Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

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Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 4,634 ratings · 756 reviews

Temple Grandin's "Animals in Translation" speaks in the clear voice of a woman who emerged from the other side of autism, bringing with her an extraordinary message about how animals think and feel.Temple's professional training as an animal scientist and her history as a person with autism have given her a perspective like that of no other expert in the field. Standing at...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published December 28th 2004 by Scribner Book Company (first published 2001)

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Jun 13, 2007 Sammy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: b-the-good

This book truly is a must-read for any pet owner, and I highly recommend it to anyone who just loves animals. Temple Grandin offers fascinating insights to the animal world, which will confirm things long time pet owners always knew, and bring to light startling new information.

One main thing this book brings to light is to not underestimate animals or those with autism because often times they're smarter than us. Yet, that's one thing Grandin tries to avoid, saying things like animals are smart...more

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Jan 19, 2009 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book more than I expected. For a long time, I'd been reluctant to pick it up because I thought the premise was more or less, "I'm autistic so I'm halfway between 'normal' people and animals (every other species)." I'm sure I don't need to explain why that's offensive.

Instead, Dr. Grandin uses brain research, coupled with her experience as an autistic person, to try to explain how members of other species may experience the world.

If you can disregard the sweeping generalizations abou...more

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Jan 18, 2009 Lightreads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disability, nonfiction, psychology

Came for the autism, stayed for the Labradors. Background: Temple Grandin is an animal behavior specialist. She's single-handedly revolutionized the humane treatment of slaughter animals in the United States. She's also a vital force in the neurodiversity movement. This book argues broadly that animal cognition shares some key features with autistic cognition – picture-thinking, working memory shortages, detail-fixation, etc. It also takes a fascinating tour through what we know about animal emo...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Suzanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This was a GREAT book for anyone who wants to learn about the way animals process information - and as a bonus, you learn about how humans do as well. I love that the author puts things in terms a lay person can understand, and I love that she is honest and humble. Grandin writes matter-of-factly about her own disability, and how it has enabled her to identify with the minds of animals in certain ways. I came away with a deeper understanding of how to interact with my horses and dogs, and found...more

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Apr 09, 2008 Jon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anybody who has a pet or who says they're vegetarian even though they still eat fish

Recommended to Jon by: NPR

Shelves: read-2008

Really a 4.5 star book, but I'll give it five do to the limited nature of the grading system.
This book really changed my perspective on how I view animals (and autistic people!). Unfortunately, kids will be forced to read some waste of time book in high school like Billy Bud or Romeo and Juliet when there are awesome thought provoking books like this. It was fascinating to feel the basic accessibility of this book instead of the normal, overly-verbose, academic prose that would fill this type of...more

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Mar 12, 2008 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Temple Grandin is autistic, and has applied her experiences as an autistic woman to her work with animals. This book is sprinkled with information from all aspects of her work, including anecdotes of working within the food industry and why animals that are photographed in the wild are almost all marked with a white patch (no joke). It's a bit of a hard slog at times, and if you are at all at odds with the slaughter industry, you may feel that she is acting as an apologist and might become angry...more

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Aug 12, 2007 Lauren Whitehead rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: animal lovers, science geeks

This book is so awesome, everyone should read it. Grandin talks about the ways that her autism gives her insight into animal behavior, while weaving in discussions of genetics, breeding practices, and stories about animals. She talks about horses, cows, cats, dogs, and chickens, really there's something for everyone. Grandin is responsible for the redesign of slaughterhouses to be a lot more humane (she talks about some of the contradictions in ethics this entails, but overall, it seems like a v...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Wj is currently reading it · review of another edition

I agree with People magazine's praise: it's "Full of heart, soul, and crackling intelligence".

I'm loving every sentence of it...

