# 433: BOOK OF THE WEEK — “The Autistic Brain”
Story behind the Book Choice
I am still in doubt whether or not I should have chosen this book by Grandin for my class or a different one. I wanted one that has a lot of science in it. After all, we are reading this book in my class on “Storytelling Research.” Now, I think there is too much research in it. It is really dense, really detailed, and to me quite overwhelming. As a matter of fact, however, this is the message in and of itself. The autistic brain behind the book, Temple Grandin, works like that. Her brain does not prefer big picture thinking and emotional shishi. The latter option is just how my “normal”, non-autistic, brain works. And that is the bottom line of the book itself. This notion of the “normal” brain is just as flawed as any normative idea. We are all different in our own ways. Yes, even if a deviation from the norm is classified as “illness,” there are still so many ways to live a healthy and rich life. And, even more so, there is so much potential and strength in what is considered “beyond the norm.”
I admire Grandin for her path.
I would have loved to read more about herself in this book.
But that is just not what this book is supposed to achieve, obviously.
- Thinking in Analogies
Thinking in pictures is something which I still do not understand. And the reason is not that I do not think in pictures. On the contrary, I think, this is how my brain works. My head is like a movie theater. I see everything in pictures. I never visualize words or letters. Maybe this is “normal” and everyone does it like this? Maybe it is not? I just have no idea. But when Grandin gives this example of the analogy of the office building when describing the complexity of the brain, I totally identify with her thinking. For me, every concept can be turned into an analogy. But it has taken me a long time to talk about these analogies when teaching, for example. I always thought that people do not get it, that my analogies sound crazy. Maybe they are. But the point is: My experience has taught me that they work. Students get it. Maybe not always but at least it is better than giving no example/analogy at all.
I wonder how Grandin teaches.
How her teaching might have changed over the years.
If she likes teaching at all.
2. Tactile Sensitivity
There are so many childhood stories my mother told me about me misbehaving in some way. Well, I do not mean the stories are bad or painful. We always laugh a lot when she recalls them. But many deal with me just not behaving like other kids did. Maybe all parents say that about their children, I do not know. I am not saying that I am autistic, at least, not that I know of. Still, my brain also has some abnormalities which cause it to be overly sensitive when it comes to certain sensual perceptions. And one of them definitely deals textures and the feelings they evoke from my body. There are certain fabrics which I simply cannot wear on my skin. I cannot even name them specifically. I just know that, whenever I look at them, I already know this is not going to work. I drives me crazy. The same holds true for dried sponges, for example. Whenever I touch them (I just did last week again because I like using the old-fashioned black board in the class room), I really get goose bumps and can hardly concentrate.
Grandin describes tactile sensitivity in much detail — she describes everything in much detail because that is just how her brain works. And there is a high level of self-recognition in what she describes. And I am very grateful that I am sharing many of these things. I think, even though my level of sensitivity is not pathological in a clinical way, this makes me have much empathy for people “somewhere on the spectrum.” And the thing I can relate to most, obviously, exactly because my brain is wired in a special and at times overly sensitive way, is the feeling of not belonging, of being an outcast. That is such a special gift which makes you feel humble; but only if you embrace it and you stop complaining and suffering. And only if you stand up for who you are. And most importantly:
Only if you do not try to be someone you are not.
Maybe that is the biggest benefit of the autistic brain.
Because of the lack of (interpersonal) imagination,
Of putting onself into the head of someone else.
You are not even tempted to “be” someone else.
But maybe I am wrong.
Maybe that just makes you feel even more lonely and secluded.
Grandin definitely makes the best of this:
in her science and in her writing.
3. Associative Thinking
Part of Grandin’s mission in this book, as it seems, is to make sure that the reader not only understands the autistic brain better. It is to also give up on some of the compartmentalized thinking about autism. She therefore also underlines the enormous possibilities and strengths which go along with the autistic brain. In the chapter “Knowing Your Own Strengths,” she dives into some of the most outstanding capabilities hidden underneath the surface of the autistic brain. Associative thinking definitely is one of them. Again, it is something which I am highly familiar with but I had no idea it is a unique feature of the autistic brain. To me, it does feel like a burden at times and it increases the gap I feel between other people and myself. Whenever I see or hear one term or concept, this entire library of images opens up in my head. I cannot resist it and at times, it drives me nuts.
I know that this ability might be the basis of creativity. People like me probably would not be able to write easily and without any effort without this automatism. The brain floats from one thing to the next and everything is somehow connected in a mysterious way. The problem is just that this also leads to associations which are very hard to get for others. I often experience this when someone says something and then this weird association pops up in my head. And sometimes I start laughing very hard because it is a funny association. And if I am asked to share why I am laughing and I explain it, people very often do not get it. They say: “You are drawing connections, oh boy, I would never have thought of that!” Or, as my mom always says: “You are jumping from one thing to the next so quickly, I just cannot get it. You have always done that since you were a child. Can you just stick to one topic for a moment, please, and finish every sentence?”
After all, this book post is leading to the same topic I have discussed several times this week. It is all about standing up to who you are and living life to the fullest. And that means you have to accept what is, be open to all the exciting and beautiful things life offers you, and unfold your potential. For me, the past weeks have shown me again that trying to fit into some kind of box with a label on it does not work. It has gotten me off track again — thankfully not so far that I am at point 0 again. But I was close. And whenever I walk the street and see people who are walking around like dead shells, I am reminded of how close I often was to giving up. Yes, I know, it is actually an outrageous thing to say this about other people. It is not up to me to judge if others are happy or not. But I do claim to see the pain in others. We all have pain somewhere inside. It makes us human. It makes us vulnerable and valuable at the same time. It makes us remember that we are all the same, all connected, no matter how our brains are wired.
I just pray that I never stop seeing the pain in the world.
Even though it is hard to endure at times,
It is the driving force to make people happy with what I do,
Who I am,
How I love.
Reflection Questions
1) Do you use analogies when explaining complex things to others? If yes, what is your experience with that?
2) What kind of material on your skin makes you have goose bumps? If that does not apply to you, can you empathize with people who are very sensitive when it comes to touching and feeling?
3) Think of the word “bird”? Which other words come to your mind immediately; which associations can you draw?