Call number
616.85 HIG
Collection
Publication
Random House (2013), Edition: 1st, 176 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Family & Relationships. Medical. Nonfiction. HTML:One of the most remarkable books Ive ever read. Its truly moving, eye-opening, incredibly vivid.Jon Stewart, The Daily Show NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR The Wall Street Journal Bloomberg Business Bookish FINALIST FOR THE BOOKS FOR A BETTER LIFE FIRST BOOK AWARD NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Youve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within. Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly? Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks? Why dont you make eye contact when youre talking? and Whats the reason you jump? (Naokis answer: When Im jumping, its as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insightsinto the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memoryare so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again. In his introduction, bestselling novelist David Mitchell writes that Naokis words allowed him to feel, for the first time, as if his own autistic child was explaining what was happening in his mind. It is no exaggeration to say that The Reason I Jump allowed me to round a corner in our relationship. This translation was a labor of love by David and his wife, KA Yoshida, so theyd be able to share that feeling with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naokis book, in its beauty, truthfulness, and simplicity, is a gift to be shared. Praise for The Reason I Jump This is an intimate book, one that brings readers right into an autistic mind.Chicago Tribune (Editors Choice) Amazing times a million.Whoopi Goldberg, People The Reason I Jump is a Rosetta stone. . . . This book takes about ninety minutes to read, and it will stretch your vision of what it is to be human.Andrew Solomon, The Times (U.K.) Extraordinary, moving, and jeweled with epiphanies.The Boston Globe Small but profound . . . [Higashidas] startling, moving insights offer a rare look inside the autistic mind.Parade.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member detailmuse
From Mitchell's Introduction:
Imagine a daily life in which your faculty of speech is taken away. {âŚ} Now imagine that after you lose your ability to communicate, the editor-in-residence who orders your thoughts walks out without notice. {âŚ} To make matters worse, another hitherto unrecognized
This book is a glimpse into an autistic mind via a series of questions posed to a nonverbal 13-year-old (at that time) Japanese boy and the answers he gave by typing into a sort of keyboard, said answers then transcribed by his mother and now, six years later, translated to English by novelist David Mitchell and his wife KA Yoshida (themselves parents of an autistic 3-year-old).
For example, in reply to âWhy do you ask the same questions over and over?â and âWhy do you echo questions back at the asker?â Higashida writes, respectively (partial excerpts here):
I imagine a normal personâs memory is arranged continuously, like a line. My memory, however, is more like a pool of dots. Iâm always âpicking upâ these dots -- by asking {the same question over and over} -- so I can arrive back at the memory that the dots represent. {âŚRepeating questions} is great fun. Itâs like a game of catch with a ball. {âŚ} itâs playing with sound and rhythm.
{âŚEchoing questions} is a way of sifting through our memories {âŚI} scan my memory to find an experience closest to whatâs happening now. When Iâve found a good close match, my next step is to try to recall what I said at that time. If Iâm lucky, I hit upon a usable experience and all is well. If Iâm not lucky, {âŚ} Iâm unable to answer the question {âŚand} that weird voice slips out
Itâs a very quick read of ~60 Q&A, mostly about the behaviors of autistics that puzzle and frustrate their caregivers. That focus -- the author mostly on defense -- frustrated me! How about shining a light on whatâs important to this young person instead of assuaging othersâ frustrations? And actually, Higashida himself does exactly that, writing beautifully and figuratively and managing to steer topics toward his interests via some short fiction pieces interspersed throughout the book.
Itâs surely enlightening and comforting to parents of autistic children, and there are passages where I cheered for Higashidaâs creativity and teared-up at his pleas for caregivers to be patient and not give up on autistics. But Iâm not as enamored of it as other readers are. I saw zero evidence of Japan in the book (which made me think the translation must be very sanitized), and many instances where Higashida seemed impossibly aware of self and others (autistics and neurotypicals) to the point of speaking for them (which made me wonder about the objectivity of the motherâs transcription and/or Mitchell/Yoshidaâs translation).
