Just a few weeks old, Dasha the cat found herself in a family with an autistic child. The publication of Temple Grandin's book "Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behaviour" turned the household into a research laboratory, with the humans observing Dasha's behaviours and the cat experimenting with the 'human guinea pigs'. The feline perspective provides a new outlook on autism conditions, challenging long established stereotypes and analysing controversies in the field with an unbiased attitude and humour. The text is interspersed with Dasha's 'wisdoms', 'research notes' and definitions of concepts based on her own understanding, such as 'A pet shop is a place where humans come to be adopted by the animals who are brave enough to take a responsibility of looking after them.' Dasha's Journal provides research-based information in an amusing and accessible form and makes serious and complicated issues such as sensory perception, memory, communication, savant skills and challenging behaviours in autism easily understandable for the general reader.
Professional Reviews
'Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism' by - Manuel F. Casanova, M.D., Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Psychiatry Associate Chair for Research University of Louisville, USA:
'Dasha's Journal is a much needed work that blends the literary journey with an engaging scientific study. The book provides exemplary and cunning analogies to help the reader better appreciate the inner world of the autistic person. The author's thesis exemplifies autism as a different way of thinking with both strengths and weaknesses. The final result is a funny, clever, and up to date exposition of our present day knowledge regarding autism.'
Manuel F. Casanova, M.D., Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Psychiatry Associate Chair for Research University of Louisville, USA
'Dasha's Journal' reviewed by Liane Holliday Willey
Dasha is a brilliant feline! How she managed to communicate her perceptive insights into autism to the human who transcribed her spot-on observations remains a mystery to me, but no matter. Dasha is flat out funny, wise beyond her cat years and a true champion of autistics everywhere! Read her journal and let her teach you about autism!
- Liane Holliday Willey, EdD, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome
'Dasha's Journal' reviewed by Charlotte Moore
‘Dasha’s Journal’ is a charming and original way of explaining the mystery of autism. Dasha is a cat who lives in an “autistic” family. Her observations on the behaviour of both autistic and neurotypical members of the family put the “problems” of autism into perspective: we are often told that autistic people are “mindblind”, but, as Dasha shows, neurotypicals are just as blind to the ways of those who are “differently abled”, whether autists or cats!
The Journal is quirky and amusing, but beneath the humour lies a serious and profound examination of autism and the misconceptions that surround it.
- Charlotte Moore, author of George and Sam: Autism in the Family.
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Reviews for "Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism"
Reviewed by 000 000
9/8/2008
Looks like I have added another book to my library. Animals are aware of things in areas humans cannot understand. My books, It's ok Eli, shows the relationship between he and his dog over fifteen years. I have read Temple's book and even though Eli is now 31 years of age, I continue searching for answers. Thanks and happiness to you, CarolHawks
Review of 'Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism' by - Manuel F. Casanova, M.D., Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Psychiatry Associate Chair for Research University of Louisville, USA:
'Dasha's Journal is a much needed work that blends the literary journey with an engaging scientific study. The book provides exemplary and cunning analogies to help the reader better appreciate the inner world of the autistic person. The author's thesis exemplifies autism as a different way of thinking with both strengths and weaknesses. The final result is a funny, clever, and up to date exposition of our present day knowledge regarding autism.'
