Simon Baron-Cohen is professor of psychology and psychiatry and director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University. He is the author of six hundred scientific articles and four books, including The Science of Evil and The Essential Difference.
"The Pattern Seekers is a book of big ideas and is sure to excite
intense discussion and debate, fueled by Baron-Cohen's lively prose
and provoking stories."--Daniel J. Povinelli, author of World
Without Weight
"The Pattern Seekers is a game-changing book, a passport into
exploring the world of innovation and creativity. Most importantly,
it celebrates autistic people and is a call for action, to welcome
neurodiversity."--David Joseph, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music
UK
"A fascinating account of the mechanisms underlying the related
capacities of both autistic individuals and innovators."--Brian
Josephson, Emeritus Professor of Physics at University of Cambridge
and winner of the Nobel Prize in physics
"A thoughtful argument that creativity shares many of the same
traits as autism.... Insightful."--Kirkus
"Always years ahead of others, always bolder in mind and in action
than others, Simon Baron-Cohen now synthesizes a secret of human
creativity born out of difference. Where others saw disability, he
saw specialness. Like nature itself, the beauty of the human mind
comes from its diversity."--Ami Klin, Bernie Marcus Distinguished
Chair in Autism at EmoryUniversity
"Baron-Cohen's work buttresses the case that aspects of autism can
be positive, and that thoughtful guidance can channel some with
that diagnosis into productive and meaningful work. Readers
interested in accessible and innovative looks at the human mind,
such as those of Yuval Noah Harari, will be
fascinated."--Publishers Weekly
"Based on massive research, Simon Baron-Cohen argues that most of
us are specialized in how we perceive the world around us. There
are those who focus on people and those who focus on things. The
author makes a compelling case that the second kind of mind -- the
pattern seeker -- is at the root of modern human
civilization."--Frans de Waal, C. H. Candler Professor of Primate
Behavior at Emory University and author of Mama'sLast Hug
"In this ambitious and provocative book, Simon Baron-Cohen goes
beyond the usual discussion of 'special gifts' in autism to propose
that the diversity of human operating systems has accelerated the
advancement of human civilization and culture in ways we can barely
imagine."--Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes
"It's rare to come across a surprising new idea that explains
important phenomena, but Simon Baron-Cohen's exploration of
abstract pattern-seeking in human affairs is one of them. This book
sheds light on one of humanity's most distinctive traits,
celebrates human cognitive diversity, and in contrast with its
subject matter, is rich with empathy and psychological insight."--
Steven Pinker, author of The Language Instinct
"Simon Baron-Cohen has long been a champion of autistic people, and
The Pattern Seekers -- a thought-provoking book -- makes a
significant contribution to the emerging literature on
neurodiversity."
--John Elder Robison, author of Look Me in the Eye
"Simon Baron-Cohen has written a wildly creative and fascinating
book. He takes on one of the deepest puzzles in cognitive science
by asking a simple question: What makes Homo sapiens so inventive?
By combining brain science, evolutionary biology, and the study of
autism, Baron-Cohen provides a unique theory of human cognition. It
is surely one of the most powerful and eye-opening books about the
human mind written this decade."--Andrew N. Meltzoff, co-author of
The Scientist in the Crib
"Simon Baron-Cohen is one of the greatest thinkers and writers
today on the subject of autism. In this erudite new book he
explains that autistic people's strongly systematic way of thinking
differently is one of the essential elements in the capacity for
invention. Baron-Cohen explores how obsessively experimenting with
patterns and sequences, whether in music, the visual arts, math,
engineering, cooking, or observing the patterns of the ocean waves,
led to new inventions and discoveries. He has recalibrated the lens
through which autism is understood and redefined it as a rare
potentiality, to be valued and celebrated. His bold new idea, that
the genes for autism drove the evolution of human invention, places
this disability center stage in the story of humans. If you have
ever wondered why geniuses spend so much time alone in their sheds,
this illuminating book starts to give us an answer to that
question."--Jools Holland, musician
"Simon Baron-Cohen, an internationally acclaimed authority on human
brains, has written a fascinating book that illuminates the
'spectrum' of thinking styles. After reading it, you'll better
understand the personalities of your friends and
colleagues!"--Martin Rees, author of On the Future
"[A] bold argument . . . an impassioned call to action for modern
society to do a better job of tapping the inventive power of people
with autism."--Claudia Wallis, Spectrum News
A Barnes & Noble Best Psychology Book for 2020--Barnes & Noble
One of the Best Science Books of 2020--Amazon.com
Editors' Choice--The New York Times Book Review
"In an age of increasing specialization, The Pattern Seekers comes
as a breath of fresh air. Simon Baron-Cohen is truly a rara avis,
able to see hidden links between seemingly unrelated disorders that
span the whole spectrum of human nature. He steers clear of
simple-minded reductionism as well as touchy-feely psychology. The
result is a book that is destined to become a classic. Baron-Cohen
does not shy away from speculating on controversial topics like
autism that everyone is interested in but no one understands. And
although he is usually right on target, he will inevitably annoy a
few pundits. But as Lord Reith of BBC put it, there are some people
whom it is one's duty to annoy." -- V.S. Ramachandran, author of
The Tell-Tale Brain
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