Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism [Paperback]

T. o. Daria (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1843105861 | ISBN-13: 978-1843105862 | Publication Date: April 30, 2008 | Edition: 1

Just a few weeks old, Dasha the cat found herself in a family with an autistic child. The publication of Temple Grandin's book "Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behaviour" turned the household into a research laboratory, with the humans observing Dasha's behaviours and the cat experimenting with the 'human guinea pigs'. The feline perspective provides a new outlook on autism conditions, challenging long established stereotypes and analysing controversies in the field with an unbiased attitude and humour. The text is interspersed with Dasha's 'wisdoms', 'research notes' and definitions of concepts based on her own understanding, such as 'A pet shop is a place where humans come to be adopted by the animals who are brave enough to take a responsibility of looking after them.' Dasha's Journal provides research-based information in an amusing and accessible form and makes serious and complicated issues such as sensory perception, memory, communication, savant skills and challenging behaviours in autism easily understandable for the general reader.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Dasha is a brilliant feline! She is flat-out funny, wise beyond her cat years and a true champion of autistics everywhere! Read her journal and let her teach you about autism!" - Liane Holliday Willey, EdD, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome'A heartwarming book providing insights into how autistic persons perceive and interact with the world as only a cat can. As Dasha "meows" about her human members of the family we learn how autism is a different, rather than a disordered way of being. This book is a delightful and informative read.'- Stephen M. Shore, EdD, Executive Director of Autism Spectrum Disorder Consulting, Board of Directors for the Autism Society of America and the Asperger's Association of New England 'Dasha's Journal is a charming and original way of explaining the mystery that is autism. Dasha is a cat who lives in an "autistic" family. Her observations on the behaviour of both the autistic and neurotypical members of the family put the "problems" of autism into perspective; we are often told that autistic people are "mindblind", but, as Dasha shows, neurotypicals are just as blind to the ways of those who are "differently abled", whether autistics or cats! The Journal is quirky and amusing, but beneath the humour lies a serious and profound examination of autism and the misconceptions that surround it.' --- Charlotte Moore, author of George and Sam: Autism in the Family

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (April 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843105861
• ISBN-13: 978-1843105862
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book, and why, June 3, 2008

By 

Edgar R. Schneider - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism (Paperback)

I am a man with Asperger's Syndrome, the highest-functioning form of autism, and I have, for many years, been involved in autism advocacy. As such, I cannot help but be perplexed by the huge amounts of misinformation abounding in the media, invariably from non-autistic sources. "Dasha's Journal" is the proverbial breath of fresh air. In describing the ins and outs of autism, the author gets it exactly right. These are objective facts.

Style and format are, of course, as the saying goes, in the eye of the beholder. This beholder found it very entertaining. (Disclaimer: I am an unreconstructed cat lover.) It takes a rare literary talent to put across something as seen through the eyes of someone else, especially an animal, and make it convincing. In this, the author has been successful. I should also like to point out that this book is not "pop science". The author gives many sources that "Dasha" uses to make her points, and these can referenced by professionals and others.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites!, June 4, 2008

By 

Liane Holliday Willey, EdD - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism (Paperback)

I have read at least a hundred books on Asperger syndrome, and this one stands out not only because it is very accurate in its description of autism spectrum disorders, but also because of its narrator's style. Author T.O. Daria sets the stage through his cat Dasha, who serves as the voice of the book. Dasha offers a viewpoint that is unique and gracious and charming. I know it sounds silly to think a narrating cat can do ASD justice, but trust me, the concept works and it works very well. This is the kind of book you can give to anyone, but especially to reluctant readers not sure they want to face the subject of ASD. I highly recommend it.
Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome; Asperger Syndrome in the Family: Redefining Normal; and Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: The Ups, the Downs, and the Things In-Between.

3.0 out of 5 stars the narration was unbearable for me, January 24, 2012

By 

*Caligirl_08* (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism (Paperback)

i really really wish amazon had an option where we could leave a comment about the book WITHOUT giving it stars and affecting it's rating. but since that doesn't exist right now, i'm putting 3 stars on here just so i don't tip it's rating one way or the other too badly.

the reason for this is because i'm literally on page 22 and i do not want to go any further in the book because the *i'm a little kitty meow meow* narration is waaaay too annoying. if you want to write from the point of view of an actual cat, DO IT but this is a cat with a human brain who is researching autism and i just can't even, it's too annoying. i WANT to learn about autism and it looks like the author has some GREAT points to make but the cat stuff is really getting in the way. i don't want to give this book a bad rating because it does seem like the ideas in it are sound but i'm just putting this review here as a warning for others, i have two cats myself, i'm a cat lover, but this book just made me grind my teeth. please read a sample of it before you commit to it. two other reviewers on here loved it, and two, including me, hated it, so obviously the writing style isn't for everyone. i'm going to continue trying to read it while just skipping through the *LOOK AT ME IM A CAT MEOW MEOW MEOW* parts but ugh... reading shouldn't have to be such an ordeal!