Like Swedish author Clara Törnvall, I am a woman diagnosed as autistic in my 40s. I appreciated her candor asI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Like Swedish author Clara Törnvall, I am a woman diagnosed as autistic in my 40s. I appreciated her candor as she explored her lifelong struggles with mental health as she tries to understand herself and the world. She juxtaposes her personal journey with an overview of how women have not historically been diagnosed with autism and why, and how even modern diagnostic measures are more about measuring "masculine" traits than anything. Translator Alice E. Olsson does a great job. The book comes across as conversational in tone, candid without feeling gossipy. It's a fast, breezy read. Chapters discuss famous women such as Temple Grandin and Emily Dickinson.
For me personally, having read several other books on this subject, I was left craving more unique content for the broader discussion of autistic women. That said, I think this would be an enlightening read for others who are just starting to ponder about the diagnosis for themself or a loved one. ...more
I read this as part of the Norton Award finalist packet, and WOW, it fully deserves that nomination. What a fantastic mystery, and told from such a neI read this as part of the Norton Award finalist packet, and WOW, it fully deserves that nomination. What a fantastic mystery, and told from such a needed perspective--that of a nonbinary autistic teen. The speculative element isn't front-and-center, but is still integral to the story. Absolutely loved this book....more
I received a gratis copy from the author through a Facebook group for parents of special needs kids with college goals.
I've read many books in the samI received a gratis copy from the author through a Facebook group for parents of special needs kids with college goals.
I've read many books in the same vein as Taking Flight that provide guidance for young adults with diverse educational needs as they transition into college. As my autistic son is now a high school senior, with several recent college acceptances, the advice within this book feels quite timely.
I found this to be a solid read overall, albeit one that is slow to start. LaRoque is the founder of Mansfield Hall, a company that in three cities in America provides dormitories and social supports for special needs students in college; I appreciated that the book never felt like a pitch for his company. Instead, in a grown-up but affable voice, he provides sensible advice for how students can navigate the world of college. Topics include self-regulation, knowledge of legal rights, virtual learning, self-advocacy, allies to seek out on campus, dating, drinking, and jobs and internships. Each chapter begins with an intro in italics that is written by an adult who speaks of their time in school or college. Some of these anecdotes were amusing, but all of them were interesting and helpful. The vibe throughout is positive but also forthright in that hey, things will be difficult, but with some help and resilience, you can do this. I really appreciate that perspective, and I think this book will be helpful for my son.
If I hadn't already had an autism diagnosis a few months ago, this book would have convinced me of thI read this as a free book through Prime Reading.
If I hadn't already had an autism diagnosis a few months ago, this book would have convinced me of that truth. Divergent Mind is a breezy, approachable read for women who are or suspect they may be neurodivergent, which includes not only autism but ADHD, high sensitivity, synesthesia, and other things that have all too often been dubbed mental illness or other negative labels. I appreciated the positivity of the book. The biggest message throughout is that we are not alone, we are not broken....more
I bought this to give to my 16-year-old autistic son, as it sounded like a good read to give him perspectives on the travails and triumphs of autisticI bought this to give to my 16-year-old autistic son, as it sounded like a good read to give him perspectives on the travails and triumphs of autistic adults. I think it succeeds in that for the most part, though it will need some prefacing.
The book chose to feature people in their 50s and 60s, which makes sense, as they had a lot of life experience to discuss. However, their journeys are radically different than what a young person would experience now. These people in my parents' generation and somewhat younger (I should note this book came out about 10 years ago) were in an era where an early autism diagnosis meant institutionalization, if that was even the diagnosis at all--as the book Neurotribes explains in grim detail, schizophrenia and other major disorders were often the label instead. Many of the people in this book only were often regarded as 'different' as children but were only diagnosed as adults--which makes their experience no less valid, but it's important to note how things have changed with time. (And they need to change a lot more yet.)
I really appreciated the candor about which people wrote about their lives. There's a broad variety of experiences here, with people from America, Scotland, Australia, gay and straight and bi, some with kids, some content on farms with animals for company, and some with college degrees that may have taken 13 years or a return to school in middle age. The biggest common element is their resiliency. These people gradually realized they weren't like everyone else, and they've worked to find their place in the world, whether as an artist, a vet, or historical site tour guide.
