Summary

In the Introduction, David Mitchell, who is the father of a son with autism, provides background information about Naoki Higashida (the book's author) and the world of autism. Higashida was 13 years old when he wrote the book by painstakingly spelling out words and sentences on a Japanese alphabet grid similar to a QWERTY keyboard in English. In the book, Mitchell says, he not only provides information about what someone with autism experiences, but also proves that autistic minds are as curious and complex as anyone else's despite outward appearances to the contrary. The book transformed Mitchell, giving him a greater understanding of his son and how he could help him. Mitchell's wife, Ka Yoshida, translated the book into English initially for her, her husband, and a small group of friends and caregivers. Now, it is being shared with...