The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's (Revised and Expanded Edition)

The autistic mind is probed through this first person collection of topical essays written by award winning author, speaker, and person with autism, Temple Grandin. This book provides an awareness of what autism looks like, its affects and effects on human function and capabilities, and it highlights practical ways to effectively maintain and embrace life for those on the autism spectrum and for their families. Grandin shows us in living color what autism looks like, and she explains that an autism diagnosis need not ruin nor prevent the autistic person's ability to live a full life. By understanding the range of physical differences caused by autism and through a proactive, determined mindset, the autistic person and their family then are able to work through the varied factors and conditions. This is a way to develop and create potential in order to enable and effect positive results. Temple Grandin credits her mother with much of her success and healthy development during her youth. Her mother did not let the label and challenges define her daughter nor did she use them as a reason to excuse her daughter from learning social graces and responsibility. It meant she taught her daughter in a different way through accessible instructions, awareness of physical needs, and through a healthy, rich, learning environment. She recommends limiting electronics, eating healthy, showing and teaching socially acceptable behaviors such as conscientious, polite behaviors. She encourages playing board games to learn how to share and interact, taking a variety of field trips, and actively providing opportunities for growth (in numerous ways) all the while teaching procedures and useful ways and dynamics for facing and overcoming obstacles and frustrations. Some autistic children are nonverbal, some have difficulty with interactive elements, and many have overly sensitive sensory receptors. This means the autistic person's physical environment will need some adjusting and must be managed in regard to the their sensitivities. Even average noise levels can cause physical pain to a person with autism. This is good-to-know information. The Way I See It is a fascinating read. I recommend it for parents who have a child on the autism spectrum or people who are autistic themselves. It is beneficial for people with related symptoms such as Asberger's and for people who work with children in a public institution or public setting. This book is helpful and informative and well worth the time to read.

Because I have 3 grandchildren with autism, I read all that I can on the subject. This book was invaluable in showing that, as they become adults, they can fit into society if treated early enough. The author, Temple Grandin, has lived with this illness since birth. This edition is revised and expanded and because of that 14 additional articles have been included. "The Role of Genetics and Environmental Factors in Causing Autism, Understanding the Mind of a Nonverbal Person with Autism, Finding Mentors and Appropriate Colleges" are just some of the articles that will enlighten those who need such information.Ms. Grandin is an inspiration to families and readers, for she gives hope to those who felt that autism was the end of a healthy life....the author shows that it is only the beginning of living with something that isn't cured, but understood. She offers helpful strategies and try-it-now tips offered from her perspective as she lived and researched autism. Explaining how and why people with autism think differently was an eye opener for me and I wished as I read more and more chapters, that I had known about this book as my first grandson was diagnosed. His great grandmother,knowing nothing about autism, would say "He just needs spanked" because she thought he was misbehaving. Little did we know that he suffered with his own internal lack of expressing himself, and would become unpredictable in his behaviors.. With no way to speak and explain, these youngsters suffer from society until more research is done and all of us understand more and more of what they are saying in their way of not speaking.I heartily recommend this book to anyone with autism in the family, or wanting to understand autism better to be able to help those who need us to listen to them. Ms. Grandin , who had an HBO movie based on her life, received 7 Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Well-deserved and worthy of the awards, the author lived a life that most of us can only read about. This remarkable book is the place to start.

As a collection of articles, sorted by theme, I found it very helpful. It introduces the reader to ideas and concepts in bite sized chunks, allowing them to be easily digested. The book would be an excellent purchase for someone who was trying to familiarize themselves with Autism overall, as it clarifies things frequently due to the format of each article have been published separately when they were first published. Each article individually has citations as applicable, and Dr. Grandin is clear on which topics represent her own opinion or anecdotes relayed to her...and which information comes from the citations. This makes the text strong as a resource for more academic research, should that be needed.My only criticism is that the price of this, as an e-book, is a smidgen high for material that was formerly printed in magazines. While the book does save the reader from having to hunt down the original sources, the revised/updated articles still don't quite feel reasonable in price. I honestly feel this should be a few bucks cheaper. A potential issue for some readers is that they may find Dr. Grandin's writing a little overly repetitive...as each of these articles needed to establish points individually that the book doesn't need to reiterate quite so frequently. I don't consider that an issue however, as some will benefit from the repetition either due to neurological issues and/or a lack of familiarity with the material. Just be prepared to deal with a little bit of extra text if you are a quick learner; the quality of the content is worth it.On that note, the overall quality is too high and too solid for me to quibble over a few dollars for any meaningful length of time. Excellent piece of information from one of the foremost authorities on the topic. Highly recommended.

We were recommended this book at a course on Sensory Processing and I ordered it straight away. It is the most interesting read if you want an insight into the world of ASD/Asperger's. Temple Grandin writes in an easy and uncomplicated way and all her research is cited and a lot is available as extra reading on the internet; I've just been reading about the benefits of coloured overlays for students with visual processing difficulties. I work as a Special Needs teacher and I have recommended the book to a few parents now. Will be reading more of Temple Grandin's work.

Although once again written primarily about children on the autistic spectrum, with hindsight (as we didn't get recognition for our son until he was 27) it made me see his childhood was familiar to many others and had we had earlier intervention, I think we would have been further along the road. Difficult to work with an adult who is so set in his ways he is unchangable. Hope is there in the book with help at an early age.

Absolutely Fantastic!!! Best and Most Insightful book I have read on the subject of Aspergers, send it have read lots of them.Every Educator or anyone remotely connected to an Aspie should own one.

Temple tells it clearly, efficiently and gives examples of how strategies applied can work. My son is 12 and i have to consider what i can do now, and be aware of now, to help him with secondary school and his future career. great read. am 24% through it on Kindle

This is a really interesting book as it truly gives insight into how a person with Asperger's perceives the world. It's difficult to put down once you start to read it. The sections are short so it's easy to dip in and out of.I'm finding it really helpful in trying to learn how to help my child make sense of and function in the world around him.