This DBRL staff book review was written by Max R. Carmony.
Book I Read: “Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity” by Devon Price, PhD
Why I Checked It Out: This book was recommended to me by a friend who is on the autism spectrum. Being autistic myself, I figured this book might help me understand my disorder better. Instead, I got a book that fundamentally changed the way that I view myself, my diagnosis and the way that I live my life as a whole. My quality of life as a disabled person has improved significantly after implementing the skills and advice Dr. Price offers in the book.
What It’s About: “Unmasking Autism” takes a deep-dive into autism spectrum disorder (ASD), analyzing many aspects of life as an autistic person, not as an abstract concept that effects the few, but as a set of traits that are incredibly common and deeply marginalized when they shouldn’t be. Dr. Price introduces readers to life free from the shame that is associated with having ASD, including sections and advice on self acceptance on the spectrum, how to build a neurodivergent-friendly life and how to build relationships that last.
Why I Liked It: “Unmasking Autism” is truly one of the best books I have ever read in my life, and it’s the cornerstone of modern autism research. Being written by an autistic author and filled with interviews of autistic individuals allows the book to take on a narrative perspective that research literature is typically unable to do authentically. Where some books about ASD look at autistic traits a problem to be fixed or managed, “Unmasking Autism” views life as an autistic person from the internal point of view, free of stigma. Instead of shaming the reader for their neurodivergent traits, Dr. Price calls the reader to action, encouraging them to live their life authentically without masking the traits of their disorder, and laying out in specific detail how to unmask autistic traits and why these traits shouldn’t be masked in the first place.
Who Will Like It: Anyone who is on the autism spectrum, diagnosed or not, or those who have loved ones on the autism spectrum, will love this book. Written using accessible language and interviews from individuals on the autism spectrum, this is a book everyone can get something out of, even if you are not on the spectrum. If everyone read this book, the world would be a considerably more accepting and a better place overall.
