Dr Luke Beardon of The Autism Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, UK describes the book as follows:
"If you want to read a very well written, fascinating, well-researched book and are interested in history, brilliantly discovered snippets of information, people, have a sense of humour and curiosity, and have an interest in autism, and are willing to reflect on autism in a way rarely portrayed in the literature: read this.
Michael's book is a triumph. Having the opportunity to read about an autistic person from an autobiographical perspective, as well as reading about individuals associated with autism in various ways, was always going to be a winner. But what became evident from the early stages of reading was that this book is so much more - it is an historical tome, part-ethnography, fanciful, humourous, delightful, celebratory - and, overall, a very fine read.
It is refreshing indeed to read a book with autism in the title that is so honest and positive about autism. Michael's book sets out the message from the title through to the conclusion (and, indeed, the final line) that society shouldn't just view autistic people in a different light, but society
needs
autistic people - a message that should be understood, accepted, and embraced by all.
So - to reiterate - read this; recommend it; make it a best seller"