I savored every moment of reading this book. Grandin has an enthusiasm for her subject that she combines with endless quantities of fascinating research and observations about animals. The book isn't exactly what I expected - I thought it would focus more on her own interactions with animals. However, because the book is so engagingly written and the information is so interesting, the difference between what I expected and what I got didn't diminish my enjoyment in the least.

Grandin does a much better job of making the scientific information more interesting and less dry than in her previous book, Thinking in Pictures, which contained long passages about medications that could be used to treat autistic people. I found that book to be much more uneven. Animals in Translation, however, held on to my attention from the first page to the last. While she also includes a generous amount of scientific information in this book, it is all so interesting and sometimes surprising, that I was never bored. If you have pets or are simply interested in animals and/or biology, this is a must-read.

Mark Haddon has written a moving novel about love and bravery through the eyes of a British autistic boy. Christopher discovers his neighbor's poodle dead, impaled by a pitchfork, and, because he adores puzzles, he sets out to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington . But Christopher is autistic, a boy who doesn't like to be touched and cannot decipher emotions beyond the tools his teacher has taught him, and so the task requires the huge effort of testing rules and facing his own fears. A literalist by neurology, he deconstructs life into a set of mathematical equations and physical laws. This unique perspective makes him a good detective on one level, where clues and logic rule, but it also fails him on another, higher one because he cannot understand the magnitude of what he uncovers.

That Haddon was able to write a book from Christopher's point of view with all his quirks and still make him lovable is extraordinary. By necessity, the writing is simple and unadorned, but the language of details elevates it from the mundane. The insertion of mathematical puzzles and drawings add to the reader's understanding of how Christopher's mind works. Haddon's real skill is an understatement that allows the reader to comprehend what is going on even if Christopher cannot. Although Christopher cannot grasp subtlety and nuances, the reader can, and that's where the true force of this exceptional novel lies.

This short, easy to read book can be completed in a couple of sittings, although its impact will last much longer. Highly recommended for a general readership.

Before you buy this book make sure you also buy at the same time "The Out of Sync Child has Fun."

Why , because you need both - The first book presents lots of different case studies but is strategy poor.
Book 2 , Has Fun , is jammed packed full of activities.

Four Stars because you have to buy both....looking for an alternative / another view try Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Integration Issues This is the Bible.... a must have.

Dr. Herbert has written a fantastic book about the "whats" and "whys" (and also "why nots") of addressing autism spectrum disorders using approaches that are not usually part of the standard clinical repertoire. In a nutshell, the book reviews stories of individuals on the autism spectrum that either improved or got off the spectrum entirely, through methods that are not usually included in the standard family physician's to-do list. The beauty of the book is that it reviews these methods from several angles, in a simple, common sense way: (1) What is involved (2) What are the risks, (3) What are the costs, and perhaps most importantly, (4) Why might it work (or not work), from a scientific perspective.

Dr. Herbert advocates for low-risk, low-cost, potentially high benefit appraches to autism, which revolve mostly around specific proper diet and a healthy lifestyle. Yes, we've all heard this before, in many other contexts. And yes, this approach IS relevant well beyond autism (which is why I'd recommend this book to parents of children with a variety of issues, not just autism). What makes this book special is Dr. Herbert's careful and meticulous explanations. For instance, she discusses *why* diet affects your child's brain, and why the autistic brain might be more vulnerable. She walks the reader gently and in great detail through relevant complex scientific concepts, from gut bacteria to the inner workings of various types of brain cells, and their interactions, and in doing so she explains why (for instance) having a pizza might trigger a terrible tantrum in certain sensitive children.

Perhaps most importantly, while staying realistic and grounded, this book is written with amazing compassion and emphathy and offers real hope. Dr. Herbert doesn't think of autism as a static disorder and a lifetime label. She tells stories of those who are no longer labeled, she has met individuals who "developed out" of this developmental disorder, and she has seen many who improved well beyond the bleak prognoses they were originally given. And as every parent of a child on the spectrum knows, even small improvements are big victories. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a child on the spectrum, to anyone with a child who has other diagoses such as ADHD, and to every clinician in the field (but especially to those who tend to think of autism as a static state).

The Brainrush series has been my favorite series - in, oh I don't know how many years. I tend to like stand-alone books but this series of books are some of my favorite action thrillers...ever.

I read the first two books recently - BRAINRUSH: (Book One) and The Enemy of My Enemy (Brainrush 2). Action, paranormal thrills, great in-depth characters. So I was very excited to get an Advanced Reading Copy of "Brainrush 3: Beyond Judgement."

This book starts out six years after the ending of book two. Protagonist Jake Bronson was in a coma and when he came out of it, he had lost his memory (and that's a lot of things to forget). Because of this memory lapse, it took ME a while at the beginning of the book to get wrapped back up in the story again. But once I figured out what the author had done with Jake, the roller coaster ride was on again.

Short chapters lend themselves to a lightning speed read, with our characters going from Italy to Switzerland to a tropical island in the Banda Sea this time around. And the locations are described in detail by the author. I definitely now want to visit Venice.

There's not as much paranormal activity in this book, which I missed. There is more time given to Jake's autistic children, which I loved. There are still rough-tough soldiers, techno toys, geeks, damsels in distress, another dastardly villain, and more tight spaces to trigger my claustrophobia as in the other two books.

I received this in the mail yesterday and stayed up all night to finish it. It's that good. I would suggest you read the first two books if you haven't so you get the backstory. And then get this one when it comes out in July. You won't be disappointed.

I savored every moment of reading this book. Grandin has an enthusiasm for her subject that she combines with endless quantities of fascinating research and observations about animals. The book isn't exactly what I expected - I thought it would focus more on her own interactions with animals. However, because the book is so engagingly written and the information is so interesting, the difference between what I expected and what I got didn't diminish my enjoyment in the least.

Grandin does a much better job of making the scientific information more interesting and less dry than in her previous book, Thinking in Pictures, which contained long passages about medications that could be used to treat autistic people. I found that book to be much more uneven. Animals in Translation, however, held on to my attention from the first page to the last. While she also includes a generous amount of scientific information in this book, it is all so interesting and sometimes surprising, that I was never bored. If you have pets or are simply interested in animals and/or biology, this is a must-read.