Top 10 fictional or nonfictional books about autism?

One “fictional book” that I can think of is “Rainman goes to Mars” it’s all about an autistic man, his younger brother and the whacky adventures they have in a $5 billion spacecraft headed to the red planet.

In seriousness, I think you meant to say fiction/non-fiction book. A fictional book is one that has never been written.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is another well written fiction book.

Non-Fiction – An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks. It’s also about Tourette’s syndrome, but several of the chapters are about people with autism. The title is from the story about Temple Grandin She is possibly the most famous person with autism right now. She is a leader in animal behavior and designs more humane ways to kill cattle for meat. This was the book that got her out in public. My favorite story in the book is the family with autism. There is a mom and dad and a few kids and they are all moderately autistic.

Temple Grandin herself has two books on the mainstream market. One is her biography and the other is her take on animal behavior and how she believes that autistic people think more like animals than other people do. I can’t remember the name of either book off the top of my head but they are both still in print. I preferred her biography. She talks about growing up with Kanner’s autism (the “bad” kind of autism that is more severe than Aspergers)

Here’s a list of the top 10 books for parents of children with autism.

Jodyi Picoult has written a gripping novel, one of whose characters is an Asperger’s teenage male. Every few chapters has him as the first-person narrator. Picoult is very convincing, from my experience.

House Rules.

I have a high-functioning autistic grand-nephew and I found the book both readable and plausible. Picoult does huge amounts of research.

Any of Temple Grandin’s books. She is a high functioning person with Autism who really has a gift for bringing you into her world and how things look from the opposite side (than from neurotypicals, which is the rest of us)

I can’t remember the specific title of one of her more recent books, but heard her speaking about it. The main gist of it is how parents of kids on the higher functioning end of spectrum can steer them into areas of interest (and possible career paths) which are tailored to their unique abilities and ways of relating to the world.

Jobs requiring a high level of focus, almost to the exclusion of everything around them are tailor made for Aspies and Autistics. And she gives specific industries such as tech, computers, engineering and certain medical jobs, etc.

She is truly a fascinating person. Unique.

Oh, I can’t overlook one of the first books to detail experientially the struggles, method, and eventually triumph of two parents who took an intense hands on approach to try to bring their Autistic child out of his isolation.

Their son,Raun, is today a normally functioning young man.

Obviously, not every parent has the time or intense energy to do exactly what they did, but their book is a wonderful inspiration to not ever give up on your child.

The book is Son, Rise.

Written by Barry Neil Kaufman.

I rarely see it mentioned nowadays and not sure why (perhaps just its age and passage of time) but it was one of the first and I just think it’s one of those oldies but goodies. Definitely worth a trip over to Amazon and pretty sure you can pick it up for cheap. I doubt you’ll regret it.

EDIT: Yeah it really has been awhile. 1976. Wow.

As I mentioned, I think it would be very difficult for other parents to implement their program precisely (and hence the controversy surrounding it).

But the overwhelming focus on total love and non judgemental attitude is what caught my attention. THIS is what I primarily found to be so inspirational.

If only I could put the last 11 years of my son’s life on paper.. hmmm… perhaps I should.
If you have any specific questions about that daily life, I’d be happy to answer them the best way I can.

Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure is on my TBR list but obviously I haven’t gotten to it yet.

@gorillapawsah, see, I was wondering if I was making a mistake with that ! I’ll have a look at the book. @harple Have it here, it is great.Very gripping. @gailcalled A good book-I’ve got it too. @digitalimpression That would be very kind, if I think of something I will ask ! @Buttonstc Very impressive, I’ll look Temple Grandin up, and your second suggestion will be good to see how the perception of autism has changed over the years.
Thanks everyone !

Non-fiction: Letters to Sam by Dr. Dan Gottlieb
I haven’t read it, but I listen to the author’s radio program when I can, and I really, really like him.

—edit—
looks like he has a follow-up book too: The Wisdom of Sam

Dr Temple Grandin has a few non-fiction works that I would put on that list.

Look me in the eye by John Elder Robison is another good one, even if it is gared more for Aspies.

Both my son and husband are diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (other family members on both sides of our family have varying degrees of Autism). If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. We have a large library of autism related materials. I read about 2 books per week on this subject, so I can help direct you to materials that best fit your situation, too.

For everyday life, I recommend non-fiction, as the fiction isn’t really up to the same par (in our opinions).

I third the recommendation for Temple Grandin and 2nd the recommendation for John Robison.

1) Of Temple’s, I recommend Thinking In Pictures

2) For Robison, our favorite (as it has REAL life application) is for Be Different

3) One of the personal favorite books in our home is Quirky, Yes. Hopeless, No. There are a lot of practical tips for those with AS to navigate through the NT world.

4) Depending on why you are reading this or where on the spectrum your loved one or friend falls, any book or DVD from Dr. Tony Attwood is a must read/see. He is the world’s leading authority on Asperger’s Syndrom and has written what all professionals refer to as the Autism Bible. Even if your loved one is futher on the spectrum, his insight on the how’s/why’s of behavior & actions/reactions are a must read to better understand how the autistic brain developed and how it works.

You didn’t ask for it, however, for some TV & movies are easier to see how to help or be more compassionate towards those on the spectrum.