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Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in, 2009, autism, nonfiction

Temple Grandin is autistic and brilliant. She is known for her work with animals, in particular cattle; she's designed half of the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. In this book with Cathrine Johnson, she explores the viewpoints of animals themselves in contrast with autistic and normal people. The results are astonishing. The subject sounds dry, but the writing is not. Through citations of scientific studies and personal experience, Grandin makes the case for animal brilliance...more Temple Grandin is autistic and brilliant. She is known for her work with animals, in particular cattle; she's designed half of the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. In this book with Cathrine Johnson, she explores the viewpoints of animals themselves in contrast with autistic and normal people. The results are astonishing. The subject sounds dry, but the writing is not. Through citations of scientific studies and personal experience, Grandin makes the case for animal brilliance. I could note any numbers of especially intriguing information in this book:[return][return]- Rapist roosters are becoming more prevalent because as chickens have been bred for bigger breasts, they have lost other important genetic material such as mating dances. Some roosters also murder the hen after the rape.[return][return]- Albinos are highly unusual in nature, and with reason - they have more flaws and nervous problems. This is becoming more prevalent with Dalmatians, which are being bred to be as white as possible, but are having increasing health issues that are harming the integrity of the breed.[return][return]- How animals handle pain, and why: if a prey animal shows pain, it makes them likely to be culled by a predator. Certain breeds are more tolerable of pain, such as Labradors, because they are a type of dog designed to jump into ice-cold water. This pain tolerance is why they handle young children so well.[return][return]- A leucotomy is similar to a lobotomy but only severs the connections to the frontal lobe instead of removing it entirely. The 1949 Nobel Prize winner developed the procedure to assist people dealing with severe, chronic pain. These patients still felt the tremendous pain, constantly, but after the operation they no longer cared. They could finally function in their daily lives and the pain just didn't matter anymore.[return][return]In case you couldn't tell, this is an awesome book to completely geek-out with. I couldn't wait to share facts like these with my husband and my mom. In addition, since my son is autistic, I learned more about seeing the world through his viewpoint, something that presents a daily challenge in my household. I can only hope he grows up and experiences as much success as Temple Grandin.(less)

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Dec 21, 2011 Somewhatbent rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: r

I have a number of conflicts with this book – which should in no way diminish the remarkable body of observations made by Dr Grandlin. It is generally accepted as cold hard fact that animals don’t think like humans. Until such time as there is scientifically verifiable information and understanding, we, as scientists, don’t know how humans *or* animals think. With ongoing study using functional MRI (fMRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning we are learning more about the workings of...more I have a number of conflicts with this book – which should in no way diminish the remarkable body of observations made by Dr Grandlin. It is generally accepted as cold hard fact that animals don’t think like humans. Until such time as there is scientifically verifiable information and understanding, we, as scientists, don’t know how humans *or* animals think. With ongoing study using functional MRI (fMRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning we are learning more about the workings of the brain in many species.[return][return]It is somewhat clearer and better understood that perceptual and cognitive processing in persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and the general population can be quite different. There has been advancement in this field in the few years since the first edition of Animals in Translation was published and is not unreasonable to expect far greater understanding of the variety and depth of ASDs in the next few years.[return][return]As a behaviorist Dr Grandlin effectively uses her perceptual abilities which are rather outside the conventional ‘boxes’. That she has developed some methods of livestock management that might not have otherwise been implemented. There is no question that she observes things that can be applied to some animals very effectively, as the numerous anecdotal examples in the book illustrate. What is not clearly addressed is that techniques that are effective on large livestock do not apply to domestic pets, foul or other species. There are some presumptive statements regarding canine behavior a species which she admits having minimal experience with and the behavior she asserts is inconsistent with the experiences of dog handlers and trainers in a wide variety of disciplines; (Search & Rescue, Police and Security, Service Dogs of varying specialty).[return][return]What I hope many people bring away from this book is not the controversy of animal behavior, slaughterhouse and feedlot practices and whether or not a person eats meat, but that there are as many variations of perception and cognition as there are species. ASDs come in an enormously wide variety from people you would never recognize as having one to the stereotypical internally focused, non-verbal, rocking child. There can be huge value in thinking outside the norms, as Dr Grandlin and Bill Gates (with his publically acknowledged Asperger’s Syndrome).[return][return]Recognizing this and allowing for adaptations when some students are simply incapable of learning in ‘conventional’ ways will allow all of society to benefit from the advances these people can make, because it’s simply not comprehensible to them that something *can’t* be done just because it never was before. The potentials for humanity and the species we share the Earth with are indeed boundless, if only given the opportunity to function in a way that optimizes and celebrates them, rather than marginalizing and stereotyping.(less)

