So why is his story here? It seems it was included solely to show why the scriptwriter for Rain Man was inspired to write that play.His chapter on the inclusion of various labels for autism in the updates to the DSM (standard reference for clinicians) implies that the huge increase in sales and profits for each succeeding edition is due to inclusion and subsequent delineations of autism associated diagnoses when, I'm sure, any sales are more likely related to requirements of insurance companies which relate coverage to diagnoses (of all kinds) & increasing reliance of families on insurance coverage.He barely mentions megavitamin supplements and special diets (p 262)and includes a warning that families "should run in the other direction" (p 477). As an example, at one point he goes on for several pages about Bill who had been institutionalized for years, and then clearly states that Bill did not have autism. He spends lengthy chapters on the history of Nazi attitude and killing of anyone with disabilities and on the equally regrettable history in the US of sterilization and shock treatments.Silberman is heavily focused on providing the back story for events. Definitely not a book that can be followed with any clarity if you only have spare moments for your reading pleasure.His history begins with describing an eccentric in the 1700's who, he declares, surely had ASD. However, his jumps between different time periods leaves all but the most scrutinizing neurotypical reader confused about what's happening when. Silberman is skilled at making connections between disparate events, so that a closing sentence leads into the topic of the next paragraph. As the mother of an autistice adult child, I did not find this useful, tho I can imagine that the final 2 chapters might be relevant to those with Asperger's or high end of the spectrum.More a history of how westerners have dealt with autism than a prospective look at "neurotribes".
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