Imagine a daily life in which your faculty of speech is taken away. {âŚ} Now imagine that after you lose your ability to communicate, the editor-in-residence who orders your thoughts walks out without notice. {âŚ} To make matters worse, another hitherto unrecognized
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editor has just quit without notice -- your editor of the senses. Suddenly sensory input from your environment is flooding in too, unfiltered in quality and overwhelming in quantity. {âŚ} The functions that genetics bestows on the rest of us -- the âeditorsâ -- as a birthright, people with autism must spend their lives learning how to simulate. It is an intellectual and emotional task of Herculean, Sisyphean and Titanic proportionsThis book is a glimpse into an autistic mind via a series of questions posed to a nonverbal 13-year-old (at that time) Japanese boy and the answers he gave by typing into a sort of keyboard, said answers then transcribed by his mother and now, six years later, translated to English by novelist David Mitchell and his wife KA Yoshida (themselves parents of an autistic 3-year-old).
For example, in reply to âWhy do you ask the same questions over and over?â and âWhy do you echo questions back at the asker?â Higashida writes, respectively (partial excerpts here):
I imagine a normal personâs memory is arranged continuously, like a line. My memory, however, is more like a pool of dots. Iâm always âpicking upâ these dots -- by asking {the same question over and over} -- so I can arrive back at the memory that the dots represent. {âŚRepeating questions} is great fun. Itâs like a game of catch with a ball. {âŚ} itâs playing with sound and rhythm.
{âŚEchoing questions} is a way of sifting through our memories {âŚI} scan my memory to find an experience closest to whatâs happening now. When Iâve found a good close match, my next step is to try to recall what I said at that time. If Iâm lucky, I hit upon a usable experience and all is well. If Iâm not lucky, {âŚ} Iâm unable to answer the question {âŚand} that weird voice slips out
Itâs a very quick read of ~60 Q&A, mostly about the behaviors of autistics that puzzle and frustrate their caregivers. That focus -- the author mostly on defense -- frustrated me! How about shining a light on whatâs important to this young person instead of assuaging othersâ frustrations? And actually, Higashida himself does exactly that, writing beautifully and figuratively and managing to steer topics toward his interests via some short fiction pieces interspersed throughout the book.
Itâs surely enlightening and comforting to parents of autistic children, and there are passages where I cheered for Higashidaâs creativity and teared-up at his pleas for caregivers to be patient and not give up on autistics. But Iâm not as enamored of it as other readers are. I saw zero evidence of Japan in the book (which made me think the translation must be very sanitized), and many instances where Higashida seemed impossibly aware of self and others (autistics and neurotypicals) to the point of speaking for them (which made me wonder about the objectivity of the motherâs transcription and/or Mitchell/Yoshidaâs translation).
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LibraryThing member jnwelch
The Reason I Jump is fascinating, and well worth the read. It's very fast, too - you'll be done before you know it.
It's structured in a question and answer format, with behaviors we've all wondered about featured. Naoki is able to articulate, by picking letters from an "alphabet grid" via computer,
An example of what he does here: in explaining their propensity for repeating questions: "We aren't good at conversation, and however hard we try, we'll never speak as effortlessly as you. The big exception, however, is words or phrases we're very familiar with. Repeating these is great fun. It's like a game of catch with a ball. Unlike the words we're ordered to say, repeating questions we already know the answers to can be a pleasure - it's playing with sound and rhythm." He addresses all the difficulties in controlling physical motion and emotions, and his own remorse in the aftermath of a meltdown: "I'll calm down and . . . see no sign of the tsunami attack - only the wreckage I've made. And when I see that, I hate myself. I just hate myself." One reviewer called this a "Rosetta Stone", and it has that feeling of revelation, a way into a world we have never understood. I can't say enough good things about it. Definitely dig into it - you'll zip through, I promise.
