Favorite Books
The More You Know…
People often ask me what are my favorite books about autism and neurodiversity so here you go! There are so many books emerging and I won’t be able to catch up but I have read all of these and liked them. True story… they are all on my book shelf right now.
Please note that books listed are from a variety of perspectives. We may not all agree with the content. I am a firm believer in the star fish theory, in that if it helps one person, it made a difference.
Nonfiction
Autism in the Family
Written by Robert Naseef Ph.D.
Description: How can parents provide the best support for their child with autism—and ensure that the whole family's needs are met? It's a question faced by every parent of a child on the autism spectrum, and this book answers it with keen insight, reassuring honesty, and practical guidance. A psychologist and father of an adult son with autism, Dr. Robert Naseef has both personal and professional expertise to share with overwhelmed families.
Be Different
Written by John Elder Robison
Description: My adventures with Asperger’s and my advice for fellow Aspergians, misfits, families, and teachers.
Being Heumann
Written by Judith Heumann with Kristen Joiner
Description: An unrepentant memoir of a disability rights activist.
Born on a Blue Day
Written by Daniel Tammet
Description: A memoir. Inside the extraordinary mind of an Autistic Savant.
Differently Wired
Written by Deborah Reber
Description: A parent’s guide to raising an atypical child with confidence and hope.
Finding Kind
Written by Kari A. Baker
Description: Discovering hope and purpose while loving Kids with Invisible Neurological Differences.
*Local author
Forever Boy
Written by Kate Swenson
Description: A mother’s memoir of autism and finding joy.
How can I talk if my lips don’t move?
Written by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
Description: Offers a rare insight into the autistic mind and how it thinks, sees, and reacts to the world. When he was three years old, Tito was diagnosed as severely autistic.
Life, Animated
Written by Ron Suskind
Description: A story of sidekicks, heroes and autism. Now an award winning motion picture.
Look Me In the Eye
Written by John Elder Robison
Description: A memoir. My life with Asperger’s.
The Loving Push
Written by Temple Grandin and Debra Moore
Description: How parents and professionals can help spectrum kids become successful adults. Chapters cover compulsive gaming, how to break bad habits, teaching vital life skills and much more.
Navigating Autism
Written by Temple Grandin and Debra Moore
Description: 9 Mindsets for helping kids on the spectrum.
Not My Boy
Written by Rodney Peete
Description: A father, a son, and one family’s journey with autism.
The Reason I Jump
Written by Naoki Higashida
Description: The inner voice of a 13 year old boy with autism.
Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families
Written by Gary Chapman, Ph.D and Jolene Philo, MEd
Description: The 5 love languages for parents raising children with disabilities.
Uniquely Human
Written by Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D
Description: A different way of seeing autism. Autism is not an illness. It’s a different way of being human.
Fiction
Forever Neverland
Written by Susan Adrian
Description: Clover and Fergus are the great-great-grandchildren of Wendy Darling (yes, that Wendy). And now Peter Pan wants to take them to Neverland for the adventure of their lives! But Clover is a little nervous--she's supposed to look after her brother. Fergus is autistic, and not everyone makes him feel welcome. What will happen to him in this magical world?
The Kiss Quotient
Written by Helen Hoang
Description: Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases—a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice—with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. NOT FOR CHILDREN. SEXUAL CONTENT.