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Uniquely Human: Updated and Expanded: A Different Way of Seeing Autism Paperback – April 19, 2022

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 3,546 ratings
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Winner of the Autism Society of America’s Dr. Temple Grandin Award for the Outstanding Literary Work in Autism

A groundbreaking book on autism, by one of the world’s leading experts, who portrays autism as a unique way of being human—this is “required reading...Breathtakingly simple and profoundly positive” (Chicago Tribune).

Autism therapy typically focuses on ridding individuals of “autistic” symptoms such as difficulties interacting socially, communication problems, sensory challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns. Now, this updated and expanded edition of Dr. Barry M. Prizant’s Uniquely Human tackles new language such as shifting from “person-first language” to “identity-first language,” diversity of identity in the autism sphere, and the future of autistic advocacy by amplifying the voices of autistic and neurodivergent individuals.

“A must-read for anyone touched by autism…Dr. Prizant’s Uniquely Human is a crucial step in promoting better understanding and a more humane approach” (Associated Press). Instead of classifying “autistic” behaviors as signs of pathology, Dr. Prizant sees them as part of a range of strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming. Rather than curb these behaviors, it’s better to enhance abilities, build on strengths, and offer supports that will lead to more desirable behavior and a better quality of life.

Uniquely Human is a “brilliant” (Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes) approach to autism in the modern age that provides “common sense [and] practical advice” (Temple Grandin, author of The Autistic Brain) drawn from Dr. Prizant’s four-decade career. It conveys a deep respect for people with autism and their own unique qualities. Filled with humanity and wisdom, Uniquely Human “should reassure parents and caregivers of kids with autism and any other disability that their kids are not broken, but, indeed, special (Booklist, starred review).
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    April 19, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.9 x 8.38 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1982193891
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1982193898
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Uniquely Human is brilliant. A revolution.”--Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes

"Uniquely Human is not just the perfect title for Barry Prizant's book, it's also an appropriate summation of Dr. Prizant's career. Though a clinical scholar, he is a humanist first, and always has been—a professional who is fascinated by unexamined lives that could be lived happily, yet aren't. With every brilliant, illuminating example in his book, he steers us away from the traditional fix-it mentality and towards the beatific, personally rewarding detective work that the entire spectrum world would be well served to adopt. Thanks be to Barry for the first-ever ‘must read’ written for parents, educators, and clinicians." --Michael John Carley, Founder, GRASP; Author of Asperger's From the Inside-Out

"Refreshing--and constructive.... It should be required reading for all educators and practitioners working with autism....Breathtakingly simple and profoundly positive."--Chicago Tribune

"A remarkable approach to autism....A truly impactful, necessary book."--Kirkus *starred review*

About the Author

Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP is recognized as one of the world's leading authorities and as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches for autistic individuals and those with neurodevelopmental conditions. He is an Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders at the University of Rhode Island specializing in communication disabilities and child/human development. He directs Childhood Communication Services, a private practice, and has more than 50 years of experience as an international consultant, clinical scholar, and researcher. He is coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented internationally, and widely used clinical assessment instruments. Barry has been an invited keynote presenter in more than 25 countries, including twice at the United Nations. He has published 5 books, 150+ articles/chapters, and has received many awards for his career in improving quality of life for autistic persons and related conditions and their families. Barry co-developed/co-facilitates a weekend retreat for parents and family members of autistic individuals, now in its 26th year. He is cohost/co-producer of Uniquely Human: The Podcast, with autistic audio engineer, Dave Finch. As a performing percussionist, he has a special interest in the positive impact of music and the performing/expressive arts on quality of life for autistic individuals and families. 