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Feb 05, 2009 Bookmarks Magazine added it

Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, debunked common assumptions about autism in Thinking in Pictures (1995). In her latest book, she sheds new light on animal behavior. Comparing an autistic person's frontal lobes (which can receive mixed messages from the brain) to animals' less developed ones, Grandin argues that autism can help us understand animals' more defined actions. She offers funny, thought-provoking insights into their conduct__Mozart's pet starling in

...more

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Jan 20, 2009 Hillarymagee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Where do I start? This book was delightful. I so enjoyed this look into Temple Grandin's life and her life's work. Though I don't think Grandin would ever describe life with Autism as easy, she's certainly not going to sit around and pity herself either. Grandin was key to her own autism therapy at a very young age, designing a "squeeze" apparatus modeled after a machine she saw on her aunt's cow farm that was designed to gently squeeze the cattle as a means of calming them. Grandin had rather i...more

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May 06, 2013 Calvin added it · review of another edition

Shelves: reference

A friend of mine tells a story about her six-month-old mixed-breed dog's reaction to her husband when he came home from a two-month research trip overseas. When the dog saw her husband he was overcome by terror and joy at the same time. He hit the floor in fear, crying and screaming, and at the same time he kept lifting his eyes up to the husband and frantically wagging his tail in greeting. Then he'd jerk his head back down and carry on screaming and cowering, all the while creeping along the f...more

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Apr 12, 2013 John Alt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grandin was described by Oliver Sacks in his book, An Anthropologist on Mars. Sacks' title approximates how Grandin feels around so-called normal people. Dr. Grandin has been featured on ABC's Primetime Live, the Today Show, and Larry King Live and appeared in a BBC Horizon documentary, broadcast 8 June 2006 as "The Woman Who Thinks Like A Cow." She has been written about in periodicals, including Time, People, Forbes, and the New York Times.

"I think in pictures," she writes. "Words are like a s...more Grandin was described by Oliver Sacks in his book, An Anthropologist on Mars. Sacks' title approximates how Grandin feels around so-called normal people. Dr. Grandin has been featured on ABC's Primetime Live, the Today Show, and Larry King Live and appeared in a BBC Horizon documentary, broadcast 8 June 2006 as "The Woman Who Thinks Like A Cow." She has been written about in periodicals, including Time, People, Forbes, and the New York Times.

"I think in pictures," she writes. "Words are like a second language to me. I translate both spoken and written words into full-color movies, complete with sound, which run like a VCR tape in my head. When somebody speaks to me, his words are instantly translated into pictures. Language-based thinkers often find this phenomenon difficult to understand, but in my job as an equipment designer for the livestock industry, visual thinking is a tremendous advantage.

Visual thinking has enabled me to build entire systems in my imagination." (Autism and Visual Thought)
"People who aren't autistic always ask me about the moment I realized I could understand the way animals think.

They think I have had an epiphany.

But it wasn't like that. It took me a long time to figure out that I see things about animals other people don't. And it wasn't until I was in my forties that I finally realized I had one big advantage over the feedlot owners who were hiring me to manager their animals: being autistic. Autism made school and social life hard, but it made animals easy.

