The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity

The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity

Author: Daniel Aherne

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Published: 2023-01-19

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 1839970154

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At least one in seven people are thought to be neurodivergent. So what exactly is neurodiversity? What does 'executive functioning' mean? What are 'spiky profiles'? In this simple guide, expert speaker and trainer Daniel Aherne provides a clear introduction to neurodiversity and the four most common neurodivergent identities of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Using an analogy of a cactus needing a desert to grow in, he emphasises the importance of getting the environment right for neurodivergent people, rather than expecting them to adapt to the neurotypical world. Daniel, who himself has ADHD, also explains how neurodivergent people often have great strengths alongside areas of difficulty, and writes about the interplay between diagnoses, as well as unpacking tricky concepts such as working memory, sensory processing, communication differences and more. Busting common misconceptions and setting out simple tips and guidance for supporting the neurodivergent people around you, whether among your family, friends or at your school, college or workplace - or if you yourself are ND and want to improve the understanding of others - this essential guide will help us all celebrate neurodiversity and foster more inclusive communities.


Book Synopsis The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity by : Daniel Aherne

Download or read book The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity written by Daniel Aherne and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2023-01-19 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At least one in seven people are thought to be neurodivergent. So what exactly is neurodiversity? What does 'executive functioning' mean? What are 'spiky profiles'? In this simple guide, expert speaker and trainer Daniel Aherne provides a clear introduction to neurodiversity and the four most common neurodivergent identities of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Using an analogy of a cactus needing a desert to grow in, he emphasises the importance of getting the environment right for neurodivergent people, rather than expecting them to adapt to the neurotypical world. Daniel, who himself has ADHD, also explains how neurodivergent people often have great strengths alongside areas of difficulty, and writes about the interplay between diagnoses, as well as unpacking tricky concepts such as working memory, sensory processing, communication differences and more. Busting common misconceptions and setting out simple tips and guidance for supporting the neurodivergent people around you, whether among your family, friends or at your school, college or workplace - or if you yourself are ND and want to improve the understanding of others - this essential guide will help us all celebrate neurodiversity and foster more inclusive communities.

A Room Called Earth

A Room Called Earth

Author: Madeleine Ryan

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2020-08-18

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 0143135457

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“[N]uanced and uplifting.” —Buzzfeed “[V]ibrant and revealing. Ryan succeeds in capturing neurodiversity on the page.” —Publishers Weekly One of Bustle's Best Books of 2020! An unforgettable story of a fiercely original young woman, whose radical perspective illuminates a new way of being in the world As a full moon rises over Melbourne, Australia, a young woman gets ready for a party. And what appears to be an ordinary night out is—through the prism of her singular perspective—extraordinary. As the evening unfolds, each encounter she has reveals the vast discrepancies between what she is thinking and feeling, and what she is able to say. And there's so much she'd like to say. So when she meets a man and a genuine connection occurs, it's nothing short of a miracle. However, it isn't until she invites him home that we come to appreciate the humanity beneath the labels we cling to, and we can grasp the pleasure of what it means to be alive. The debut novel from the inimitable Madeleine Ryan, A Room Called Earth is a humorous and heartwarming adventure inside the mind of a bright and dynamic woman. This hyper-saturated celebration of love and acceptance, from a neurodiverse writer, is a testament to moving through life without fear, and to opening ourselves up to a new way of relating to one another.


Book Synopsis A Room Called Earth by : Madeleine Ryan

Download or read book A Room Called Earth written by Madeleine Ryan and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-08-18 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “[N]uanced and uplifting.” —Buzzfeed “[V]ibrant and revealing. Ryan succeeds in capturing neurodiversity on the page.” —Publishers Weekly One of Bustle's Best Books of 2020! An unforgettable story of a fiercely original young woman, whose radical perspective illuminates a new way of being in the world As a full moon rises over Melbourne, Australia, a young woman gets ready for a party. And what appears to be an ordinary night out is—through the prism of her singular perspective—extraordinary. As the evening unfolds, each encounter she has reveals the vast discrepancies between what she is thinking and feeling, and what she is able to say. And there's so much she'd like to say. So when she meets a man and a genuine connection occurs, it's nothing short of a miracle. However, it isn't until she invites him home that we come to appreciate the humanity beneath the labels we cling to, and we can grasp the pleasure of what it means to be alive. The debut novel from the inimitable Madeleine Ryan, A Room Called Earth is a humorous and heartwarming adventure inside the mind of a bright and dynamic woman. This hyper-saturated celebration of love and acceptance, from a neurodiverse writer, is a testament to moving through life without fear, and to opening ourselves up to a new way of relating to one another.