Our movie recommendations: Temple Grandin, Adam & A Mother’s Courage-Talking Back to Autism
TV Shows: Boston Legal (Episodes including the character Jerry Epenson), Big Bang Theory (Sheldon Cooper), Parenthood (Max)....and most recently “Touched”.

@SpaTziel

Thats the main reason I watch Parenthood. I can do without all the soap operaish melodrama of some of the other characters, but I think they do a sensitive and excellent job dealing with Max. A really great experience for other Aspie. Kids to see a positive portrayal of someone like them. I really like that they show that kind of balance in portraying him.

I taped the first episode of Touched. Haven’t had the time to watch it yet, but definitely will now. Is it Kiefer Sutherlands. Character? He really is a terrific actor.

@Buttonstc I agree about Parenthood. My husband & I expected them to completely botch it, and at least to us, we find it surprisingly realistic.

My son watches Parenthood with us. Several times he’ll announce what Max “should” or “shouldn’t” be doing. “Oh no, he should not be leaving the house without telling his sister”

Touched: We didn’t get to watch it yet, either. We did see a few longer trailer-like promos. Kiefer’s son is a non-verbal autistic. The child actor does an outstanding job.

Family watched Touched and all they could say was “I hope the 2nd episode is the same quality”...We’ve heard it was awesome. I hope to get a chance to see it later tonight or tomorrow

Forget about the Curious Incident about a Dog book. It is pure fiction and was written with no research, as was confessed by the author himself. I have read it and the issues the boy faces are quite disparate from his abilities and don’t seem to ring true to me.

Like @SpatzieLover my family lives with ASDs. I fourth the suggestion regarding Temple Grandin. She also has some videos you might find on you tube where she has given lectures at different events. The TV special with Clare Danes playing Temple is great. I sat the grandparents down in front of it and we all had such moments of ah-ha and recognition is was beautiful. The way she can’t modulate the tone of her voice like others do and the way she can’t seem to move her body like others really stood out for them because they never thought of those two things as results of autism before.

The TV show, Big Bang Theory, and actor himself, Jim Parsons, swears that Sheldon Cooper isn’t suffering from an ASD, but I think they say that because to do so would open up the flood gates of letters and scrutiny that would no doubt ensue. Those of us who live with precocious Aspies know the truth and just smile.

My step son is almost 18 and he is not like Sheldon Cooper. He is more like Mr Bean and I say that with a whole lot of love for Mr Bean and my step son. Relying on one or two fictional accounts of a person with ASD is only going to tell you about those two people, not about the causes, range and experience of all people with ASD. Each one is even more different that those not on the spectrum.

I haven’t seen Parenthood. (I would have to pirate download it, I think. I don’t think it airs in my country.) But now that so many have mentioned it, I might see if I can find it somewhere on video.

@cazzie Sheldon has OCD, not AS. I can spot my own kind ;)

@jerv OCD is common in people with ASD´s. My step son washes his hands over and over as well as has a routine of words he has to say before anyone is allowed to interrupt him. He has changed his OCD patterns as he has grown, but a few years ago, something triggered frequent and extended sessions of hand washing. Sheldon’s inability to read sarcasm, look people in the eye (especially when stressed) asexual nature and complete lack of empathy indicate he is somewhere on the Autism Spectrum.

@jerv See article I linked above at Sheldon’s name. He is an Aspie. My husband identifies with him a lot…and not the OCD side, either. It’s the Black & White “Your wrong” part of Shledon he most identifies with.

@cazzie I second Mr. Bean. Also, it makes me recall that Paddington Bear books & DVDs has taught my son a thing or two about what can go wrong if you misinterpret social situations.

@cazzie I know all too well as I can be obsessive myself. But the other things you mention are also found elsewhere; sociopaths, Borderline Personality Disorder… but I would say HFA is more likely.

@SpatzieLover As stated above, there are other possibilities. My mother-in-law also has extreme black/white thinking; she also has BPD. I also identify with Sheldon to an extent, but there are also some differences. If Sheldon truly is an Aspie (that link merely says that he is suspected of being one) then he is a Hollywood Aspie.

Hollywood Aspie :)

I never realized they had their own separate sub-category. is there a link to a textbook definition? Or should we just eagerly await the publishing date of your upcoming book?

:D

@Buttonstc How about, “Exaggerated to the point of parody”?

the show isn’t a documentary about a group of professors and engineers. It’s a comedy, after all. The show writers and executives completely deny that Sheldon has any form of anything. I think he is a great character and we can all see bits of ourselves and people we love and adore in him and, as annoying as he is, we still love him.

@cazzie True, it is a comedy, but like most works of fiction, it requires a certain suspension of disbelief that some may have difficulty with. And, of course, there will always be a certain type of nerd who will fact-check and critique it as if it were a documentary due to either literal-mindedness or just plain habit; some people just can’t help but to over-think things. Some people wash their hands, some people analyze.

@jerv I think you mean ‘suspension of belief’ ;o) and the producers of the show, by denying a diagnosis for Sheldon are trying to avoid the analyzers. Smart move, but not all together a problem they can avoid. At least they have a real physicist on board to ensure the accuracy of those facts.

Just seen this and from that found this. Wow.

Not sure of the exact title but its very similar to this ”...10 things every child with autism wishes you knew…” Also…“10 things every child with autism wishes their teacher knew”...VERY INFORMATIVE…simple to understand!