It's structured in a question and answer format, with behaviors we've all wondered about featured. Naoki is able to articulate, by picking letters from an "alphabet grid" via computer,
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how different the experience of those with severe autism is from ours, and also how similar their feelings are, even though it is so hard for them to articulate those feelings. He explains why eye contact is a problem, how their memory operates differently, why they behave in certain ways, and how easily their senses can get overwhelmed. And, yes, the reason he jumps. I don't know enough to know whether the way he experiences autism is as widely shared as he believes, but he certainly is explaining common behaviors in a way that makes sense. The differences in processing sensory input, and behaving physically in our world, are striking. Much of his message is for us all to be patient with them, very patient, and to stick with it when they seem to push us away. He comes across as very bright, humble, and engaging. He even includes a couple of stories he has written, one of which is particularly thought-provoking - "I wrote this story in the hope that it will help you to understand how painful it is when you can't express yourself to the people you love."An example of what he does here: in explaining their propensity for repeating questions: "We aren't good at conversation, and however hard we try, we'll never speak as effortlessly as you. The big exception, however, is words or phrases we're very familiar with. Repeating these is great fun. It's like a game of catch with a ball. Unlike the words we're ordered to say, repeating questions we already know the answers to can be a pleasure - it's playing with sound and rhythm." He addresses all the difficulties in controlling physical motion and emotions, and his own remorse in the aftermath of a meltdown: "I'll calm down and . . . see no sign of the tsunami attack - only the wreckage I've made. And when I see that, I hate myself. I just hate myself." One reviewer called this a "Rosetta Stone", and it has that feeling of revelation, a way into a world we have never understood. I can't say enough good things about it. Definitely dig into it - you'll zip through, I promise.
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LibraryThing member rayski
A very insightful book into the mind of autism. So sad to see how trapped inside an autistic person is, yet in other ways it was very uplifting to see that an autistic person isn't the lost person one might believe them to be. The author is able to understand, think and put often complex thoughts
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together. The real problem for this autistic person is time and communications. It is these two issues that can make a person believe that an autistic person is totally lost inside themselves, but it appears that couldn't be further from the truth. My only complaint with the book is that a better preface could have been written. I'd like to understand more about whether the author wrote these questions himself or were the questions fed to him. Also I'd like to understand the time it took to answer these questions. Did questions take several days to document an answer or were they written quickly? Did the author do his own editing? Was the text edited? Considering the subject and its purpose, to understand the inner mind of the autistic, it would have been helpful to understand more how the book was put together. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jennifer35k
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I am on a constant roller coaster of daily negotiations and compromise. I am an individual that has learned to ride a wheel of ever changing emotions, which often lead to hours of meltdowns. However, through the heart heartaches, I have experienced
I loved this book and I found it to be very helpful. I found many questions that I had about my daughter to be answered. Some of the answers were reassuring for me and made a lot of sense. There seems to be a misconception that those with differences are somehow âdamagedâ and the author really demonstrated that this idea is wrong. Those with autism are people with intellects that are uniquely different. I feel that some of those who are not able to communicate verbally with autism were given a voice by this author and that is wonderful. I have a ton of respect for this author and I am so happy that he took the time to write this book. Thank you so much from a grateful parent!
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tremendous joy and peace. I have learned to appreciate every day for what it brings and too enjoy the simple pleasures in life. This book is about a young man named, Naoki Higashida, which has graciously answered many common questions about autism. He is a person that has lived with autism his entire life. He has chosen to conquer autism and not allow autism to conquer him. He describes throughout the book how autism is unique to each individual. It is a difference in being, not a disease. I loved this book and I found it to be very helpful. I found many questions that I had about my daughter to be answered. Some of the answers were reassuring for me and made a lot of sense. There seems to be a misconception that those with differences are somehow âdamagedâ and the author really demonstrated that this idea is wrong. Those with autism are people with intellects that are uniquely different. I feel that some of those who are not able to communicate verbally with autism were given a voice by this author and that is wonderful. I have a ton of respect for this author and I am so happy that he took the time to write this book. Thank you so much from a grateful parent!
