The Pattern Seekers

"The Pattern-Seekers" by Simon Baron-Cohen seeks to challenge our misunderstandings about autism and posits a brand-new theory of human invention that highlights brilliance born out of thinking differently. The acclaimed British psychologist and autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen has a bold theory connected to the human ability to identify if- and then-patterns. This ability is unique to humankind and Baron-Cohen thinks the genes for it overlap with the genes for autism. Progress, inventions and revolutions for the past 70,000 years is thus linked to an often maligned condition: autism. "The Pattern-Seekers" by Simon Baron-Cohen is an incredible and inspiring book about the human condition, that argues that autism has been a driving force behind cultural progress ever since the first creation of tools. By showing the hidden truth about innovations throughout history, Baron-Cohen asks everyone to celebrate cognitive diversity and the amazing possibilities that comes with autism, rather than focus on the trials and tribulations experienced by autistic people.

"The Pattern-Seekers" by Simon Baron-Cohen seeks to challenge our misunderstandings about autism and posits a brand-new theory of human invention that highlights brilliance born out of thinking differently. The acclaimed British psychologist and autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen has a bold theory connected to the human ability to identify if- and then-patterns. This ability is unique to humankind and Baron-Cohen thinks the genes for it overlap with the genes for autism. Progress, inventions and revolutions for the past 70,000 years is thus linked to an often maligned condition: autism. "The Pattern-Seekers" by Simon Baron-Cohen is an incredible and inspiring book about the human condition, that argues that autism has been a driving force behind cultural progress ever since the first creation of tools. By showing the hidden truth about innovations throughout history, Baron-Cohen asks everyone to celebrate cognitive diversity and the amazing possibilities that comes with autism, rather than focus on the trials and tribulations experienced by autistic people.

*A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick* An "ambitious work" ( Washington Post ) tracing the links between autism and ingenuity Is the ability to invent things unique to humans? In The Pattern Seekers , Cambridge University psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen argues that it is, and proposes that autistic people have played a key role in human progress for seventy to one hundred thousand years, from the first complex tools like the bow and arrow and the first musical instrument to the digital revolution. He presents the science that the same genes that contribute to autism enable a special kind of pattern seeking that is essential to our species' inventiveness. However, these abilities come at a cost for autistic people, including social and neurological challenges. Baron-Cohen calls on us to support and celebrate autistic people in both their disabilities and their talents. Ultimately, The Pattern Seekers isn't just a new theory of human evolution, but a call to reconsider how society treats those who think differently.

*A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick* An "ambitious work" ( Washington Post ) tracing the links between autism and ingenuity Is the ability to invent things unique to humans? In The Pattern Seekers , Cambridge University psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen argues that it is, and proposes that autistic people have played a key role in human progress for seventy to one hundred thousand years, from the first complex tools like the bow and arrow and the first musical instrument to the digital revolution. He presents the science that the same genes that contribute to autism enable a special kind of pattern seeking that is essential to our species' inventiveness. However, these abilities come at a cost for autistic people, including social and neurological challenges. Baron-Cohen calls on us to support and celebrate autistic people in both their disabilities and their talents. Ultimately, The Pattern Seekers isn't just a new theory of human evolution, but a call to reconsider how society treats those who think differently.