The Prodigy's Cousin

The Family Link Between Autism and Extraordinary Talent

De: Joanne Ruthsatz, Kimberly Stephens

Narrado por: Christina Moore

We all know the autistic genius stereotypes. The absentminded professor with untied shoelaces. The geeky Silicon Valley programmer who writes bulletproof code but can't get a date. But there is another set of (tiny) geniuses whom you would never add to those ranks - child prodigies. We mostly know them as the chatty and charming tykes who liven up day­time TV with violin solos and engaging banter. These kids aren't autistic, and there has never been any kind of scientific connection between autism and prodigy.

Until now.

Over the course of her career, psychologist Joanne Ruthsatz has quietly assembled the largest-ever research sample of these children. Their accomplishments are epic. One could reproduce radio tunes by ear on a toy guitar at two years old. Another was a 13-year-old cooking sensation. And what Ruthsatz's investigation revealed is nothing short of astonishing. Though the prodigies aren't autistic, many have autistic family members. Each prodigy has an extraordinary memory and a keen eye for detail - well-known but often-overlooked strengths associated with autism.

©2016 Joanne Ruthsatz and Kimberly Stephens (P)2016 Recorded Books

Informative, though there is some pseudoscience

Very interesting book on child prodigies and autism (I have autism myself and am trying to learn all I can about it). However, there was some pseudoscience (“chronic Lyme disease”, infection by “mold and toxins”) that sort of discredited the book in my eye.

Very interesting and informative

Great book for those with a prodigious or autistic family member. The case studies she explains are fascinating.
The narrator has a "grandma voice" that is so comforting. She makes the book become an informative discussion rather than a medical study.