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LibraryThing member agarcia85257
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida is an interesting glimpse inside the mind and life of this young child. While I cannot say that the book itself is insightful; it is in other ways a touch of the simplicity that offers instead a sense of
"...The thirteen-year-old author of this book invites you, his reader, to imagine a daily life in which your faculty of speech is taken away. Explaining that you're hungry, or tired, or in pain, is now as beyond your powers as a chat with a friend..."
I read this book hoping for some great insight into the world of an autistic child. Into the world a family with such a child must live in. In this, the book does fail. There really is not a-ha moment for those of us outside this world. Instead the book is written in a series of questions to Naoki that he answers. His replies to such questions as; Why do you speak in that peculiar way? Or; Do you have a sense of time? Are basic and simplistic. Much as should be expected from a young boy of thirteen.
"...When I was small, I didn't even know that I was a kid with special needs. How did I find out? By other people telling me that I was different from everyone else, and that this was a problem..."
This statement in the early part of the book is very revealing. Naoki struggled to adapt to our world and his failings in doing so are acutely felt. In reading the book I found the questions themselves, asked of Naoki to be disturbing. They were less about his struggles with being an autistic child and so much more about how his autism inconveniences the rest of us.
Why can't you have a proper conversation?
Why do you do things the rest of us don't?
Why do you ask the same questions over and over?
Why do you make a huge fuss over tiny mistakes?
Consider for a moment, if these questions were asked of any child, let alone a child with autism. We would consider them cruel. Yet to ask these of a autistic child is somehow okay. Because these are the things about the child that bother the rest of us.
I began this book hoping to find an insight into the world of an autistic but came away instead with an insight into the rest of us. A picture that is not becoming.
Read this book and perhaps it will change how you look at a child with autism the next time they start to make a fuss in your presence.
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wonder at the world so many of us cannot comprehend."...The thirteen-year-old author of this book invites you, his reader, to imagine a daily life in which your faculty of speech is taken away. Explaining that you're hungry, or tired, or in pain, is now as beyond your powers as a chat with a friend..."
I read this book hoping for some great insight into the world of an autistic child. Into the world a family with such a child must live in. In this, the book does fail. There really is not a-ha moment for those of us outside this world. Instead the book is written in a series of questions to Naoki that he answers. His replies to such questions as; Why do you speak in that peculiar way? Or; Do you have a sense of time? Are basic and simplistic. Much as should be expected from a young boy of thirteen.
"...When I was small, I didn't even know that I was a kid with special needs. How did I find out? By other people telling me that I was different from everyone else, and that this was a problem..."
This statement in the early part of the book is very revealing. Naoki struggled to adapt to our world and his failings in doing so are acutely felt. In reading the book I found the questions themselves, asked of Naoki to be disturbing. They were less about his struggles with being an autistic child and so much more about how his autism inconveniences the rest of us.
Why can't you have a proper conversation?
Why do you do things the rest of us don't?
Why do you ask the same questions over and over?
Why do you make a huge fuss over tiny mistakes?
Consider for a moment, if these questions were asked of any child, let alone a child with autism. We would consider them cruel. Yet to ask these of a autistic child is somehow okay. Because these are the things about the child that bother the rest of us.
I began this book hoping to find an insight into the world of an autistic but came away instead with an insight into the rest of us. A picture that is not becoming.
Read this book and perhaps it will change how you look at a child with autism the next time they start to make a fuss in your presence.
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LibraryThing member juniperSun
This book is the dream of every mother of an autistic child. We know there are mysteries being pondered in our child's brain. We know they are more intelligent than they behave.
I read this aloud to my autistic son, and "Naoki" story became part of the story string he would ask for.
Readers just
I read this aloud to my autistic son, and "Naoki" story became part of the story string he would ask for.