I had no idea I had a special connection to animals when I was little. I liked animals, but I had enough problems just trying to figure out things like why a really small dog isn't a cat. That was a big crisis in my life. All the dogs I knew were pretty big, and I used to sort them by size. Then the neighbors bought a dachshund, and I was totally confused. I kept saying, "How can it be a dog?" I studied and studied that dachshund, trying to figure it out. Finally I realized that the dachshund had the same kind of nose my golden retriever did, and I got it. Dogs have dog noses.

That was pretty much the extent of my expertise when I was five.

I started to fall in love with animals in high school when my mother sent me to a special boarding school for gifted children with emotional problems. Back then they called everything "emotional problems." Mother had to find a place for me because I got kicked out of high school for fighting. I got in fights because kids teased me. They'd call me names, like "Retard," or "Tape Recorder."

The called me Tape Recorder because I'd stored up a lot of phrases in my memory and I used them over and over again in every conversation."(less)

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Mar 17, 2013 Tara Hall rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I usually don’t read non-fiction books, books about autism…or books about animals, though I love animals. Usually animal books have passages with very upsetting parts, and the happy ending, if there is one, is ruined for me by these “bad spots.” But as my husband gave this book to me, I was guilted into reading it, thought I was able to put it off for 8 years. To my surprise, I enjoyed this book very much.

Among its provocative ideas, the book:
• argues that language is not a requirement for consc...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Dianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animal-related

I was fortunate to see Ms. Grandin in 1984 when I was in College and studying Special Education. She was showcased on a Segment of "Oprah" on a show about "Idiot Savants" I remember as vividly now, how angry I was then, that they referred to any of the People, whom I felt they were exploiting for the financial gain of the Psychologist who had been studying them since their childhood. Still, I was doing my Undergraduate Thesis on Autism and while biting my lip a few times, watched in fascination...more

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Feb 11, 2012 g-na rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biology-zoology, memoirs-and-biographies

Considering one of my favourite subjects is animal behaviour, I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Grandin is an autistic woman with a Ph.D. in Animal Science, so I thought this book might have a somewhat scientific bent to it. Instead, it is written in a conversational tone, poor grammar and all. That aside, it has some other major problems: Namely, despite the book being about the similarities in behaviour between animals and autistic...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Joel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this book, and also enjoyed the level of thinking I did after really different passages. The book gives you many introductions to different aspects of animals and also to people with autism. The book it many parts animals welfare but more parts about the brain and the way the brian works in different animals and in humans. I especially liked the ideas of humans and wolves evolving together each giving up certain traits and gaining others as e evolved together over the la...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Katy St. Clair rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would never have read this book if it hadnt been given to me as a gift, but once I started it was hard to put down. I love her bare-bones approach to what we think we understand about how animals behave and think... and we are, of course, animals as well. What I found most interesting was the idea of "Seeking" behaviors that go back to the days of searching or hunting for food.... that part of our brains is still very much active now, but in other pursuits, like solving crossword puzzles or le...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Kirstyn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The author's purpose in writing this book was to inform the reader about animals and how they think. She wants to educate people about this because it is something we still do not know much about at all.
The theme of this book was how animals and autistic people think similarly. For example, they both think in pictures and focus on details instead of seeing the big picture. As of right now her ideas have not been proven, but there is a fair amount of evidence to back it up and I believe at least...more

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May 28, 2011 Janice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book and found many of the author's insights fascinating. It is interesting in reading reviews that many people gave it five stars but an almost equal number gave it a one star. I think there was one reviewer that said she'd have given it less than the one if that option was available. My main complaint with the book was that there were too many (though captivating) details and not enough generalizations. But, that is what makes this book interesting. Temple Grandin admits that this...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Mikayla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a great book for animals lovers!Animals in Translation it is a non fiction book about animals and how they act and what people do to them Temple Grandin goes around to different places where they raise animals and study’s them and makes then not as stressed and she in a way knows how animals feel.

