Abstract
From the cover I had expected this book to be another ‘how to’ book for writing social scripts and stories. It is a very different proposition, and I was acutely aware that I am not the intended audience – I tend more toward the empathising end than the systematising end of the cognitive spectrum, as per Simon Baron-Cohen. This resulted in some issues.
To start with, the Introduction brought in the concept of semantic primes. This dissective approach to language and communication felt very unnatural to me and reminded me of Wittgenstein (who I have always suspected was on the spectrum), yet this feeling of discomfort also seemed appropriate in context: the target audience feels as uncomfortable all the time with communication as this book made me briefly feel.
Having made it through the Introduction the rest of the book (while using the same underpinning) was much easier to read. I appreciated the ways in which neurotypical assumptions were presented and explained, and the non-prescriptive approach to choosing elements of a social script. Specific sections on special interests and thinking differently were excellent.
One of the pitfalls for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) writing for other people with ASD is that they may tend to project their own individual communication struggles onto others, and this book seemed to avoid this well. However, if you are a target reader in doubt, a quick leaf through the middle of the book (not the Introduction!) should indicate whether this approach is likely to suit you.
Although it is aimed at adolescents (of normal to high IQ) it may well be a very useful tool for adults in workplace difficulties. Worth a look.