The Exact Mind: An Artist with Apserger Syndrome [Paperback]

Peter Myers (Author), Simon Baron-Cohen (Editor), Sally Wheelwright (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

Peter Myers' intricate and ornately patterned drawings are brought together for the first time in this volume, which is the fascinating result of the collaboration of an artist and two scientists. The beautiful, complex images (included in full-page colour as well as black and white reproductions) serve as a rare window into the precision and exacting creativity of the Asperger mind at work. Peter Myers was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 1996 and his work reflects his stunning ability to plan and to organise visual information, and to embed illusions within his pictures. Peter's brief explanatory captions which accompany the images offer insight into the ways in which he composes his pictures. In the main text of the book, psychologists Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright discuss the work's great psychological significance, demonstrating in accessible language their ground-breaking systemizing theory of how the autistic mind processes information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'An Exact Mind is one of the best books about the work of an artist with a psychological disorder that I have seen. Psychologists Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright discuss the light Myer's work sheds on theories of Autism and Asperger's. It's a beautifully produced paperback, and the pictures are extremely strong and beautiful. It is worked I'd be very pleased to have adoring my own home. The book will also appeal to the many people who have a friend or relative with Asperger's, partly because it sheds some light on the subjective experience of living with the condition. Highly recommended. -Christian Perring 'The book showcases the intricate and ornately patterned drawings of Peter Myers who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 1996... In the main text of An Exact Mind, psychologists Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright discuss the psychological significance of Peter's works and explain in accessible language their theories of how the autistic mind processes information: his complex images serve as a rare window into the precision and exacting creativity of the Asperger mind at work.' - Communication 'Peter Myers' fantastically intricate and precise artworks are reproduced in the book and then analysed by the editors. But apparently Myers had his own ideas about their comments on his work and insisted on writing responses - which the publisher then included in the text. Most original.' - The Bookseller

About the Author

Dr Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at Cambridge University and a Fellow of Trinity College. He is also Co-Director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, and runs a clinic for adults with Asperger Syndrome. Sally Wheelwright is Senior Research Associate at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge. Peter Myers' work has appeared in exhibitions all over the world and has been made into postcards. Peter has Asperger Syndrome and lives independently, in his own house in York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843100320
• ISBN-13: 978-1843100324
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,766,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious, January 28, 2006

By 

Suz "treadingwater" (Freeland, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Exact Mind: An Artist with Apserger Syndrome (Paperback)

This beautiful book is definitely one for the coffee table... large and glossy and full of delicious pictures. It combines the usual characteristics of an art book with the insight of autistic biography and the usual introduction to Asperger syndrome information. In addition to this though it has a very accessible guide to the psychological theories of autism. I identified with the art in it, having produced a similar style of pictures myself in the past (though not as good or as clever). This is an honest and thoughtful celebration of the autistic mind.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrate the Autism Experience!, February 25, 2006

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Exact Mind: An Artist with Apserger Syndrome (Paperback)

This book makes me think of Jimi Hendrix' 1967 classic, "Are You Experienced?" If not, this stellar work will certainly help you understand the autism/Aspeger's (a/A) experience.

First of all, it is past time to debunk that tired myth about how people with autism don't plan ahead and aren't organized. Not true. Let's just retire that one permanently. If you believe that, I have a nice bridge in San Francisco to sell you along with some oceanfront property in Iowa.

On the contrary, people on the a/A spectrum tend to be organized in thought and behavior to the point of rigidity. I know someone with Asperger's whose photographs are in the exact order in which they appear on the negatives; they are all chronologically organized; books, albums and CDs are alphabetized by artist and further alphabetized by title. How's THAT for organized thinking?

Many people on the a/A spectrum are quite adept at locating discrete objects and polygons in complex drawings; many people on the a/A spectrum excel at completing complex mazes; Tangrams and in "word finding," that is finding smaller words within a longer one.

The photographs do this one justice; the a/A experience is celebrated fully. Instead of reinforcing these foolish myths about autism which help no one and hurt all, this book opens the door to the a/A experience!

As John Lennon said in "Imagine," his 1971 classic, "I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one."