In my first edition paperback, I was surprised by some blatant typos that distracted me at times. Actually, one about "Dessert Storm" made me laugh aloud. As I said above, this book is about ten years old, and some of the terminology has changed since then; a lot of the people talk about being diagnosed with Asperger's, and that name (and its Nazi roots) are definitely being phased out. (DSM 5 folded it into autism in 2013.) Maybe these issues have been updated in later editions....more
I feel sincerely blessed to have won this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This newly-revised book is one I know I will be referencing time aI feel sincerely blessed to have won this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This newly-revised book is one I know I will be referencing time and again in the coming years. It's a book with information that can change lives for the better.
Disclaimer straight up: I'm the mom of a 15-year-old autistic boy. This book is written, not for parents, but for students with a broad range of learning disabilities, which includes autism. The emphasis through every chapter is one of self-advocacy--so that they may understand their rights, their needs, when to manage on their own, and when to ask for help. The book is empowering, and in a realistic way. It never falls into glib mantras or pretends that things will be easy, but demonstrates that success in college can be found through various routes and that early stumbles or rejection do not mean complete failure. At heart, it's a book about finding success through perseverance.
The book starts with how best to prepare for college by providing checklists and advice on what to do through each year of high school. My personal reaction was in turns heartened and dismayed, as I realized there is so much more I need to do to help my sophomore-grade son become more independent. An important consideration is that the high school system is legally required to provide accommodations that the child needs and relies on parents to play a major role. Post-secondary education isn't like that. Student need to represent themselves and ask for accommodations and support.
Throughout the book, there are handy templates of forms to be re-typed to help students communicate with others or to fill-out for their own introspection. Web addresses for resources are also throughout, with a full collection at the back of the book. Chapters includes interviews with people with learning disorders who attended college and graduated along very different paths; it's affirming to hear students talk about their experiences in their own words.
I've already told my husband he must read this book, and then I'm handing it to my son. This is ultimately a book for him, not me, and I hope it helps him in ways I cannot....more
The title summarizes the book quite well: its focus is on teaching imagination-based mindfulness activities that autistic teens can utilize to work thThe title summarizes the book quite well: its focus is on teaching imagination-based mindfulness activities that autistic teens can utilize to work through anxiety and gain a greater understanding of complicated social dynamics. I read with the hopes that this book will be useful for my son, and I think it will be.
My foremost concern is the attitude of the book: is it negative? Is it about changing or hiding autism? To my relief, it is positive and affirming in nature. The coping skills that the exercises encourage would be useful for anyone, really. It goes into deep breathing techniques, imagining calming scenarios, using internal scripts to prepare for events, and cultivating observation and listening skills.
The language of the book is simple and straightforward, avoiding idioms and colorful language, but doesn't feel dumbed down at all. The book overall is short (139 pages) with 16 chapters, all in a large and easy-to-read font. The very size makes this seem more accessible--I know right now, with weird 2020 online high school starting, the last thing my son needs is for me to thrust a 1000-page tome in his face. Nah, this book is doable. The chapters start with a few paragraphs that establish a realistic social scenario, and the exercises build from there. The book is intended to be read in sequential order so that kids can build on their previously-learned skills....more
I received a galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Independent Living with Autism is a book written for highly-functioning autistic indI received a galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Independent Living with Autism is a book written for highly-functioning autistic individuals as they transition to adulthood and work through various issues of adulthood, at all ages. I am a parent of an autistic 14-year-old boy, so I approach this book from a different perspective. Reviews from autistic readers should be provided with more consideration than mine.
That said, I found the book to be quite eye-opening and sobering. I hadn't been sure what to expect, in truth. Would this be a book that wanted to blot out autistic identities, something that espoused the toxic viewpoint that autism is an 'epidemic' and equated with doom? To my relief, I found quite the opposite. Marsh's approach is thoughtful and considerate, from the way she approaches person-first language regarding autistic identity to incredibly inclusive gender terminology.
The book is organized into themed sections that follow the development of five fictional autistic characters. They feel incredibly realistic. Their ages and experiences vary wildly, as their ages go from 18 to 62, non-practicing in religion to devout Jew and Catholic, to asexual to divorced to happily married for decades. Every character makes mistakes, learns from them, and grows. This is such a great approach--the storytelling has a natural flow that makes the characters instructional without being annoyingly preachy.
