving him my ear defenders. as his mother told me he always acted like that in public places....the child hugged me. I love small hugs, adults hug to tight, or it is not sincere. it took many years to be able to meet another's persons eyes. Martial arts helped with that. You cannot sparr with someone if you don't look at them, the head injuries were a good lesson. I now teach martial arts to other women. never doubt a person's abilities, the brain is a wonderful thing, it makes us unique. even identical twins think differently.

Totally worth it

I "read" it in one session, entertaining and informative as well. It's really recommendable for all kinds of readers.

Short and sweet

I love finding out how different divergent people work x temple is a very interesting person and I liked this audible x

Excellent short and to the point whilst being an easy listen of real value.

A fascinating and swift insight into Autism. Revealing some hard to hear realities about about meat processing accompanied by positive and hopeful reports and explanations on progressive changes taking place. Thank you Temple for your indomitable spirit and thanks to those brave enough to follow her guidance.

Outdated thankfully

Quite offensive language used, not appropriate for 2023. However shows the ableist perspective especially growing up in her day and age. She obviously had very supportive family and network to be able to survive this and flourish.

This world needs more Temple Grandins

I realised I have seen a TV documentary about Temple and her work with cattle. A great book to inspire and inform parents of children on the autistic spectrum. As a skilled innovator, Temple's insights could benefit so many other industries and professions too!

inspiring story

Not many autistic people had written an autobiography and story of Temple Grandin is gem. Not only it inspirational for many autistic people struggling with the human world around, it also allows regular people to have a glance inside the different mind.

Excellent read

This book is a good read for parents with whose children have autism. Very well written. And would recommend!

Really enjoyed it.

I also think in film images in my mind that is how I also work things out. I could relate to this a lot. I have 2 Yorkshire terrier’s I see things from their point. I say things like 1. Mum get dressed 2. mum you breakfast, 3. Eat breakfast. 4 Go out. 4 is always something they like like to a forage food game. Or chew treat. I also repeat 1to 4 when wiping their feet after a walk. As I wipe each foot I say 1, 2, 3, 4. I know like me dogs do not like lots of words they move their head to the side when they really want to engage with what you are saying based on the tone of voice. I my self go mostly by the tone of someone’s voice rather than what they say.
So this book way really interesting I have lived on a farm too. So I could totally relate to this book so glad you made it. I would like to read a book about the thoughts of what the writer would make for animals if she had magic gift to make whatever she thought of be so interesting to see what those things would be. That would be a really great book too to read.
Thank you for writing a great book and thank goodness your mum did not listen to your father he didn’t understand it was beyond his comprehension how cleaver you are. I think your mum always new you were gifted.

A must read

An essential read about the importance and connection between the autistic experience and animals. How the animals experience the sensory world and emotions, similar to autistic people. Groundbreaking and insightful experience of Temple