I though that she did a very good job explaining things and all the things she knows about animals are very interesting. I liked this book because she knows a lot about animals and so do...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Lbrownblack rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is interesting to see, that, from an individual who lacks the capacity to think abstractly, that "people become more radical when they are thinking abstractly. They get bogged down in permanent bickering where they've lost touch with what's happening in the real world." This is a crucial distinction between an autistic perspective and a neurotypical perspective of the world. Perhaps, the autistic individual lacks the ability to utilize the questionably adaptive defense mechanism known of as d...more It is interesting to see, that, from an individual who lacks the capacity to think abstractly, that "people become more radical when they are thinking abstractly. They get bogged down in permanent bickering where they've lost touch with what's happening in the real world." This is a crucial distinction between an autistic perspective and a neurotypical perspective of the world. Perhaps, the autistic individual lacks the ability to utilize the questionably adaptive defense mechanism known of as denial. If the filter of denial is removed from the rose colored glasses, is one then more able to perceive reality as it is? The abstractions, then, are impossible, because there is only the reality of it, which is always the reality of a given individual, animal, or group. Does then that make the autistic more empathetic? Studies have shown that empathy "lights up" certain parts of the brain. We also know that the neurology of the autistic individual is quite different from that of a neurotypical individual, and, probably even the functional studies reveal different areas of the brain to "light up" given different stimuli. I have always believed that my patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are more empathetic that the general population. When I then made the association between the "spectrum" of central sensitization syndromes and the "spectrum" of pervasive developmental disorders, I did not appreciate the overlap of hightened empathy between PWCs and autistics, but, it makes SENSE. As a SENSE (empathy) wouldn't it stand to reason that between the two groups of individuals that experience a SENSITIZATION of the central nervous system and intensified perceptions (light, sound, touch, etc.) that empathy, as a SENSE, would, also be heightened? This would perhaps explain the autistic's ability to perceive and understand animals by the heightened sense of empathy (such as Temple Grandin writes of in her book.) Would I trade my ability for abstract thought for the ability to see the world for what it is, without the option of supression, repression, or denial as questionably adaptive defense mechanisms? Perhaps. In fact, sometimes I'm kinda right in the middle. I do, much prefer the concrete thought, which I find to require much less energy, than the abstract, unless I am meditating. To me, I find the continual need to assess closely an individual's tone of voice, facial expression, body language, and context of conversation (If I can rememember what it was about)in order to discern a sarcastic remark from the truth. It seems like the more I practice, the easier it is, but, I find it to be an annoying waste of energy, kind of like writing with my left hand, if I have my right one available. (less)

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Jul 26, 2010 Amanda Mastran rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autism-related, non-fiction, favorites

I've never learned as much about as wide a range of topics from any other single book. The way Grandin weaves her vast knowledge about animal behavior, Autism, neurology, and genetics (both human and animal) into one cohesive text continues to astound me and speaks to how much our society misses out on by undervaluing those who think beyond what we know as the norm. We "neurotypical" people are neurologically designed to think within certain parameters. Some people with Autism are able to think...more

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Feb 26, 2010 Kspeare rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animals, learning-styles, psychology

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's almost worth the purchase price for the explanation of the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment, a distinction that escapes far too many pet owners, not to mention parents. And there is a ton of useful information in it for people who are learning about how animals think.

However, there are a few spots in it that give me cause for pause. Grandin has some unique ways of looking at things, and once she has a hypothesis...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Adam Kranz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, science

“Animals in Translation” is premised on two concepts: autistic people are like animals insofar as both have less dominant frontal lobes than normal humans; and that while most of the book consists of Grandin's educated guesses, her autism makes her guesses different because she often “happens to be right.” That is, her insights are corroborated if not proven by observable results. Her emphasis on the adaptive abilities of animals, their capacity to learn and teach cultures, their different-but-n...more “Animals in Translation” is premised on two concepts: autistic people are like animals insofar as both have less dominant frontal lobes than normal humans; and that while most of the book consists of Grandin's educated guesses, her autism makes her guesses different because she often “happens to be right.” That is, her insights are corroborated if not proven by observable results. Her emphasis on the adaptive abilities of animals, their capacity to learn and teach cultures, their different-but-not-better/worse ways of perceiving and understanding the world makes a strong argument against the rapidly eroding chauvinism that puts humans above, rather than among, our closest relatives.