The attitude is bright and positive, too. The book acknowledges autistic people often have intense interests--and celebrates those, while also saying that they shouldn't take over a person's life or dominate every single conversation. One of the characters, a middle-aged woman, found her obsession with soothing live videos of sloths taking over her life, and learned to grant herself sloth time as a reward. Another character has a deep love of the musical Hamilton--something my son also loves! The author demonstrates a deep knowledge of geek culture (another character is a Brony, and a Doubleclicks lyric starts a chapter) and she fully respects the importance it has in the lives of many on the spectrum.
This book has made me think about ways that I am coddling my son, even when it comes to little stuff, and how that isn't helping him in the long term. It makes life easier for me, sure--I get the chore done faster, or it's something I like to do--but I need to step back.
I will be buying a paper copy of this book to give to my son. I am also grateful it includes a nice bibliography of books and blogs also cited throughout the text. I will be doing a lot more reading, thinking, and modifying of my own behavior in the coming months--and encouraging my son to do the same....more
This short book mostly consists of questions and answers from a Japanese autistic boy as he talks about how we sees the world. There is some controverThis short book mostly consists of questions and answers from a Japanese autistic boy as he talks about how we sees the world. There is some controversy around how much those answers have been embellished by his transcribers and translators. I found the book interesting because I welcomed any insights into Naoki's perspective--and most of all, I see several pages in this book as starting points for discussions with my own son, who is twelve and autistic. ...more
I had heard of this book because of its favorable portrayal of an autistic lead character, and in that the book truly does shine. The Real Boy followsI had heard of this book because of its favorable portrayal of an autistic lead character, and in that the book truly does shine. The Real Boy follows a maligned orphan (that great fantasy tradition) working as a hand, a sort of apprentice's apprentice. Oscar has a fantastic memory of herbs, their uses, and the functions of the garden, and rarely interacts with people. He can't meet their eyes or read their mannerisms; his herbs and companion cats--and the rare smuggled book--are his joys in life. But when the master is away and his abusive apprentice is killed, Oscar is forced to run the magic shop, even as the rest of the town begins to fall apart amid mysterious attacks and illnesses.
Oscar is an utterly relatable character. As the mom of an autistic son, and someone who has endured intense bullying, I found his plight hard to read at the start. I was relieved as Oscar formed a friendship with Callie, a healer's apprentice, and began to learn social skills to cope with public interactions. Note that the book does deal with some dark issues like death and abuse; it's not a pure-fluff escapist kind of read, but one with genuine depth along with some whimsy.
I would have loved the book as a kid. As an adult, I question a number of things about the world-building and the nature of some of the other children (I won't say more--this review is spoiler-free) for the future of their society, but I recommend this nevertheless. We need more books with heroes like Oscar....more
I bought this for my son, who is autistic and about to turn 12. I don't think I'll give him to it yet--maybe this Christmas--but I found it to be a veI bought this for my son, who is autistic and about to turn 12. I don't think I'll give him to it yet--maybe this Christmas--but I found it to be a very thoughtful, honest book. It's mostly told through the alternating viewpoints of teenage twins Callie and Charlie, the literary counterparts of authors Ryan and RJ. Callie is accustomed to being the guardian of her autistic brother, but after he's kept behind a grade, she tries to step back and let him be his own person... which is hard when she sees him bullied and taken advantage of by so-called friends. Charlie is frustrated by a world that overwhelms him, mourns the loss of his dog, and tries to figure out the social rituals around asking out a girl.
Charlie had several traits in common with my son, and that made the book feel very personal to me right from the start. I really like how their mother helped with the book but also stepped back to let it be told through their voices. One chapter even addressed the semantics of "having autism" and "being autistic," which I thought was very important as a matter of identity. The back of the book included numerous resources for autistic teens and parents.
I highly recommend this for classrooms, school libraries, and families with autistic teens. ...more
I received an advance copy of the book through the publisher via NetGalley.
THIS BOOK. Gah. I'm morbid and enjoy a good apocalyptic story. This blew meI received an advance copy of the book through the publisher via NetGalley.