A Pocket Guide to College Success

A Pocket Guide to College Success

Author: Jamie Shushan

Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Published: 2016-11-11

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781319030896

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Short and to-the-point, A Pocket Guide to College Success, offers practical coverage on the topics typically covered in a full-size college success text, from academic skills like managing your time, critical thinking, and note taking to life skills such as money management, stress reduction, and pursuing your career path. The second edition of A Pocket Guide to College Success provides additional support on the transition to college as well as features new coverage on motivation, mindset, and goal-setting to help students be successful from the start. With even more emphasis on asking questions, this text focuses on helping students ask the right questions to the right people so that they can drive their own college success. Each new copy of the text can be packaged with LaunchPad Solo for College Success, our online course space that includes videos, the LearningCurve adaptive online assessment tool, and more. A full package of instructional support materials provides instructors all the tools they will need to engage students in this course and increase student retention. Also available: ACES, a nationally norm-referenced student self-assessment of non-cognitive and cognitive skills.


Book Synopsis A Pocket Guide to College Success by : Jamie Shushan

Download or read book A Pocket Guide to College Success written by Jamie Shushan and published by Bedford/St. Martin's. This book was released on 2016-11-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Short and to-the-point, A Pocket Guide to College Success, offers practical coverage on the topics typically covered in a full-size college success text, from academic skills like managing your time, critical thinking, and note taking to life skills such as money management, stress reduction, and pursuing your career path. The second edition of A Pocket Guide to College Success provides additional support on the transition to college as well as features new coverage on motivation, mindset, and goal-setting to help students be successful from the start. With even more emphasis on asking questions, this text focuses on helping students ask the right questions to the right people so that they can drive their own college success. Each new copy of the text can be packaged with LaunchPad Solo for College Success, our online course space that includes videos, the LearningCurve adaptive online assessment tool, and more. A full package of instructional support materials provides instructors all the tools they will need to engage students in this course and increase student retention. Also available: ACES, a nationally norm-referenced student self-assessment of non-cognitive and cognitive skills.

I Love Being My Own Autistic Self

I Love Being My Own Autistic Self

Author: Landon Bryce

Publisher:

Published: 2012-11-22

Total Pages: 38

ISBN-13: 9780615731827

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"This book is going to change how we all view autism." Karla Fisher (Senior Program Manager/Engineering Manager at Intel, mentor for autistic youth) I Love Being My Own Autistic Self is a funny and upbeat book for autistic people, their families, and others who care about them. Author Landon Bryce uses a colorful cast of cartoon characters to gently introduce neurodiversity, the idea that neurological differences should be respected and valued. "This comic is BEAUTIFUL! I want to share it with everyone with any connection to autism. It's a great primer for novices, and an excellent reality check for almost everyone who thinks they understand autism." Noah Britton (public member of the the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, founding member of the comedy group Aspergers Are Us, Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Massachusetts) Vector, our narrator, talks about the benefits and challenges that his autism gives him. His friends Ramikin, who has Asperger's syndrome, and Marko, who is nonverbal, show how different from each other autistic people can be. Vector also introduces readers to his friend Pang and his sister Manta, so they can see what it is like for him to interact with people who do not have autism. Researcher Dr. Chip is looking for a cure for autism, and Vector explains why that makes him sad. "This could be a helpful book for children and adults with autism, as well as our parents. Landon Bryce has filtered the voices of thousands on his website through his brain and found a simple way in doing so. It is easy to read, using colors and characters. It does not come across as a children's book, yet I think some children might understand these important points better, and reading with their parents, they BOTH might begin to understand how we feel about each other in this bag of human skin." Adam Bailey (father and creator of the autism comic strip OWL) "I hope everyone in our Community reads this -- every staff person at Autism Speaks, every teacher, every family member. I see my son in some of these pages, and I hope he loves being his own autistic self, too. " Jennifer Sheridan, mom to Charlie (autism, age 8) "I Love Being My Own Autistic Self is an honest and hopeful appeal for autism acceptance and understanding. The concept of neurodiversity and differing points of view are distilled down and personified as individual characters. Even as it acknowledges autism is hard to understand, the book sets out to help the reader do just that, most effectively through memorable sound bites voiced or thought by the characters. This is an essential pocket guide for anyone who wishes to better understand autism and the issues autistic people face." Matt Friedman, author ofDude, I'm an Aspie.


