My Book Pick: Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
- Director, Kayukawa Clinic, Yuhei Kayukawa, M.D.
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Aichi Insurance Physicians’ Newspaper
April 5, 2016
Oliver Sacks
Vintage
2016 | $20.00
When someone at work displays a particularly distinctive personality, it is not uncommon to hear a supervisor casually remark, "Maybe they're on the spectrum." These days, individuals themselves, their families, and even psychiatrists often have little hesitation in accepting a diagnosis of a developmental disorder. The current surge of interest in developmental disorders raises many important questions.
Among the many books on developmental disorders, this volume stands out for the depth and sharpness of its analysis. The author's eloquent writing is captivating from beginning to end. The book traces the historical roots of Hans Asperger and Leo Kanner, while also exploring the striking contrasts between their personalities. It further provides a detailed account of the pioneering work of Lorna Wing, whose concept of the autism spectrum fundamentally changed our understanding of autism.
Autism encompasses an extraordinarily wide range of ways of experiencing the world. Public awareness of autism increased dramatically after the 1980s, helped in part by the success of the film Rain Man, which portrayed a savant. Perhaps the book's greatest contribution is its reinterpretation of autism through the lens of neurodiversity—the idea that autistic people, whose ways of perceiving and thinking differ from those of neurotypical individuals, represent a natural form of diversity within the human brain rather than simply a disorder. Some researchers even argue that many exceptionally gifted artists and inventors may have been on the autism spectrum.
Many years ago, a distinguished neurologist once remarked to me that schizophrenia might itself be viewed as a form of human variation. In light of that comment, the concept of neurodiversity did not strike me as particularly surprising.
On reflection, regardless of whether one has a developmental disorder or a psychiatric illness, every human being possesses a unique individuality.
This naturally raises another fascinating question: if conditions such as schizophrenia and autism are forms of human diversity, why are medications effective for some of the difficulties associated with them? It is a question that continues to intrigue me.
For anyone interested in autism spectrum disorder, this is a highly recommended and thought-provoking book.