Tom Fields-Meyer is author of the critically acclaimed memoir Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love from His Extraordinary Son, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. The coauthor (with Barry M. Prizant) of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, and former senior writer for People, he lives in Los Angeles, where he teaches in the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; Expanded,Updated edition (April 19, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982193891
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982193898
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 3,546 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Tom Fields-Meyer

    Tom Fields-Meyer

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    Tom Fields-Meyer is author of the critically acclaimed memoir "Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love from His Extraordinary Son," a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. The coauthor (with Barry M. Prizant) of "Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism," and former senior writer for People, he lives in Los Angeles, where he teaches in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Barry M Prizant

    Barry M Prizant

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, (www.barryprizant.com) is among the world’s leading authorities on autism, and is recognized as an innovator of respectful, person- and family-centered approaches for individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. With close to fifty years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and international consultant, he is an adjunct professor of communication disorders at the University of Rhode Island, a certified speech-language pathologist and director of Childhood Communication Services, a private practice. Barry is coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published four books, more than 130 articles and chapters and has received many awards, including the Honors of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (their highest recognition), the Princeton University Eden Foundation career award in autism and the "Divine Neurotypical Award" of GRASP, the world's largest autistic self-advocacy organization. He has been a two time featured presenter at the United Nations on World Autism Awareness Day. Barry lives in Cranston, Rhode Island, with his wife, Dr. Elaine Meyer, a clinical psychologist and nurse, and Associate Professor in the Harvard Medical School. Barry is a performing percussionist and has a specific interest in the impact of the arts on enhancing quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families. He sits on the boards of two inclusive theatre companies co-founded by and including autistic actors.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
3,546 global ratings
So positive.
5 Stars
So positive.
As a parent who is waiting for the official ASD diagnosis and trying to not fall into a downward spiral of anxiety and worry for my child, all I can say is that I am so happy that I purchased this book.I've only read up to the second chapter, but I've cried happy tears twice. I'm thinking of buying a copies for my immediate family members to read to help them understand what my child is going through and how they to can understand.
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Top reviews from the United States

Lindsey W
5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be trite, but this is a MUST Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017
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In a field where many of the books on autism are written by outsiders who perpetuate myths, stereotypes, and negative images of autism - or at best, that autistic individuals deserve respect despite their wildly different and often bizarre behavior - Dr. Prizant's take on autism as a unique way of being human is refreshing. Through explanation of concepts and theories, backed by real life examples throughout his extensive career, Prizant highlights the universally human underpinnings of behaviors in autistic individuals that many might not understand. An autistic person who repeats the same question over and over despite being answered the first time? How many neurotypical kids ask "are we there yet" ad nauseum on long car trips? An autistic person flicking their fingers repeatedly? How many neurotypical people twirl their hair to help focus or chew gum to calm their nerves?

The perspective shift in "Uniquely Human" is one sorely needed in the world and Prizant writes in a way that is accessible by anyone and very easy to read. With a blend of stories and concepts, the book never gets boring or drags, but rather keeps a comfortable pace. Anyone with a loved one with autism would benefit from reading this book as would every professional who does or might work with an autistic individual. After reading "Uniquely Human", I told a friend of mine who is a principal that *this* would be the book her teachers and staff should read for ongoing autism education. Not only does the book provide an excellent perspective shift, it does so in a way that addresses how to tackle many of the struggles that caregivers, educators, and others have in understanding and supporting autistic individuals. To be honest, I had avoided this book for several months because I thought the title would be an exercise in trite condescension of the autistic community, but I found it to be genuine and respectful of the dignity of everyone. For those who are somewhat familiar with the neurodiversity community, the one caveat you should know is that Prizant acknowledges that many adult autistics prefer an identity first language (autistic person) as opposed to a person first language (person with autism), but chooses to use a person first language without much explanation as to why. Aside from that, which I realize can be very significant for many, I found "Uniquely Human" to be the perfect introduction to autism book in terms of hands-on application. If you are looking for a good understanding of the historical development and story of autism as a diagnosis and the emergence of the neurodiversity movement, I highly recommend "NeuroTribes" by Steve Silberman.