Book Synopsis I Love Being My Own Autistic Self by : Landon Bryce

Download or read book I Love Being My Own Autistic Self written by Landon Bryce and published by . This book was released on 2012-11-22 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book is going to change how we all view autism." Karla Fisher (Senior Program Manager/Engineering Manager at Intel, mentor for autistic youth) I Love Being My Own Autistic Self is a funny and upbeat book for autistic people, their families, and others who care about them. Author Landon Bryce uses a colorful cast of cartoon characters to gently introduce neurodiversity, the idea that neurological differences should be respected and valued. "This comic is BEAUTIFUL! I want to share it with everyone with any connection to autism. It's a great primer for novices, and an excellent reality check for almost everyone who thinks they understand autism." Noah Britton (public member of the the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, founding member of the comedy group Aspergers Are Us, Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Massachusetts) Vector, our narrator, talks about the benefits and challenges that his autism gives him. His friends Ramikin, who has Asperger's syndrome, and Marko, who is nonverbal, show how different from each other autistic people can be. Vector also introduces readers to his friend Pang and his sister Manta, so they can see what it is like for him to interact with people who do not have autism. Researcher Dr. Chip is looking for a cure for autism, and Vector explains why that makes him sad. "This could be a helpful book for children and adults with autism, as well as our parents. Landon Bryce has filtered the voices of thousands on his website through his brain and found a simple way in doing so. It is easy to read, using colors and characters. It does not come across as a children's book, yet I think some children might understand these important points better, and reading with their parents, they BOTH might begin to understand how we feel about each other in this bag of human skin." Adam Bailey (father and creator of the autism comic strip OWL) "I hope everyone in our Community reads this -- every staff person at Autism Speaks, every teacher, every family member. I see my son in some of these pages, and I hope he loves being his own autistic self, too. " Jennifer Sheridan, mom to Charlie (autism, age 8) "I Love Being My Own Autistic Self is an honest and hopeful appeal for autism acceptance and understanding. The concept of neurodiversity and differing points of view are distilled down and personified as individual characters. Even as it acknowledges autism is hard to understand, the book sets out to help the reader do just that, most effectively through memorable sound bites voiced or thought by the characters. This is an essential pocket guide for anyone who wishes to better understand autism and the issues autistic people face." Matt Friedman, author ofDude, I'm an Aspie.

The Power of Neurodiversity

The Power of Neurodiversity

Author: Thomas Armstrong

Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books

Published: 2011-10-04

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 0738215244

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"Parents, teachers, and policymakers should all read this thought-provoking book. I loved it."--Temple Grandin, author of "Thinking in Pictures "


Book Synopsis The Power of Neurodiversity by : Thomas Armstrong

Download or read book The Power of Neurodiversity written by Thomas Armstrong and published by Da Capo Lifelong Books. This book was released on 2011-10-04 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Parents, teachers, and policymakers should all read this thought-provoking book. I loved it."--Temple Grandin, author of "Thinking in Pictures "

The Neurodiverse Workplace

The Neurodiverse Workplace

Author: Victoria Honeybourne

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Published: 2019-12-19

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1787750345

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Estimates suggest that up to 20% of employees, customers and clients might have a neurodivergent condition - such as dyslexia, autism, Asperger's, ADHD or dyspraxia - yet these individuals often struggle to gain and maintain employment, despite being very capable. This practical, authoritative business guide will help managers and employers support neurodiverse staff, and gives advice on how to ensure workplaces are neuro-friendly. The book demonstrates that neurodiversity is a natural aspect of human variation to be expected and accepted, rather than a deficit to be accommodated. Employer responsibilities are highlighted, including the 2010 Equality Act, and a range of strategies and policies are provided, including recruitment advice and the benefits of neurodiverse employees, along with advice on physical environments, interaction and communication, and working with clients and customers. This book is an ideal resource for all employers wanting to support and empower people with specific needs to help create a more inclusive workplace, benefiting both neurodiverse individuals and the companies employing them.


Book Synopsis The Neurodiverse Workplace by : Victoria Honeybourne

Download or read book The Neurodiverse Workplace written by Victoria Honeybourne and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2019-12-19 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Estimates suggest that up to 20% of employees, customers and clients might have a neurodivergent condition - such as dyslexia, autism, Asperger's, ADHD or dyspraxia - yet these individuals often struggle to gain and maintain employment, despite being very capable. This practical, authoritative business guide will help managers and employers support neurodiverse staff, and gives advice on how to ensure workplaces are neuro-friendly. The book demonstrates that neurodiversity is a natural aspect of human variation to be expected and accepted, rather than a deficit to be accommodated. Employer responsibilities are highlighted, including the 2010 Equality Act, and a range of strategies and policies are provided, including recruitment advice and the benefits of neurodiverse employees, along with advice on physical environments, interaction and communication, and working with clients and customers. This book is an ideal resource for all employers wanting to support and empower people with specific needs to help create a more inclusive workplace, benefiting both neurodiverse individuals and the companies employing them.

