Autism and Asperger Syndrome [Paperback]

Uta Frith (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052138608X | ISBN-13: 978-0521386081 | Publication Date: 1991 | Edition: 1

The story of autism contains many puzzles, but none more tantalizing than the problem of the eccentric individual who appears to be both intellectually gifted and mentally handicapped and who finds it difficult to deal with everyday social interaction and communication. Such individuals are increasingly recognized as suffering from Asperger Syndrome. The argument presented in this book is that they suffer from a form of autism, but that they can compensate for this handicap to a remarkable degree. In this volume the foremost experts in the field discuss the diagnostic criteria of the syndrome, richly illustrated with examples from their clinical practices. Clinical accounts are balanced with personal accounts and some as yet preliminary research data. Asperger's classic paper is translated and annotated. The insights of this pioneer of autism have been unjustly neglected but reflect a very modern awareness of the many forms of autism and the wide range of individual differences in the men and women who suffer from this disorder. Asperger Syndrome individuals with their intellectual and linguistic ability and their desire for social adaptation are extremely vulnerable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The subject of this delightful book is the most important in child psychiatry and possibly in medicine, because at issue is the essence of our human nature....Buy Frith's book as a treat, read it, and send it to an editor as a reminder that brevity is not always beneficial; it took Asperger sixty pages to make his point, and Kanner thirty-three." The Lancet

"Uta Frith not only provides the first-ever translation into English of Asperger's paper, but has brought together a variety of fascinating phenomenological and narrative accounts of the syndrome and its varied presentations....Autism and Asperger Syndrome is an invaluable book, not only for researchers, therapists and clinicians, but for parents and teachers, for everyone concerned with understanding autism, and seeing its clinical and its human dimension too." Oliver Sacks

"...highly recommended to a variety of readers, including medical and behavioural scientists, parents, friends and even sufferers from Asperger's syndrome. It is clear, succinct and so far unique in its presentation of important findings relating to this impairment." Nature

"The strength of this book is in its rich description of the range of behaviors that characterize autistic spectrum disorders and in the review of the links between social deficits in these disorders and possible underlying cognitive mechanisms....a well written, thoughtful, and interesting text that is well worth reading." Joseph Piven, American Journal of Psychiatry

"I found the text informative and fascinating....Its specificity, clarity, and depth make Autism and Asperger Syndrome the best reference we have found about the syndrome." Whole Earth Review

"This book provides an in-depth analysis on Asperger's, autism and how the two are related." Columbia, MO, Missourian

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052138608X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521386081
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life-saving book, December 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

As a person with Asperger's syndrome myself, who only got properly diagnosed as a result of this thoughtful and erudite book, I have a life-long debt of gratitude to it. I've met several of the people who wrote it, and not only are they not bigots, as an earlier reviewer alleged, but they have a degree of respect for and appreciation of "abnormal" people (a term which simply means people who are different from the "norm") which I have rarely found elsewhere.

The book is essentially an academic text - if you are looking for a more accessible read, try Tony Attwood's excellent "Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals". However, no collection of books on AS would be complete without this as a work of reference. It's still the only place to find a translation of Hans Asperger's original paper, containing my all-time favourite quote:

"Able autistic individuals can rise to eminent positions and perform with such outstanding success that one may even conclude that only such people are capable of certain achievements ... Their unswerving determination and penetrating intellectual powers, part of their spontaneous and original mental activity, their narrowness and single-mindedness, as manifested in their special interests, can be immensely valuable and can lead to outstanding achievements in their chosen areas."

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An informative book, but not for the casual reader, August 8, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

This book is written not for the general reader, but for those already familiar with the relevant disciplines. As a result, while parts are enlightening (particularly the case studies and the translation of Asperger's original article), the book overall can be a slow and difficult read.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview of Asperger's Syndrome, August 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

Offers an excellent overview of Asperger's Syndrome, including a translation of Hans Asperger's original dissertation. The book is quite readable even for those who do not have a technical background in the field, but such a background will be very helpful in certain chapters. While Asperger's syndrome is compared with classic autism, there is little other material on classic autism itself, so the title is a bit misleading. However, this is a must have book for professionals working with people who have Asperger's syndrome. Parents and educators may also want this book, although they probably would not be satisfied with it as their only reference.