Unstrange Minds

Reviews / Votes

'Superbly written - Grinker's voice is candid, heartbreaking and humorous, balanced with straightforward, informative scientific exploration. This ensures the book appeals to the general reader, and is of immense interest and benefit to anyone personally touched by autism.' -- Belfast News Letter 'A highly readable yet authoritative survey of how autism has become the hot topic that it has, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom. His book is also one of the first serious attempts to survey what autism means to other cultures ... one of the best studies I have read of this whole field ... a powerful counterblast against those who pursue evidence that envi?ronmental insults are the 'cause' of autism.' -- Iain McClure, British Medical Journal 'By using cultures from around the world to help us frame our understanding of autism, the author gives a fresh, scholarly yet warm and personal book.' -- National Autistic Society 'Fascinating and original ... like every individual, Isabel Grinker is not just a collection of symptoms. She's an individual with unique strengths, talents and problems. In relating his 'study' of her to his assessment of how autism is perceived worldwide, her father has performed a valuable service' -- Charlotte Moore, Spectator 'Roy Richard Grinker explores the way different cultures define and respond to autism; this intelligent and original book opens new areas in the autism debate.' -- Charlotte Moore, Spectator 'A powerful memoir of his family's experience ... it is impossible not to be moved' -- Times 'An amazing, enlightening read ... Bringing to light the positives of autism, as well as the terrible stigma surrounding it, Grinker succeeds in his aim to make visible those who are invisible.' -- Waterstones Books Quarterly 'Superbly written - Grinker's voice is candid, heartbreaking and houmourous, balanced with straightforward, informative scientific exploration. This ensures the book appeals to the general reader, and is of immense interest and benefit to anyone personally touched by autism.' -- Verbal, Ireland 'Richard Grinker's excellent book paints a unique biographical picture of his child's experience, conveys deep parental concern, and reminds us of the unmet needs of such children.' -- Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Centre at Cambridge University 'A wise and compassionate book. Grinker's research is as wide-ranging as it is open-minded, bringing together the precision of social science and the artistry of memoir.' -- Andrew Solomon, author 'The Noonday Demon'