I rounded up... I'd give it a 3.5
This book was like a poorly constructed mosaic of random thoughts; I'm currently taking a few steps back hoping to conceive the big picture/theme. I became fascinated with the mind of Daniel Tammet after reading his autobiography, "Born on a Blue Day", and I was eager to delve further into his synesthetic world. Throughout my reading of "Embracing the Wide Sky", I vacillated between a continued enchantment and slight disappointment with his dry presentation of information.
Also, Tammet claimed that this book bridged the gap between the minds of savants and those of the "average" person, with compelling research unveiling their similarities, in contrast to the common misconception that savant minds are incomprehensible and computer-like. However, I couldn't help but believe Tammet truly thought the opposite, broadening the gap between our minds and his, with his "tips" for improving memory and thinking in numbers to avoid various traps of society. They were nothing incredibly profound, and actually, at times, almost insulting to my intelligence. I am unsure of what audience he anticipated to capture here. BUT there were also some very thought-provoking chapters, particularly the one about innate language instincts and the parallels between various languages. I was also intrigued by his theories behind his mathematical thinking, hypothesizing that it is a product of overconnectivity between his arithmetic and language centers in the brain. Anyone interested in the complexities of the human mind will find a least a couple chapters here that interest them.