Readers just
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need to remember that this is one person's story, despite the frequency he states "us". Show Less
LibraryThing member dele2451
As a compulsive reader, I detest it when a reviewer generically lists a book as a "must read" for the public at large, but I wholeheartedly believe you would be hard-pressed to find two hours of more important reading. What an enlightening and much-needed look inside the beautiful, frustratingly
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complex, and deeply soulful mind of a speech-impaired Autistic teenager from Japan who, after years of having no reliable form of communication with others, learns how to use a simple paper alphabet grid to "talk" with his caregivers. This tiny book could literally change millions of lives for the better! Show Less
LibraryThing member Clancy.Coonradt
This is an amazing peek into the mind of an autistic boy. His ability to articulate his thoughts and emotions gives 'normal' people the raw tools that are needed for helping, not hindering or demeaning, individuals with autism. With the diagnosis of autism rising daily, this is a remarkable way get
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to know the people that are trapped within their own minds and bodies. This book is written in such a manner that it is easy to understand and grasp concepts. One of the greatest things taken from this book is the way he ends almost all of his answers, 'don't give up on us.' Here can be felt the emotion of someone who is constantly worried about affecting others while having to contend with an overwhelming amount of distractions and stimuli. A great read for anyone interested in helping autistic individuals, parents of autistic children, and people that just want a better way to understand what autistic people are dealing with and capable of. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaelirenee
As autism has come into public awareness, memoirs written by and about adults with the disorder abound: Temple Grandin wrote succinctly about her life and the way her brain functions. John Elder Robison was able to later understand his high-functioning autism well enough to write a best-selling
The Reason I Jump is unique because the author is living inside childhood autism. Naoki is thirteen and is rarely able to speak. But that doesnât mean he canât think. It is clear he has thought a great deal about the ways his processing differs from those of ânormalâ people. Heâs had enough people tell him whatâs normal and expected that he is able to describe the myriad ways in which he differs. He brings poetry to a subject that most people imagine as drab prose or memorized factoids.
Through a series of questions and answers, he describes what it is like to hear everything, but freeze when itâs time to speak, the pain that comes from others assuming you want to be alone, and the confusion that comes from sensing everything without a way to filter out whatâs important. In the process, he explodes a number of misconceptions about autism. He does not have the vocabulary of a young child, even though he loves preschool-level television shows. He wants friends and to be close to other people. Conversations cause massive amounts of anxiety. I challenge anyone who thinks an autistic person lacks empathy to read this book, especially his short story at the end. He clearly understands more about the human mind than most normal teenagers.
He also reminds his reader that patience and grit can help anyone prevail, even those seemingly lost in autism. Because of this, I recommend this book to any parent, teacher, or caregiverâand not just to those of autistic people. Naokiâs main message is that there are as many ways to solve a problem or understand the world as there are brains.
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memoir. But both these authors have the distance and perspective that time grants when describing their autism. Other authors likewise look at autism from the outside. The Reason I Jump is unique because the author is living inside childhood autism. Naoki is thirteen and is rarely able to speak. But that doesnât mean he canât think. It is clear he has thought a great deal about the ways his processing differs from those of ânormalâ people. Heâs had enough people tell him whatâs normal and expected that he is able to describe the myriad ways in which he differs. He brings poetry to a subject that most people imagine as drab prose or memorized factoids.
Through a series of questions and answers, he describes what it is like to hear everything, but freeze when itâs time to speak, the pain that comes from others assuming you want to be alone, and the confusion that comes from sensing everything without a way to filter out whatâs important. In the process, he explodes a number of misconceptions about autism. He does not have the vocabulary of a young child, even though he loves preschool-level television shows. He wants friends and to be close to other people. Conversations cause massive amounts of anxiety. I challenge anyone who thinks an autistic person lacks empathy to read this book, especially his short story at the end. He clearly understands more about the human mind than most normal teenagers.
He also reminds his reader that patience and grit can help anyone prevail, even those seemingly lost in autism. Because of this, I recommend this book to any parent, teacher, or caregiverâand not just to those of autistic people. Naokiâs main message is that there are as many ways to solve a problem or understand the world as there are brains.
