Editorial Review
When anthropologist Richard Grinker’s daughter was diagnosed with autism in 1994, it occurred in only about 1 in every 10,000 children. Within ten years, rates had skyrocketed, and the media was declaring autism an epidemic. Unstrange Minds documents Grinker’s quest across the globe to discover the surprising truth about why autism is so much more common today. Grinker shows that the identification and treatment of autism depends on culture just as much as on science. Filled with moving stories and informed by the latest science, Unstrange Minds is a powerful testament to a father’s quest for the truth.
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Customer Reviews
Fascinating to see how other cultures view autism 
2007-06-23
This book had three main topics. One is the author's own daughter, Isabel, who is autistic. The second is addressing what many see to be an epidemic of autism, and deciding if that really is the case. The third is taking a look at how other cultures treat those with autism. All three topics were covered well, and were very interesting to read about.
I especially enjoyed hearing about Isabel's fascination with the book Linnea in Monet's Garden, and how the family used that interest to expand her horizons, rather than discouraging it. It reminded me of a time when my son was extremely taken with a certain episode of Mister Rogers, where Mister Rogers visits a trolley museum. We took a trip to the same trolley museum, and my son was just stunned and thrilled to be able to see and do the same things he saw in the episode. I think it's important to USE special interests to engage kids, rather than discourage them as often we are told to do.
I had often wondered if the uptick in autism diagnoses could be simply that it's more accepted as a diagnosis now. I am now convinced that is the case. In many cases, according to this book, it wasn't even AVAILABLE to use as a diagnosis until recently, so OF COURSE it's diagnosed more now!
I think my favorite part of the book was the chance to see how other cultures deal with autism today. It mostly makes me happy I live here and not in India or South Korea, although everyplace seems to be improving in the attitudes and care. I would love to hear about more countries and autism---what about China?
I want to thank the author for this thoughtful, well researched and very interesting book.
Enlightening Book About Autism Around the World 2007-03-08
Unstrange Minds investigates how autism has become a widely diagnosed and prevalent disorder in the United States during the last 15 years. Dr. Grinker persuasively argues that with broad criteria now used to make diagnoses, more children are being counted as autistic even though they present with milder cases such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Asberger's Syndrome, leading to what seems like an "epidemic." Dr. Grinker traveled throughout Africa, South Korea and India to examine how other societies integrate autism into their cultural frameworks. It is fascinating to read how each culture treats autism differently, from the Navajo who embrace their children as blessed to the South Koreans who hide their autistic children to protect siblings from being considered tainted and unmarriageable. It is books like Dr. Grinker's, which courageously explore autism and fearlessly take a position, that are helping to make readers of this disorder aware and better informed.
Public libraries as well as health collections will find UNSTRANGE MINDS compelling and revealing. 2007-03-06
UNSTRANGE MINDS: REMAPPING THE WORLD OF AUTISM is a powerful survey of the parents of autistic children in South Africa, South Korea and India and how their societies view the disorder - and is written by an anthropologist and father of a daughter with autism. Contrary to popular belief there is no evidence for an 'autism epidemic' - just better diagnosis of the condition - and Grinker's focus on diagnosis processes, public awareness, social programs, and his own personal story blends into an unusual anthropological investigation hard to put down. Public libraries as well as health collections will find UNSTRANGE MINDS compelling and revealing.
a great book! 2007-02-22
This is an extraodinarily good book that works on many levels. It's a history of psychiatry's attempts to understand autism, a hard look at the idea that there is an autism "epidemic", and a genuinely compelling story of one man's journey to understand and deal with his autistic daughter. It is extremely well written, honest when honesty is called for and passionate and eloquent when simple honesty isn't enough. Grinker manages to treat autistic people with respect without romanticizing them or the struggles of autistic people and their caregivers to "fit in" to a social world that simply isn't put together the way they'd like it to be. If you are only going to read one book about autism, I strongly recommend this one.
Not Strange Enough 
2007-02-22
Grinker's work seems to me to ignore the more interesting cultural questions about autism and its construction. The author, though his training would dictate otherwise, accepts that autistic symptoms are unilaterally expressed. I think this begs the question. I was intrigued by his accounts of alternative and traditional methods of understanding autism, but bothered by the author's dogmatic attitude and proclamations.
Of Two Minds on This Book 2008-07-24
As a social scientist, I found this book to be superlative. The breadth of analysis and critical thinking is truly impressive.
As a mother of a child who's been diagnosed as high functioning on the autism spectrum disorder, I found this book lacking. I probably don't have a stronger visceral reaction because my son is doing really well and the interventions we've provided for him have worked wonders over the past 12 months. He'll be four in the fall and he appears very neurotypical.
It's difficult for me to recommend this to the small group of women I know whose children are on the spectrum. We have a listserv and I think they would be insulted if I mentioned this book. While Dr. Grinker has had time and perspective to write this book, there are many parents who are too close to the issue to appreciate what Dr. Grinker is trying to say.
While I laud Dr. Grinker's work as an anthropologist, I don't see the applicability for many parents whose children are on the spectrum. Some of us are worried sick and don't have the luxury to look at the 30,000 mile high view of how autism has been defined and is being battled worldwide.
A Good Read for Students of Psychology & Sociology 
2008-07-07
An anthropologist and father of an autistic child presents fascinating information on historical, cultural and personal aspects of autism spectrum disorders. Stories from parents in cultures very different from America, like Korea and India, are both interesting and sometimes shocking and heartrending--but the book finds positive progress to be the rule of the day in every place that autism has been recognized as a separate disorder from psychosis and mental retardation. Most moving are the author's own stories of his family. There is much in their experience that would be helpful to other families dealing with autism, if they encountered this book among the growing body of literature about, by, and for parents of autistic children.
Unstrange Minds 2008-05-02
I had to read this book for Professor Grinker's Anthropology class at GW. Despite being mandatory, I found the book to be very interesting--demonstrating a new view of autism from both a statistical and personal perspective. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about the disorder.
A Must-Read! 2007-12-08
This is a must-read book - not just for those with an interest in autism but for anyone with a heart. It is full of information on the history, treatment, and prevalence of autism spectrum disorders but it is also the story of the author's daughter and the sons and daughters of others throughout the world who struggle with autism. Grinker shows us the love and devotion - and sometimes utter exasperation - of parents everywhere trying to meet the challenge of finding the best treatment, support, and education for their children. Anyone with a uniquely challenging child will be inspired and comforted. But the book should also strengthen our resolve as a society to find the tools we need to treat autism and improve the lives of individuals and families struggling with the disorder. This is an important book and I highly recommend it.
Fascinating and captivating! 2007-07-24
I would like to start by saying I don't know a lot about autism, I don't have autism, and to the best of my knowledge, don't know anyone with autism. I got interested when I read the book "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" which was amazingly written and extremely interesting to me. I was listening to NPR one night when Grinker came on doing a book reading/Q&A about his new book "Unstrange Minds." I immediately picked up his book and haven't put it down. I'm not a huge fan of nonfiction, but this book really kept my attention. The writing is superb, the stories are heartwarming, and the anthropology is fascinating. The first part of the book includes his anthropology background and discussions of how different cultures and peoples define, diagnose, and treat different illnesses. The second half is an endearing story of how him and his wife (and their younger daughter) have lived and grown with their autisic daughter. It's beautifully written and gives hope for the future of autism diagnosis, awareness, and treatment.