THIS BOOK. Gah. I'm morbid and enjoy a good apocalyptic story. This blew me away. Denise is an autistic teenager who loves working with cats at a shelter in Amsterdam. Her mom is a drug addict. A comet is about to strike Earth. Everything changes, but some things do not--her mom makes them late to reach their assigned shelter during the blast, and they end up taking refuge on a generation ship stuck on earth. The ship doesn't want them aboard--how can Denise fit in, much less her mom? As Earth rattles with repercussions from the impact, all Denise wants is to find her beloved trans sister and somehow stay alive amid increasingly horrible circumstances.
The drama feels real. The science comes across as sound. The interpersonal drama is likewise intense: a teenager who struggles to interact with the world on a normal day, suddenly coping with a cataclysm, even as her mother is zoned out on drugs. The whole cast is fantastic. It's January and I already know this book will top my Norton Award shortlist for next year....more
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program, and I'm very glad I did. As the mother of an autistic child, the subject matterI received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program, and I'm very glad I did. As the mother of an autistic child, the subject matter of autism is very personal for me.
NeuroTribes was educational and affirming. I was genuinely astonished at how enjoyable the book was, long-winded though it is at times (my early reviewer copy is just under 500 pages). Silberman writes about subjects that are horrible, but they are necessary matters to address: Hans Asperger's insights made within the context of Nazi-controlled Austria, the institutionalization of children (often labeled imbeciles and/or schizoid), and the abusive nature of many "therapies" in the past fifty years, up to the present day. There's also the vital topic of the vaccines-cause-autism debacle, which he saves for near the end. However, the book is not all grim and dire. There's wonderful brightness through the middle of the book as he addresses the importance of science fiction, fandom, and the internet within the autistic community. There is even a section on the movie Rain Man and how that changed public perception. The end of the book is extremely positive as it shows how autistics are now empowered, and that many of them are fully capable of finding their own place in the world.
I love Silberman's approach to this. Honestly, I cheered aloud. I have really been appalled by the stance of Autism Speaks and the emphasis on finding a source or cure for autism, rather than on how to serve the kids AND adults who need help now. The overall message of the book is that there is no autism epidemic. Autism has always existed. That different manner of thought has been essential to our survival as a species. Only now, it is diagnosed in a very specific way, and autistics are not hidden from society.
If you have any interest in the history of autism research, I really, really recommend this. It's a challenging read at times, but it's also full of hope and potential. I look at my son and I see that hope and potential, too....more
I received this through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
I approached this book with eagerness as well as trepidation. The concept was compellI received this through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
I approached this book with eagerness as well as trepidation. The concept was compelling: two Australians, an autistic young man and his neurotypical sister, take a trip to Canada to explore the boy's obsessions with Ogopogo and earthquakes before he begins a new life at an assisted living facility. My son is autistic. I really hoped for a good portrayal of autism--and was also worried that the story may fall prey to the "autism is akin to magic" trope that is both overdone and aggravating.
The book is pure literary fiction. Groth does bring up the trope, and then squashes it flat. That pleased me. The back cover copy mentions that Groth's son is on the spectrum, and I think he's put that experience of living with an autist to good use here. It's a nuanced portrayal, showing the positive and the negative of autism, and both through a lens of optimism. Ultimately, it's a story about love between siblings and a father and his children, and finding love beyond that sphere, too. I've read some grimdark fantasy recently and it was refreshing to read something that regards most people as fundamentally good.
I enjoyed the road trip aspect, too, since I used to live near Seattle and had traveled many of the places the characters visited from Vancouver into Seattle. I did hope for more from the Ogopogo plot but that's more of a selfish desire on my part, not a flaw within the story.
I loved Perry. I saw a lot of my son in him. Perry fixates on earthquakes, sea monsters, and Jackie Chan. His twin sister Justine is a good sort. She's Perry's fierce advocate, and in many ways, his substitute mother since their own abandoned them when they were young. Groth alternates between Justine and Perry in perspective to tell the story, and it works well. I was concerned that Perry's POV might be heavy-handed, but the voice strikes just the right balance.
It's a good book. Predictable in the end, yes, but sometimes that's not a bad thing....more
My feelings on this are mixed. The description on Amazon was rather misleading that this was an ideal book for parents on introducing concepts like puMy feelings on this are mixed. The description on Amazon was rather misleading that this was an ideal book for parents on introducing concepts like puberty and sex to autistic children. It turned out that the book is more about developing such curricula for teachers, with a lot of bad clip art, PECS, and very grainy black and white pictures. But it does contain useful information and advice as well. The author clearly knows her subject matter and her frank, honest approach is refreshing. The print is large and the vocabulary is very simple so that it's approachable for kids across the spectrum. She knows to write without relying on similes, metaphors, and other plays on language that ones typically finds with these subjects.
