This book is an inspirational Godsend. Fleisher, like so many people on the autism/Asperger's (a/A) spectrum was misdiagnosed. Unlike many of his fellows who have been misdiagnosed with psychiatric labels, he was misdiagnosed with mental retardation. He was 11 years old before an astute professional realized that he had Asperger's Syndrome.
Asperger's Syndrome is the spectrum partner to autism. People on the spectrum will show an overlapping in behaviors, regardless of their place on the continuum. Asperger's, as with any form of autism is a sensori-neurobiological condition that affects responses to sensory input; sensory integration and communication. It is as varied as there are individuals who have it.
Fleisher, a truly gifted man with an extensive background in mathematics opens his world of special interests and talents to others in this outstanding book. I loved it when he blew the whistle on "holding therapy," a ghastly method which I truly abhor. Fleisher does an exemplary job of explaining why this method is undesirable for many people on the spectrum; he turns the tables by posing the question of how much a neurotypical (NT) person would hate it. Who would want to be forced to submit to something that brings an array of sensory input and can often be viewed as punitive, restrictive and in some cases painful? It is such a refresher to see another person call this quack nostrum for what it really is.
Donna Williams, another scholarly author with autism says that all this method accomplishes is to "teach the desired response" so as to be released. Her books together with this one and Edgar Schneider's works are ideal for intellectuals with autism. This is a book I heartily recommend.