The book is structured in short vignettes told in a uniquely straightforward style. Each contains an insight informed either by an anecdote from Grandin's experience or a summary of an ethology or psychology or neuroscience experiment. The research is compelling and interesting, and while the book meanders gently without an arc or an agenda, it never seemed boring, repetitive, or pointless. The format simply reinforces the values in Grandin's mind, along with a few key take-away concepts about neuroscience and psychology.

The way the book is sold is a bit unfortunate – using the “mysteries of autism” to “decode” animal behavior, etc. The book often seemed self-conscious of the fact that people would read it looking for specific advice about animal decisions and behaviors in their lives. However, that never felt like the authors were distracting from what they wanted to say in order to give readers the dumbed-down take-home advice. Rather, it felt like Grandin was simply expressing something deeply pragmatic in her personality, which is exemplified in her work, which one would think she'd find emotionally traumatic: she abets the efficient slaughter of her favorite animal, cows, simply to ease their suffering.

There are quite a few memorable tidbits in the book. For instance, the fact that elephants communicate in sub-audible frequencies at distances up to 25 miles. Or that tigers have to be taught to restrain themselves from killing as many prey animals as they feel like (I'd always assumed predation was limited by availability of prey/energy budget of predator). Or that dogs are believed to have diverged genetically from wolves over 130,000 years ago, indicating that most of the lifespan of our species has been spent alongside domesticated dogs. Apparently some people think that many of the traits that make us relatively unique among primates – same-sex, non-kin friendships; complex social structures; hunting in groups; etc. Dogs may have enabled many of the differences that enabled our rapid evolution away from the lifestyles and biologies of other hominids. That's a pretty neat idea.(less)

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Jan 19, 2012 Nathalie S rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I saw the movie about Temple Grandin and was so impressed by her story and her work. What she has accomplished so far in her life while trying to deal with autism is beyond astounding. This book takes you beyond the movie. Temple shares her insights into animal and people behavior both normal (her word) and autistic. This is a fascinating journey into the mind of an autistic woman who is able to rise above her own challenge and who seeks to help both animals and humans be better people. She help...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: animal lovers, dog lovers, behaviourists

Shelves: 2010, non-fiction

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!

It's not often that I give a non-fiction book a complete 100% approval, but honestly, Animals in Translation had me completely hooked. Temple Grandin via her co-author Catherine Johnson has such an approachable voice and discusses animals without sentimentality, but with huge respect and affection.

The chapters which are about behaviours, whether animals feel pain, how they think, whether they have language and others are simply structured, but flow nicely, keeping my attention...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Jamie Neith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A few years ago I bought this book without any knowledge of Temple Grandin, simply because I thought the back cover sounded interesting. I picked it up a few times but sort of only skimmed it until recently. I love the way she writes, very matter of fact and simplistic, like she is explaining very in depth topics so that a child can understand. I work in the field of Autism but I do not know very much about animal behavior so I was interested to see how she connected the two. This is a brilliant...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was written by Temple Grandin who is autistic. Grandin discusses how she sees animals differently then normal people would. That's why she had trouble with certain types of subjects in school because she literally thinks in pictures, not in words. Grandin made her lectures sound like autistic people have such a unique quality to them because they actually have skills that can be associated with other ideas.
This is a book I would highly recommend for people because it tells the truth a...more

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About Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. She tells her story of "groping her way from the far side of darkness" in her book Emergence: Labeled Autistic, a book which stunned the world because,...more

More about Temple Grandin...

Books by Temple Grandin

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism

Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals

The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

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