Books about autism
Despite the large number of women realising they’re autistic or becoming interested in the condition, the majority of literature about autism takes the form of research papers by neurotypical, frequently male, academics.
But that is beginning to change. Below, you’ll find some of the books I’ve read recently. If there are others you think deserve to be included, please let me know.
To support independent bookshops, you can buy online from your favourite via Bookshop.org.
Strong Female Character
Fern Brady (Brazen, 2023), 287 pages
Brady paints a shocking picture of the ignorance surrounding autism. Demonised by her family, sent to a special school and dismissed by medical professionals as suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, the comedian didn’t receive the correct diagnosis until she was thirty-four. This gripping, often harrowing story includes footnotes on sources ranging from academic papers to podcasts.
Illuminated: Autism and All the Things I’ve Left Unsaid
Melanie Sykes (Harper North, 2023), 305 pages
Written after she received her diagnosis aged fifty-one, despite having autism in the subtitle, this is a standard celebrity autobiography. It covers Sykes’ career as a model and TV host, her alcohol issues and abusive relationships, with the condition given only passing attention.
Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built For Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It
Pete Wharmby (Mudlark, 2022), 248 pages
In this compassionate, humorous book, the autistic former English teacher uses personal experience to show what it’s like to live with the condition. His explanation of how the world isn’t designed for neurodivergent people should be compulsory reading for the neurotypical population.
Taking off the Mask: Practical Exercises to Help Understand and Minimise the Effects of Autistic Camouflaging
Dr Hannah Louise Belcher (Jessica Kingsley, 2022), 154 pages
This self-help guide by an autistic expert focusses on a single aspect of the condition – camouflaging (masking), its effect on mental health and ways to reduce it.
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation
Hannah Gadsby (Allen & Unwin, 2022), 384 pages
The Tasmanian stand-up comedian charts her traumatic journey as a queer person, growing up on an island where homosexuality was illegal until 1997, and her struggle with adult diagnoses of autism and ADHD.
Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing our Hidden Neurodiversity
Devon Price (Monoray, 2022), 298 pages
This textbook by the trans US social psychology professor is packed with interesting research and is good on autism from a queer perspective, but it is US-focussed and quite a heavy read.
The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman’s Walk in the Wild to Find Her Way Home
Katherine May (Trapeze, 2018), 274 pages
The author of Wintering and Enchantment wrote this less well-known title about a year spent walking sections of the South West Coast Path as she came to terms, aged thirty-seven, with the realisation she is autistic.
Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World
Laura James (Bluebird, 2017), 227 pages
Like May, journalist James charts a year in her life as she moves, aged forty-five, from diagnosis to acceptance. She shows how autism shaped her career and affects those around her.
Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences From Early Childhood to Old Age
Sarah Hendrickx (Jessica Kingsley, 2015), 248 pages
The author of several well-regarded books on autism, Hendrickx received her own diagnosis in her forties. This handbook for specialist professionals and general readers combines academic research and personal stories.
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently
Steve Silberman (Allen & Unwin, 2015), 534 pages
The US journalist sets out to prove the value of autistic people by detailing the history of the condition and its diagnosis, and profiling notable autistics. There’s plenty of interesting content, but it has a strong US focus, doesn’t look specifically at women and will be too dull for many general readers.
The Autistic Brain: Exploring the Strength of a Different Kind of Mind
Temple Grandin and Richard Panek (Rider, 2014), 228 pages
Grandin was the world’s most famous autistic woman until Greta Thunberg came along. Extremely technical and dry, this may be considered a classic, but it isn’t a book for general readers!
Main picture: Jason Leung. Book covers: Trevor Morgan.