The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism [Hardcover]

Kate Winslet (Author), Margret Ericsdottir (Author), Keli Thorsteinsson (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: March 27, 2012

Thank you for taking this journey with us. We hope this book brings a new awareness of the opportunity we have to help those with autism learn to communicate and realize their ambitions. People with autism have the potential to achieve great things, but only when given the appropriate support and education. This is why the Golden Hat Foundation was formed. All author proceeds from this book go directly to the Golden Hat Foundation. With your help, we can change the world for people with autism. For more information about the Golden Hat Foundation and ways you can help, please visit our website: www.goldenhatfoundation.org

“I simply couldn’t conceive of how devastating it would be not to be able to hear my children’s voices. Not to be able to communicate with them, to hear them learn, grow, and express themselves verbally. How fortunate, how blessed I am. This overwhelmed me. I can talk to my children, I can respond to their needs and comfort them when they tell me they are unwell. I can tell them stories and hear them tell theirs.”

Kate Winslet

Imagine what it would be like not to be able to communicate with those we love. For many individuals living with nonverbal autism and their families, this is their everyday reality. The Golden Hat is an intimate response to this reality created by Kate Winslet, Margret Ericsdottir, and her son Keli, who has nonverbal autism.

Kate and Margret’s stories, their personal email correspondence, and Keli’s poetry give us a profound insight into the world of those living with autism. Kate has shared this story with some of the world’s most famous people, posing the question: “What is important to you to express?” Their responses are a collection of intimate self-portraits and unique quotes. Among them are:

Christina Aguilera

Zac Efron

Julianne Moore

Maria Sharapova

Kobe Bryant

James Franco

Rosie O’Donnell

Ben Stiller

Michael Caine

Ricky Gervais

Michael Phelps

Meryl Streep

Kim Cattrall

Tom Hanks

John C. Reilly

Justin Timberlake

George Clooney

Elton John

Tim Robbins

Naomi Watts

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jude Law

Kristin Scott Thomas

Oprah Winfrey

Put together by Kate, Margret, and the dedicated team who work daily on the Golden Hat Foundation, this project has been a labor of love.

All the author proceeds from this groundbreaking book will benefit the Golden Hat Foundation, founded by Kate Winslet and Margret Ericsdottir to build innovative living campuses for people with autism and raise public awareness of their intellectual capabilities.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kate Winslet is one of the world’s best known and best-loved Academy Award-winning actresses. She made her film debut at the age of seventeen and is the youngest actress ever to have received six Academy Award nominations. Kate has two children, Mia and Joe, and divides her time between New York and the UK.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (March 27, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451645430
• ISBN-13: 978-1451645439
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Hats off" to Kate and Margret's Crusade in Keli's name! March 29, 2012

By Beating the Odds at Autism

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Hats off" to Kate Winslet and her beautifully-designed book, along with Margret and Keli - of course! - who allowed us to step inside their lives for a moment. And kudos to all of the "hollywood stars" as well as the "stars of autism" who so graciously contributed in order to "speak to readers" about this very important crusade! While reading last night on my Kindle, I couldn't help but be moved by the email exchanges between Margret and Kate...as I, too, am the mother of a child with autism. When Margret shared that Keli wasn't diagnosed until four years of age...I felt her angst, as my son was diagnosed at three-and-a-half, which was very, very late, considering he's now 20. I can relate to Margret's comment that Keli is "like a sponge" and absorbing everything around him. When my son was younger, we referred to autism as the "A word" because I just knew in my heart that, although he wasn't able to express himself, he was "taking in" everything that everyone was saying about him...and I never wanted people to talk "about him" as if he wasn't there; but rather, to him...even though we never got a response from him.

Listening to Margret talk about how autism makes you look at life in a different light...no truer words could be spoken. When you see the "veil of autism" begin to be lifted slightly...there are no words to describe your emotions...and I could "feel" Margret's emotions in her email exchanges, and Kate was so receptive and communicatively on point, that I was able to hear her voice and her passion and excitement as I was reading.

In closing, although my son was able to "find his voice" and, despite the pediatric neurologist telling us that he would never "develop any useful language" he is now in his second year at our Community College. I've posted The Golden Hat link on our Facebook Book Page and I hope to keep the momentum going for this passionate dream of Margret, Kate and - I'm sure I speak for - all parents of nonverbal children.

Sincerely, Linda Burns, Author of "Beating the Odds at Autism" One Family's Winning Hand.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Titanic!! April 14, 2012

By W. Lawton

Format:Hardcover

Kate Winslet and Margret Ericsdottir have written a compelling book called The Golden Hat, and together have embarked on a Titanic project called The Golden Hat Foundation. They are trying to bring awareness and solutions to a monumental problem, Autism. According to the book, there are approximately 67 million people worldwide with Autism, most of whom are non verbal. The amount of human potential bottled up in these millions of people is staggering. It needs to be released.

If you've ever wondered how some people have such incredible passion for a purpose, read the book and the email exchange between Kate and Margret. It will have you jumping out of the chair and eager to support their cause. Besides the email exchange, which by the way also reveals what's in Keli's (Margret's autistic son) magnificent mind, there are firsthand accounts from newly verbal autistic people, and candid photos and quotes from many Hollywood folks wearing Keli's golden hat. A class act!! If you care about giving these gifted people a chance at life, buy the book and support the foundation. This noble and worthy cause needs the highest possible attention.

In the book Kate says "People with Autism have the potential to achieve great things, but only when given the appropriate support and education". I have seen this first hand and in fact, a few weeks ago went to an event where a 20 year old autistic young man gave his account of growing up with autism. When he was 3, his parents were told he would never speak. After successful behavioral therapy, love, support and education (including making the football team in high school, now living a socially active life and just recently making the dean's list in college), he is living testimony that the support and education that Kate and Margret are striving for works. His story is documented (by his mom, his sister and himself) in the recently released book "Beating the Odds at Autism: One Family's Winning Hand". Both books highly recommended!!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly moving story for all parents!! March 27, 2012

By jessica

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I picked a copy today and it was so much more amazing than I thought it would be. First, the story of how Kate Winslet befriended this family and then wanted to do more is inspiring. I was so impressed that she isn't affected by autism in her own family but couldn't just sit back and do nothing. Then secondly, the pictures of the celebrities were so beautiful. They all look like professional layouts but they are all self portraits taken on ordinary cameras... usually smart phones( you can see them in the pictures). The words are so moving and funny!! I too can't imagine if I couldn't communicate with my own child and it just brings a tear to my eye to think of never hearing her voice!! Thank you Kate Winslet for speaking up for them!! This is an amazing book and I plan to buy more now that I have seen it first hand for my daughter's teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week coming up soon and for family members for Easter!! It is truly an amazing book!!