The Bookshelf: Sept. 1, 2015

Trib+Health is joining with respected books authority Kirkus Reviews to bring you select reviews of books of note in the field of health care. For more book reviews and recommendations, visit Kirkus.com.

UNIQUELY HUMAN: A Different Way of Seeing Autism

by Barry M. Prizant, Tom Fields-Meyer

A remarkable new approach to autism. The key to successfully connecting with and helping children with autism is deceptively simple: don’t make assumptions, ask them questions about their feelings and behavior, listen closely to their responses, and try to understand the reasoning behind their actions…. The traditional methods of understanding and treating autism may be more harmful than we thought, argues leading autism expert Prizant…. Prizant also points out that many of the behaviors that people without autism may label as odd—like echolalia—stem from a child’s attempt to cope with a stressful situation, such as overstimulation or frustration at not being able to communicate their feelings or needs…. A truly impactful, necessary book.

For the full review, visit kirkus.com.