Here Be Dragons

Reviews the book, Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism by Roy Richard Grinker (see record 2007-00551-000). Grinker's book is a combination of a personal account of his daughter's development, a scholarly but popularized examination of current understanding of autism, and an exploration of services across the world for children with autism. The last purports to be a reflection of Grinker's professional training and perceptions as an anthropologist, but there is no systematic method to his examination of attitudes, diagnostic concepts, and practices in other countries. Nevertheless it is a fascinating book at many levels. It is very well written and enjoyable to read. It is not written for parents, but parents would find much of interest. It is authoritative in many ways and contains some well-researched information, such as biographical insights about Leo Kanner. Yet it is quite selective, as one might expect from a father coming to terms with his daughter's life-long disability and having the drive, the academic know-how, and social privilege to find out more. Because other parents have faced similar journeys, his family experiences and his personal revelations are not necessarily unique or free of the inevitable distortions many families have come to recognize. But the reviewer still found many of Grinker's observations to be glib and insensitive to the lens of his own culture. Grinker tells good stories, some of them uplifting and some of them filled with pathos. There is also much he does not disclose. It is difficult to judge anyone critically under these circumstances, but in the end his book provides less than it promises. Grinker's book will neither end nor worsen the confusion and the frustration surrounding autism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)