I bought the book because my son is almost ten and I know we need to start discussing puberty, and I already know he's going to have a difficult time understanding it. The hygiene pages in here are also useful; we'll find useful the sections on nose-picking and putting hands in pants. The sexual education section discusses issues like masturbation (again, I appreciate her no-nonsense, approach; there's no moralizing here), stranger danger, the importance of clothing, and it offers very detailed advice of teaching autistic girls about periods. However, it doesn't discuss the act of sex, which was surprising because that seems like the most important part of sexual education.
I'll continue to look for a more comprehensive book on the subject, but I do think this is a good starting point, especially for special education teachers....more
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.
My son is nine and about to enter the 4th grade. He's high-functioning autistic.I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.
My son is nine and about to enter the 4th grade. He's high-functioning autistic. We've been blessed so far that our local public school has been 100% supportive, that his teachers have been fair, and that we've had no problems with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) or modifications to help him cope. This coming year will be a major transition, though--he moves to a new building at his same school, he loses the beloved aide he's had since kindergarten, and of course, he has a new teacher to adapt to.
The book is addressed to both parents and teachers. It is heavy on lingo at some points, though the terminology is necessary for parents to know as they work through the system. Emphasis is on success at school, but extends to everyday behavior (by both the child and parents) at home toward the ultimate goal of graduating school and moving into the work force. I really like how they address the balance of won't or can't behaviors, such as in lists like this: - Is it oppositional, stubborn OR difficulty with flexibility? - Is it lazy OR difficulty initiating and shifting? - Is it self-centered OR poor social interactions? - Is it work refusal OR motor and organization problems? - Is it insensitivity OR difficulty reading social cues?
Likewise, they look to involuntary responses to the environment. If the student can't focus, it is because of a noise that no one else would notice? Placement in the room? The authors make it clear that adaptations should be made, but also that the student should be continually challenged so that they can progress.
Many books on autism focus on younger ages. This book does go into old and basic stuff, for my family, like facing the diagnosis or doing an IEP for the first time, but it also spends a great deal of time on the school years and on the progression to occupational training as a teenager and what comes after high school graduation.
Citations fill the book and there's an extensive bibliography at the back along with support network information and forms that can be copied.
This is a book I'll be keeping on my shelf and likely will reference throughout the coming years....more
I haven't read any of Moon's books before, but I decided to buy this one for personal reasons. The author is on a LiveJournal community with me; we bo I haven't read any of Moon's books before, but I decided to buy this one for personal reasons. The author is on a LiveJournal community with me; we both have autistic sons, hers an adult and mine a toddler. She extended me sympathy and support when I mentioned that I am a writer. I really needed that support... some days it's just hard to get by, period, and trying to work on a novel at the same time feels like an impossibility. With a string of bestsellers to her name - including this book, a Nebula Award winner - I have much admiration for her.
The Speed of Dark features an autistic man as its protagonist. It is apt to compare it with Flowers for Algernon, but the insight is deeper and more complex. We don't simply follow Lou Arrendale's story. We see into his mind, see how math and patterns figure into the most mundane details of the day. (Again, this is personal for me because my son is two and can count to 200 and knows the names and locations of every state, but he can't drink out a cup or do other simple things we take for granted.) Lou is a fascinating man, living life to the fullest despite his "disability." When his employer applies heavy pressure to Lou and his fellow autistic co-workers to try a new experimental procedure to cure adult autism, Lou faces the difficult decision of being cured or lose a part of his own self and his identity.
This is classified as sci-fi, but the reality is very close to our own. It takes place sometime in the 21st century but that is revealed in subtleties. It feels like a very realistic future, and the questions that Lou faces are timeless and vital to all people, not just autistics. This book will linger in my mind for a very long time. ...more
This is a fun middle-grade book. It's been a few years since I read the first in the series but I was able to keep track of the distinct cast of kids This is a fun middle-grade book. It's been a few years since I read the first in the series but I was able to keep track of the distinct cast of kids without too much issue. It's brilliant to write a series about kids growing up on Alcatraz, a place where Al Capone is behind bars but not without power, and the guards themselves can be the worst of the bad guys.