Anatomy of Autism

Anatomy of Autism

Author: Diego Pena

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-04-05

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 9781544038087

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"Trust me, I want to talk to you. My inability to speak is confused for my intelligence." Diego Pena is a sharp-witted 9 year old boy whose goal is to deliver a message that shatters misconceptions about autism. Only Diego cannot yet speak. By pointing to letters on a laminated letter board and typing on a keyboard, he breaks through his silence to express his inner-thoughts in Anatomy of Autism. In this pocket guide for individuals who support autistic students, Diego concisely articulates the challenges and dilemmas he faces with his sensory system, communication, and motor system. He thoughtfully explores the implications and possibilities of these challenges as a primary school student. His experiences nudge educators, therapists, parents, and students to rethink their approaches to supporting individuals who are autistic and non-speaking. Diego's words reveal a disarming truth. The real experts of autism are actually autistic themselves. Anatomy of Autism adds to the emerging generation of autistic voices-from Ido Kedar in Ido in Autismland to Naoki Higashida in The Reason I Jump-challenging us to listen and consider their perspectives about what it means to have autism and complex communication challenges in a world that has yet to fully realize their capabilities. But as Diego reminds us, they have incredible potential given the proper opportunities and supports. In the foreword to Anatomy of Autism, bestselling author Ido Kedar praises Diego for his advocacy and leadership at such a young age: "The insights found in these pages reflect my experiences and those of other people with autism clearly and succinctly. I am proud of Diego for undertaking this task to help improve the lives of those with autism and their loving families."


Book Synopsis Anatomy of Autism by : Diego Pena

Download or read book Anatomy of Autism written by Diego Pena and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-04-05 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Trust me, I want to talk to you. My inability to speak is confused for my intelligence." Diego Pena is a sharp-witted 9 year old boy whose goal is to deliver a message that shatters misconceptions about autism. Only Diego cannot yet speak. By pointing to letters on a laminated letter board and typing on a keyboard, he breaks through his silence to express his inner-thoughts in Anatomy of Autism. In this pocket guide for individuals who support autistic students, Diego concisely articulates the challenges and dilemmas he faces with his sensory system, communication, and motor system. He thoughtfully explores the implications and possibilities of these challenges as a primary school student. His experiences nudge educators, therapists, parents, and students to rethink their approaches to supporting individuals who are autistic and non-speaking. Diego's words reveal a disarming truth. The real experts of autism are actually autistic themselves. Anatomy of Autism adds to the emerging generation of autistic voices-from Ido Kedar in Ido in Autismland to Naoki Higashida in The Reason I Jump-challenging us to listen and consider their perspectives about what it means to have autism and complex communication challenges in a world that has yet to fully realize their capabilities. But as Diego reminds us, they have incredible potential given the proper opportunities and supports. In the foreword to Anatomy of Autism, bestselling author Ido Kedar praises Diego for his advocacy and leadership at such a young age: "The insights found in these pages reflect my experiences and those of other people with autism clearly and succinctly. I am proud of Diego for undertaking this task to help improve the lives of those with autism and their loving families."

Adult ADD

Adult ADD

Author: Stephanie Moulton Sarkis

Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

Published: 2011-03-01

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 9781608822737

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You've just been diagnosed with ADD. Now what? After receiving a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD), you may feel relieved to finally have an explanation for your symptoms, but also concerned and full of questions about the future. Questions like: What are the best ways to get symptoms—such as impulsiveness and difficulty with time management—under control? Should you tell people at work? And, wait a minute, there can be good things about having ADD? In Adult ADD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, an ADD specialist who has the disorder herself answers these questions and offers all the tools and information you need to process the diagnosis, learn about medications, and decide which treatments are the best options for you. This pocket guide also features a complete list of resources you can use to find support and tips for getting organized and living well with ADD.


Book Synopsis Adult ADD by : Stephanie Moulton Sarkis

Download or read book Adult ADD written by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2011-03-01 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You've just been diagnosed with ADD. Now what? After receiving a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD), you may feel relieved to finally have an explanation for your symptoms, but also concerned and full of questions about the future. Questions like: What are the best ways to get symptoms—such as impulsiveness and difficulty with time management—under control? Should you tell people at work? And, wait a minute, there can be good things about having ADD? In Adult ADD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, an ADD specialist who has the disorder herself answers these questions and offers all the tools and information you need to process the diagnosis, learn about medications, and decide which treatments are the best options for you. This pocket guide also features a complete list of resources you can use to find support and tips for getting organized and living well with ADD.