If you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, administrator, etc., please read this book.
30 people found this helpful
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Yael Calhoun
5.0 out of 5 stars A book to Celebrate Neurodivergence!
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
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THis book is a must read for anyone working with people who think in unique ways -- it is a book to help celebrate neurodivergence.
It's compassionate, intelligently written, and inspiring.
I have added it to my trainings. Thank you!!
4 people found this helpful
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Melissa Houser
5.0 out of 5 stars The most influential book I have ever read
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
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"Uniquely Human" is the most influential book I have ever read, and Dr. Prizant's expertise and wisdom has completely changed my family’s lives - and nearly immediately so. Though I recognized early on that my son was differently wired and was able to get him support, I was completely unprepared for how to make his world be the way he needed it to be. Still, my lens was "off." This book gave me a new lens to view my son, our relationship, and all the subtle aspects of our interactions. It changed everything. I’ve been sharing this book with every parent and professional I interact with. At home, very slight shifts in our environment all aimed at the priority of optimizing trust and security have led to explosive growth in my son's regulation, play skills, and language. "Uniquely Human" offers a framework to understand so much of what my son's experiences are like (and he loves confirming when I get it right!). It also has very practical suggestions of how to make kids feel more comfortable in their bodies, with people, and in the environment -- for example, creating a board that tells my son where his father is has entirely eliminated his asking for him (because he feels confident that he can check at any time).

I am also a family physician with the privilege of taking care of many children, both neurodiverse and neurotypical. This book also gives me a new lens to help children, parents, and families by viewing ALL behavior as communication. Dr. Prizant challenges us to ask "why?" for every behavior, until we connect and understand.

I cannot recommend this book more highly.
32 people found this helpful
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Gracie
5.0 out of 5 stars Covers a lot of info.
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
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Loved all of the case studies.
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Squirrel
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2023
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This book has helped me to better understand my whole family, as well as myself. I'm in my mid-70's, and all my life I've struggled with various aspects of my personality. This book helped me to be a little less hard on myself.
9 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Need
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2023
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This is a beautiful book. I highly recommend it to parents, professionals, or anybody who wants a real account of autism and ways communication is so varied and wonderful
8 people found this helpful
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K Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for a better understanding of Autism
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
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It is easy to find books explaining different techniques to work with children on the spectrum but this is the first book I’ve read that reinforced the need to understand the reason behind the behavior. The case examples offer great insight as to how to look at the behavior from the view of the individual and not as a behavior to be controlled or eliminated.
8 people found this helpful
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Alissa Fox
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended book from Cari Ebert
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
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This book was recommended from Cari Ebert when I took her class. This book is about changing ourselves in order to understand autistic people.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente Amazon
2.0 out of 5 stars Serviço e conteúdo: nota 10! Qualidade do papel escolhido para a impressão: sofrível!
Reviewed in Brazil on June 1, 2022
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Serviço de entrega e o conteúdo do livro são excepcionais. A qualidade do papel escolhido é horrível (papel de gibi)! Você tem dificuldade de fazer anotações, com medo de rasgar as folhas. Uma obra desse naipe deveria ter tido um tratamento editorial diferenciado. Lastimável!
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pamela torres
5.0 out of 5 stars Increíble libro
Reviewed in Mexico on August 10, 2021
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Aún no termino de leerlo pero me esta fascinando. Lo recomiendo 100%
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nomad_p
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book for Autism!!
Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2020
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This is the secret recipe on why I love teaching, playing and goofing around with my students! Kids with special needs is honestly hard to dealt with if you don’t know their background. This book brought out the character in me to understand them, how to communicate and sympathize with their struggles. Barry Prizant’s experiences in his career helped me to understand my profession more.
2 people found this helpful
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Hansel
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the read!!
Reviewed in India on December 9, 2021
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This is a great read for Any parent or professional dealing with differently abled children adn adults. It makes for a beautiful read with insights into how understanding and embracing the child with his/her abilities and disabilities however small or big they may be. Would definitely recommend.
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Miss E Laver
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone especially those caring for children with ASD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2020
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I rarely leave reviews but felt compelled to write one after only being half way through this book in the hope that it might help reach someone in understanding their child or maybe a child they care for. I wish this book was given to me when my son was diagnosed. 7 years in and I understand my child quite well now but reading this book was a feeling of at last someone understands my child. It’s eye opening, re affirming, and helps see things from their world which can be so hard for us to understand and comprehend. It’s helped me to re think a few problems we are facing and confirmed my thought on others. Everyone should read this book especially those caring for or working with children with autism, especially if trying to understand behaviours. Highly recommend this is the best autism book I have read to date, thank you to the author!
5 people found this helpful
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