- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (13 July 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340899743
- ISBN-13: 978-0340899748
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 13.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 281,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Born on a Blue Day
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Daniel sees numbers as shapes, colours and textures and can perform extraordinary maths in his head. He can also learn to speak a language fluently from scratch in a week. He has Savant Syndrome, an extremely rare form of Asperger's that gives him almost unimaginable mental powers, much like the Rain Man portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. Daniel has a compulsive need for order and routine - he eats exactly 45 grams of porridge for breakfast and cannot leave the house without counting the number of items of clothing he's wearing. If he gets stressed or unhappy he closes his eyes and counts. But in some ways Daniel is not at all like the Rain Man. He is virtually unique amongst people who have severe autistic disorders in being capable of living a fully independent life. It is his incredible self-awareness and ability to communicate what it feels like to live in a unique way that makes his story so powerful. Touching as well as fascinating, Born On A Blue Day explores what it's like to be special and in so doing gives us an insight into what makes us all human - our minds.
About the Author
Daniel Tammet has been working with scientists to understand the implications of his condition for neuroscience and our understanding of consciousness. He also runs a web-based diagnostic site for people with autism and lives in Kent with his partner.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A glimpse inside an extraordinary mind,
By
This review is from: Born on a Blue Day (Paperback)
Daniel Tammet has Savant syndrome, a rare form of Asperger's which gives him the ability to remember long sequences of numbers (seeing the numbers as having various colours and textures) and to be able to learn to speak a language from scratch within a week.
The book isn't just an autobiography. Tammet explains incredibly eloquently about how he experiences numbers and words, giving the reader a glimpse inside an extraordinary mind. Tammets explores his childhood experinces, the pain of being an outsider at school, how he discovered he was gay and found a loving relationship and most importantly how he experinces the world. I particularly enjoyed the chapters about the teaching assignment he took in Lithuania and learning Lithuanian, something which most of us would find daunting even without autism. The writing is quite sparce, lacking flowery description, as you might expect being written by someone with such an analytical brain. However there are parts which are still very touching. Tammet has had to teach himself how to function socially, how to read body language and verbal clues. I think if nothing else, this book has taught me that idioms such as 'pull up a chair' or 'feeling under the weather' can be incredibly confusing for people who take language so literally. A really intersting read. Recommended.
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Born on a Blue Day - Daniel Tammet,
By
This review is from: Born on a Blue Day: A Memoir of Aspergers and an Extraordinary Mind (Hardcover)
I urge everyone to buy this book straight away!!
Daniel explains his experiences with Asperger's and Savant Syndrome openly and honestly. You really feel like you know Daniel personally by the time you get to the end! He has an incredible mind and has acheived far more than I ever will. His abillity to learn foreign languages in a week is astounding! He also has his own website called Optimnem where he has set up tutorials to allow people to learn languages in his own unique way. I'll be starting that as soon as I get paid!! Absolutely fantastic book, could not put it down. Christine Pearson
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant,
By
This review is from: Born on a Blue Day: A Memoir of Aspergers and an Extraordinary Mind (Hardcover)
This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the human mind a little better. It is a very personal tale, but reading this book made me reevaluate how I judge people when I first meet them. Daniel's warmth and intelligence comes through as he tells his life story, but equally it is plain that he would struggle to communicate these qualities at first face to face.
A really fascinating book that may change the way you see the world a little.
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