Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life with Autism [Hardcover]

Temple Grandin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0385477929 | ISBN-13: 978-0385477925 | Publication Date: October 1, 1995 | Edition: 1st

The captivating subject of Oliver Sack's Anthropologist on Mars, here is Temple Grandin's personal account of living with autism extraordinary gift of animal empathy has transformed her world and ours.



Temple Grandin is renowned throughout the world as a designer of livestock holding equipment.  Her unique empathy for animals has her to create systems which are humane and cruel free, setting the highest standards for the industry the treatment and handling of animals.  She also happens to be autistic. Here, in Temple Grandin's own words, is the story what it is like to live with autism.  Temple is among the few people who have broken through many the neurological impairments associated with autism.  Throughout her life, she has developed unique coping strategies, including her famous "squeeze machine," modeled after seeing the calming effect squeeze chutes on cattle.  She describes her pain isolation growing up "different" and her discovery visual symbols to interpret the "ways of the natives" Thinking in Pictures also gives information from the frontlines of autism, including treatme medication, and diagnosis, as well as Temple's insight into genius, savants, sensory phenomena, etc.  Ultimately, it is Temple's unique ability describe the way her visual mind works and how she first made the connection between her impairment and animal temperament that is the basis of extraordinary gift and phenomenal success.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Oliver Sacks calls Temple Grandin's first book--and the first picture of autism from the inside--"quite extraordinary, unprecedented and, in a way, unthinkable." Sacks told part of her story in his An Anthropologist on Mars, and in Thinking in Pictures Grandin returns to tell her life history with great depth, insight, and feeling. Grandin told Sacks, "I don't want my thoughts to die with me. I want to have done something ... I want to know that my life has meaning ... I'm talking about things at the very core of my existence." Grandin's clear exposition of what it is like to "think in pictures" is immensely mind-broadening and basically destroys a whole school of philosophy (the one that declares language necessary for thought). Grandin, who feels she can "see through a cow's eyes," is an influential designer of slaughterhouses and livestock restraint systems. She has great insight into human-animal relations. It would be mere justice if Thinking in Pictures transforms the study of religious feeling, too. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In her second autobiographical volume (after Emergence: Labelled Autistic), Grandin, a high-functioning autistic profiled by Oliver Sacks in his recent book, An Anthropologist on Mars, offers a series of original, linked essays on her life and work. An assistant professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, her heightened ability to visualize allows her to make sense of the world by constructing concrete visual metaphors; for her, every concept must be tied into her nonverbal "video library" of particular people, places and associations. By thus enabling Grandin to put herself in the place of cows and other animals, her visual imagination has helped her to design humane livestock-processing equipment (these designs have been so effective that they now handle one-third of the nation's cattle and hogs). Throughout these essays, Grandin blends personal anecdotes with plainspoken accounts of scientific approaches to autism and methods of treatment, like drug therapy and a "squeeze machine" she invented to modify sensory stimulation. Although her prose is uneven, her insights and achievements are astonishing. Ultimately, Grandin finds within science and autism the basis for belief in God, given that her designs, which spring from her powers of visualization, reduce suffering and promote calm in both the animals and herself. Photos.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 222 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385477929
• ISBN-13: 978-0385477925
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Temple Grandin earned her Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Illinois, went on to become a professor at Colorado State University, and wrote two books on autism, including the seminal THINKING IN PICTURES. One of the most celebrated--and effective--animal advocates on the planet, Grandin revolutionized animal movement systems and spearheaded reform of the quality of life for the world's agricultural animals.

Catherine Johnson , Ph.D., is a writer specializing in neuropsychiatry and the brain and is the author of three previous books, including SHADOW SYNDROMES with John J. Ratey. She lives with her husband and three sons in New York. Two of her sons have autism.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking In Pictues: And Other Reports from My Life With Aut, April 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism (Paperback)

This is a must-read book for parents, professionals, and teenagers/adults living with autism (it is not appropriate for younger readers). It is easy to read, entertaining and informative. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of autism and how widely the spectrum of autistic disorders can vary, as well as what to do to help someone with autism.

Ms. Grandin's greatest gift lies in her ability to understand both the worlds of non-autistics and autistics alike. Using her personal experiences as well as significant contributions from other people, she explains how baffling the world is to a person with autistism, in terms of unwritten social codes, our reliance on verbal thinking, relationships, appearances, etc. She discusses concrete ways in which autistics can be helped to integrate with society -- in families, friendships, other relationships, schools, and jobs.

Her chapter on medication is valuable, discussing how autism often requires different doses than are commonly prescribed. This is information that isn't readily available unless you are working with a physician who has extensive experience with autistic patients. Since an autistic person is highly sensitive, the effects of behavior modification medications are often amplified, requiring a lower dose. Particular attention needs to be given to medication combinations.

There is also information on many of the related disorders that often accompany autism, such as sensory integration disorders, Tourrette's Syndrome, ADD, etc. Everything is written from the perspective of the autistic with Ms. Grandin acting as translator.

Besides being informative, the book is optimistic in its view of autism. Ms. Grandin plainly credits autism for her success in her chosen profession. In fact, my only criticism of the book is the length of time she devotes to discussing her career path (this information is also contained in her earlier book "Emergence" ). However, this information may be motivating to autistics reading the book as she certainly has achieved remarkable things. She also includes a chapter on other highly accomplished autistics, with the message that different neurological wiring can be a great asset if properly supported early in life.

It is an informative, inspirational book that opens a window on autism and lets the rest of the world look in and understand.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The essential insider's view of autism, May 7, 2000

By 

2manymammals (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism (Paperback)

This is the book that, from its first sentence, opened the door for me to understanding my son's world. I read it three years ago and still remember having to put the book down every paragraph or two, clutch my forehead, and say "Oh, my God, that's what's going on." It describes more clearly and convincingly than any other source the sensory experience of autism, and provides a much-needed view of the positive side of the condition. It's also very easy to read. The only caveat I could offer is that treatments have advanced so much since this book was published that its information is out of date. Otherwise, absolutely indispensable.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope for helpless mother like me, March 14, 2005

By 

Little Cloud "stay-at-home mom" (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism (Paperback)

After reading a number of "What is autism?" books, I still cannot get any reassurance about how my autistic 4-year-old boy faces his future. But this book brings light and hope to me. The author's personal sharing & indepth explaination about what she faced before show me what my boy needs to conquer in his life.

I don't know much about the technical terms or scientific stuffs in autism, but I do know that I need to walk with my boy in his developmental path. This book gives me both emotional support and technical information about what I need to know.

My husband doesn't like those "what is autism?" books (maybe he doesn't like those who want to earn money in this topic) but he does read this one and even discuss with me in details about what our boy may be facing.

I highly recommend this book to the parents of autistic kids.