Neuroqueer Heresies

Neuroqueer Heresies

Author: Nick Walker

Publisher:

Published: 2021-12

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 9781945955266

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The work of queer autistic scholar Nick Walker has played a key role in the evolving discourse on human neurodiversity. Neuroqueer Heresies collects a decade's worth of Dr. Walker's most influential writings, along with new commentary by the author and new material on her radical conceptualization of Neuroqueer Theory. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the foundations, terminology, implications, and leading edges of the emerging neurodiversity paradigm.


Book Synopsis Neuroqueer Heresies by : Nick Walker

Download or read book Neuroqueer Heresies written by Nick Walker and published by . This book was released on 2021-12 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The work of queer autistic scholar Nick Walker has played a key role in the evolving discourse on human neurodiversity. Neuroqueer Heresies collects a decade's worth of Dr. Walker's most influential writings, along with new commentary by the author and new material on her radical conceptualization of Neuroqueer Theory. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the foundations, terminology, implications, and leading edges of the emerging neurodiversity paradigm.

The Reason I Jump

The Reason I Jump

Author: Naoki Higashida

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2013-08-27

Total Pages: 133

ISBN-13: 0812994876

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“One of the most remarkable books I’ve ever read. It’s truly moving, eye-opening, incredibly vivid.”—Jon Stewart, The Daily Show NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The Wall Street Journal • Bloomberg Business • Bookish FINALIST FOR THE BOOKS FOR A BETTER LIFE FIRST BOOK AWARD • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER You’ve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within. Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?” “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and “What’s the reason you jump?” (Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insights—into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory—are so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again. In his introduction, bestselling novelist David Mitchell writes that Naoki’s words allowed him to feel, for the first time, as if his own autistic child was explaining what was happening in his mind. “It is no exaggeration to say that The Reason I Jump allowed me to round a corner in our relationship.” This translation was a labor of love by David and his wife, KA Yoshida, so they’d be able to share that feeling with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naoki’s book, in its beauty, truthfulness, and simplicity, is a gift to be shared. Praise for The Reason I Jump “This is an intimate book, one that brings readers right into an autistic mind.”—Chicago Tribune (Editor’s Choice) “Amazing times a million.”—Whoopi Goldberg, People “The Reason I Jump is a Rosetta stone. . . . This book takes about ninety minutes to read, and it will stretch your vision of what it is to be human.”—Andrew Solomon, The Times (U.K.) “Extraordinary, moving, and jeweled with epiphanies.”—The Boston Globe “Small but profound . . . [Higashida’s] startling, moving insights offer a rare look inside the autistic mind.”—Parade


Book Synopsis The Reason I Jump by : Naoki Higashida

Download or read book The Reason I Jump written by Naoki Higashida and published by Random House. This book was released on 2013-08-27 with total page 133 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “One of the most remarkable books I’ve ever read. It’s truly moving, eye-opening, incredibly vivid.”—Jon Stewart, The Daily Show NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The Wall Street Journal • Bloomberg Business • Bookish FINALIST FOR THE BOOKS FOR A BETTER LIFE FIRST BOOK AWARD • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER You’ve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within. Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?” “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and “What’s the reason you jump?” (Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insights—into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory—are so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again. In his introduction, bestselling novelist David Mitchell writes that Naoki’s words allowed him to feel, for the first time, as if his own autistic child was explaining what was happening in his mind. “It is no exaggeration to say that The Reason I Jump allowed me to round a corner in our relationship.” This translation was a labor of love by David and his wife, KA Yoshida, so they’d be able to share that feeling with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naoki’s book, in its beauty, truthfulness, and simplicity, is a gift to be shared. Praise for The Reason I Jump “This is an intimate book, one that brings readers right into an autistic mind.”—Chicago Tribune (Editor’s Choice) “Amazing times a million.”—Whoopi Goldberg, People “The Reason I Jump is a Rosetta stone. . . . This book takes about ninety minutes to read, and it will stretch your vision of what it is to be human.”—Andrew Solomon, The Times (U.K.) “Extraordinary, moving, and jeweled with epiphanies.”—The Boston Globe “Small but profound . . . [Higashida’s] startling, moving insights offer a rare look inside the autistic mind.”—Parade