One of the reasons I started these books is because they feature an autistic character, Natalie, who is Moose's older sister. I really like how Choldenko handles Natalie's character and how othesr respond to her... and those responses can be pretty ugly. It's honest, though. It shows how people treat those who "are not normal," and that such mistreatment still goes on today. It's a kids' book with a lot of depth....more
I was provided with a free reviewing copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
This caught my eye as it was being promoted online. I'm the mother of an auI was provided with a free reviewing copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
This caught my eye as it was being promoted online. I'm the mother of an autistic child. This novella is about the father of an autistic child. I was tempted to buy it but then I saw the proceeds go to Autism Speaks. That made me pause. They are not my charity of choice for several reasons. However, when I saw this was available on NetGalley, I was glad to have a chance to read it after all. [At the start of the novella, it explains that the story was re-released in tribute to a special needs teacher who died in the Sandy Hook shooting a year ago, and her family asked for the money to go to Autism Speaks. I definitely respect them for that choice.]
All that said...
I read a collection of Elizabeth Hand's short stories earlier this year. I can definitely detect a certain pattern to her writing. She develops things slowly, and often the speculative nature of the piece is so subtle it can be missed. That's certainly the case here. The element of magic here is so slight that it can be ignored by a reader who prefers more literary stories. As for me, I prefer more magic, so as I read I was a little frustrated by that subtlety.
Hand does a very good job showing the emotional toll that autism can have within a family. Rearing any child is hard, but it's harder yet when a child is unable to speak or engage with the world. The child in the story, Peter, is on the severe end of the spectrum--much more so than my son. I found the novella developed at too slow a pace for my preference--or maybe because I've already dealt with many similar hardships, I felt impatient because I "got it" early on and wanted to move along. Sometimes it felt overwrought to me. On the other hand, this would all be quite enlightening for a reader who is unfamiliar with autism.
One of the more powerful elements is the use of childhood memory and how it binds people together. Chip Crockett is a TV show figure like Captain Kangaroo, but almost all of the video footage of his show was lost in a fire. There is an entire generation who perks up at the name and goes, 'Oh year! Remember that puppet he had? Remember when that happened?' The nostalgia is fantastic, and I loved that that common ground is where the real magic of the novella begins.
In all, I liked the read, even if it was slow for me. I appreciated Hand's realistic portrayal of autism--the good, the bad--and how it can really feel like a miracle when everything finally clicks....more
I approached this book with equal measures of curiosity and trepidation. My eight-year-old son is autistic. The subject of autism is personal for me. I approached this book with equal measures of curiosity and trepidation. My eight-year-old son is autistic. The subject of autism is personal for me. I was concerned that this book would be New Agey and wishy-washy and that they were trying to cure their child. There is a world of difference between "healing" and "curing," and I was relieved right away when Isaacson made that distinction. They didn't want to take away their son's autism and make him a stranger, but they did want Rowan to cope with and exist in the world. They wanted a child who wouldn't tantrum in frightening ways or defecate all over himself.
I get that. My son's autism isn't as severe as their Rowan's condition, but I spent two years going through that potty training hell. I get that desperation.
Therefore, I understood that when their son connected in a profound way with their neighbor's horse, that they were willing to explore that in a spiritual way and do something beyond the standard therapy. Their journey leads them to Mongolia and out into Siberia. Some of the things done by the shamans made me wince, as they seemed abusive--the whole family gets flogged by one shaman, though their son gets the gentlest measure--but the journey is utterly fascinating. That's really one of the amazing things about the book. It's not merely about a family's struggle with autism. It's a journey into one of the most remote areas of the world, where Soviet concrete crumbles and Reindeer People wander the taiga. It's about how shamanism hid away during the communist years but didn't die completely. Sure, some of their traditions aren't quite so appealing (like medicine made of every part of the reindeer, including poop) but it's still just plain fascinating.
The take away at the end is very rational, too. The journey completely changed their son. Rowan emerged as a boy who could make friends with other children, who could ride his own horse, and could handle his own bowel movements. Isaacson doesn't make any grand claims that the shamanism or magic did it; it may have been the journey itself was the turning point, and what an incredible journey it was.
Now I want to watch the documentary about their experience to see how well it matches what's in my mind....more