Rating: 
Summary: The life and times of Temple Graindin
Review: ... The book Thinking in Pictures involves the evaluation, from the first person perspective, of a life with autism, and delves into the complicated world of an autistic person. The book provides a clear explanation of almost all the problems that plaque a person with autism, and additionally shows the way an autistic person's mind works and
the way the world affects their thinking. The book conveys information primarily through the view of author Temple Graindin, but also makes references and comparisons to animal science and, thus provides an almost parallel theme to the
book.
While parts of the book do diverge from the subject, the book provides an excellent summary of the life of an autistic in a non autistic world. Because the book is written from the first person, there is a personal touch to the book that draws the reader in and helps them to better experience Temple's world. The comparisons to animals also prove to be effective as they further emphasize how different an autistic person's
mind works as compared to our's. It, then as a result, further shows how an autistic person's world is completely different, yet the same to our own. The book at times, however, sometimes goes too in-depth with the descriptions of animal science and
sometimes reads like a cattle-dairy science textbook. Much of the book also deviates from the main topic of autism into her own philosophies of life. Finally, much of the information about the drugs is very tedious, and while it does provide much useful information, does not contribute much to the overall theme of the book. On the whole, the book is very interesting and helps to show the pictures of the autistic world.
Rating:
Summary: The life and times of Temple Graindin
Review: ...The book Thinking in Pictures involves the evaluation, from the first person perspective, of a life with autism, and delves into the complicated world of an autistic person. The book provides a clear explanation of almost all the problems that plaque a person with autism, and additionally shows the way an autistic person's mind works and
the way the world affects their thinking. The book conveys information primarily through the view of author Temple Graindin, but also makes references and comparisons to animal science and, thus provides an almost parallel theme to the
book.
While parts of the book do diverge from the subject, the book provides an excellent summary of the life of an autistic in a non autistic world. Because the book is written from the first person, there is a personal touch to the book that draws the reader in and helps them to better experience Temple's world. The comparisons to animals also prove to be effective as they further emphasize how different an autistic person's
mind works as compared to our's. It, then as a result, further shows how an autistic person's world is completely different, yet the same to our own. The book at times, however, sometimes goes too in-depth with the descriptions of animal science and
sometimes reads like a cattle-dairy science textbook. Much of the book also deviates from the main topic of autism into her own philosophies of life. Finally, much of theinformation about the drugs is very tedious, and while it does provide much useful information, does not contribute much to the overall theme of the book. On the whole, the book is very interesting and helps to show the pictures of the autistic world.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting...
Review: An interesting autobiography of an autistic women who has achieved much in her career as a brilliant scientist in animal husbandry, who has designed machinery to make the slaughter of cattle, less terrifying and painful to the animals.
She provides insights into autism, but tends to generalize, describing some of her own experiences and conditions, as being general to all autistic, where they are not always so-not all of her generalizations are correct , and the limitation in relationships she ascribes are not true for all who have these disorders.
Nonetheless there is valuable information here about autism, as well as milder related disorders such as Aspergers syndrome, and the difficulties these lead to in social lives and careers.
She also highlights those who have suffered from such abilities or parts thereof, but have still achieved much, including Albert Einstein, Bill Gates and Vincent Van Gogh.An interesting and insightful book.
Rating: 
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS ON AUTISM EVER WRITTEN!
Review: Anyone connected in any way with autism or Asperger's syndrome - families, professionals, teachers, people with autism and AS themselves - should read this book. Anyone who has ever wondered what it is like to be autistic should read this book. Anyone who doesn't fall into one of the above categories should read this book anyway, and learn something about a world that "normal" people never even dream of
Rating:
Summary: An articulate account of a wordless life.
Review: As a father of a two year old diagnosed with autism/PDD, I was encouraged and amazed by Ms. Grandin's articulate account of her professional and personal lives. The insights I gained from her book have helped me to relate to, and teach, my daughter more effectively. Her incisive review of treatment modalities carried obvious credibility coming from a person familiar intellectually and personally with this devastating condition.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic perspective
Review: As a mother of a 10 year old son in the Autistic spectrum, I find it challenging to understand his feelings. How refreshing to find an author in this spectrum, who can verbalize it for us!
Rating:
Summary: A Real Eye Opener
Review: Autism is NOT hopeless! This book is an incredible journey into the world of high functioning autistic. The popular notion that most autistic people are mentally retarded is shot down. The book reveals that there are a large number of very successful high functioning and even genius level autistic people out there. The differences in them and how they become successful are well documented. The book is a little disjointed and repetitive. Highly recommended for anyone who knows anyone autistic or who has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (a mild type of autism)
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for autistic families
Review: Ditto to all the plaudits of previous reviews; and I'll add that anyone who has an autistic child in their life will take heart from Ms. Grandin's ability both to understand her own lot in life, and to use it to her advantage. A note to animal lovers: this book does contain some material describing the author's work in slaughterhouses, which some may find disturbing. They are a small part of the whole, and may be skipped without losing the thread of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Temple Grandin is a visual thinker
Review: For therapists and other professionals I feel they should read Thinking In Pictures: And Other Reports From My Life With Autism before they have any interactions with someone who is autistic. Once you have worked with someone with the disability it would be a good idea to peruse the book again for specifics and to confirm your knowledge of autism.
Through out the book Temple gives titles and references to other authors of books that pertain to Autism, as well as her impressions of the book and how it affected her. She can recall names of teachers and actual events that took place from the time she was a small child. There are many references to the similarities of cows in the slaughtering houses she designs and works at to the way an autistic persons mind works.
Temple discusses how many parents are looking for a magic cure thinking their child has to have ten hours of intensive therapies. She cites that there are studies showing that twenty to twenty-five hours a week requiring the child to constantly interact with their teacher was most effective. Her own mother spent thirty minutes a day reading to her and Temple says that a neurologist gave her mother the best advice to follow her own instincts.
It should be noted that Temple is in her fifties and things that took place during her childhood are not happening in this day. Back then children were placed in institutions. Most of the issues Temple refers to she gives scientific background and then her personal history on how she has progressed through the years. For example she explains that most autistic people do not realize that their sensory processing is different. The reader learns of her medication intake and how this has developed over time.
Temple is a lecturer on autism to professionals and parents and recounts many meetings she has had and the exact conversations as well. Temple designed a squeeze machine that was the result of studying the behavior of the cows during their walk through in the slaughter houses. Temple has always hated to be hugged, saying it triggered something in the nervous system. Many autistic children do crave deep pressure stimulation even though they cannot tolerate it .
I do advise any relative of an autistic person read this extraordinary look at life from the perspective of one with the disability.
Rating:
Summary: she is a genius
Review: for those of you interested in autism, this is the book to read. temple grandin explains what it's like to be autistic, and makes a good case for the point that in some way, we all display autistic tendencies, and that perhaps it's not so much of a disorder as it is just a different way of perceiving the world. she is the subject of one of erroll morris' "first person" series on bravo.
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