ABOUT THE BOOK

A new book on the history of autism worldwide has been written by Adam Feinstein. It was commissioned by The Shirley Foundation was published by Wiley-Blackwell in June 2010 in the UK and in July 2010 in the US.

The Book

Adam Feinstein’s book is the first full-scale work to explore the history of autism. Meticulously researched, fully referenced and indexed but also extremely readable, the book discusses the changes in perception and approaches to the condition. Feinstein pursues the path which has taken us from the psychoanalytical to the biological view of the disorder. Feinstein has interviewed many of the leading world professionals in the field - including Professor Sir Michael Rutter, Dr Lorna Wing, Dr Judith Gould, Professor Christopher Gillberg,  Dr Fred Volkmar, Dr Gary Mesibov,  Dr Susan Folstein, Dr Margaret Bauman, Dr Thomas Kemper and Professor Patricia Howlin - and key surviving researchers and practitioners from the mid-20th century. Their views shed invaluable new light on the evolution of concepts of autism. Feinstein has spoken in-depth to Dr Leon Eisenberg, the closest colleague of the man thought by many to have coined the term “autism” in the sense that we understand it today, Leo Kanner, and to Dr Maria Asperger Felder, daughter of Hans Asperger. Feinstein has had access to previously unpublished documents around the world (he reads seven languages). He has also talked to some of the world’s best-known individuals with autism, including Temple Grandin, Donna Williams and Wendy Lawson. In addition, he puts the current trends in autism research in their historical context. The book will make judicious use of many enlightening case studies, introduce new findings and include previously unused illustrations.
 

You can also e-mail the author, Adam Feinstein, on adam.m.feinstein@gmail.com