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LibraryThing member heike6
The motif of this little book is: donât give up on us. We do crazy, annoying things, but donât give up on us.
People say that I communicate better through writing. This is like 1000 times that! Eloquent answers to the questions people ask most about autistics, coming from a teenager who can
âQ57 What causes panic attacks and meltdowns?
[...] And because people with autism arenât skillful talkers, we may in fact be even more sensitive than you are. Stuck here inside these unresponsive bodies of ours, with feelings we canât properly express, itâs always a struggle just to survive. And itâs this feeling of helplessness that sometimes drives us half crazy, and brings on a panic attack or a meltdown.â
People say that I communicate better through writing. This is like 1000 times that! Eloquent answers to the questions people ask most about autistics, coming from a teenager who can
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barely even express himself through speech. This book is a must read for anyone even curious about autism. I wish I could read it in Japanese to see exactly how much eloquence the translators added (because the introduction was spectacular), but either way it is the information that is most important. And I love that, in true autistic form, the book is divided into chapters with one question and an answer.âQ57 What causes panic attacks and meltdowns?
[...] And because people with autism arenât skillful talkers, we may in fact be even more sensitive than you are. Stuck here inside these unresponsive bodies of ours, with feelings we canât properly express, itâs always a struggle just to survive. And itâs this feeling of helplessness that sometimes drives us half crazy, and brings on a panic attack or a meltdown.â
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LibraryThing member SirRoger
There's a famous quote about autism: "If youâve met one person with autism, youâve met one person with autism." Dr. Stephen Shore's pithy saying really drives home the individual nature of each autistic person's experience. But even though every teaching, factoid, or principle may not apply to
Naoki Higashida's perspective is particularly valuable, because he is able to describe what is going on in his mind, as a teenager. (He was thirteen when he wrote this book.). Most "autism memoirs," such as the excellent accounts by Temple Grandin, are written by adults who have been able to figure certain things out with age. And as helpful as those adult accounts are, there is still a dearth of younger voices in this area.
Even though Naoki's autism is severe enough that he is not able to communicate verbally, he learned to spell out words on an alphabet grid. And with the help of a transcriber, he writes poems and stories, and keeps a regular blog.
The format of the book is a series of questions, which Naoki answers. As I mentioned above, some of the questions may not appear to mean much to your particular experience, and some of the answers may seem a bit mystical or too generally motivational to apply in your case. But probably at least a few of them will strike you as directly relatable to the autistic person in your life. And you may stop and say "Oh. I never thought about it like that. Maybe that's what's going on in his head when he's saying this, or doing that." And I think the value of that cannot be understated.
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every person with autism, the more information you have and the more perspectives you hear, the better equipped you are to help, teach, and act as a caregiver from a place of empathy and understanding. Naoki Higashida's perspective is particularly valuable, because he is able to describe what is going on in his mind, as a teenager. (He was thirteen when he wrote this book.). Most "autism memoirs," such as the excellent accounts by Temple Grandin, are written by adults who have been able to figure certain things out with age. And as helpful as those adult accounts are, there is still a dearth of younger voices in this area.
Even though Naoki's autism is severe enough that he is not able to communicate verbally, he learned to spell out words on an alphabet grid. And with the help of a transcriber, he writes poems and stories, and keeps a regular blog.
The format of the book is a series of questions, which Naoki answers. As I mentioned above, some of the questions may not appear to mean much to your particular experience, and some of the answers may seem a bit mystical or too generally motivational to apply in your case. But probably at least a few of them will strike you as directly relatable to the autistic person in your life. And you may stop and say "Oh. I never thought about it like that. Maybe that's what's going on in his head when he's saying this, or doing that." And I think the value of that cannot be understated.
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LibraryThing member Lindsay_W
Thirteen-year-old Naoki Higashida answers questions about what it is like to have autism and how he would like to be treated by those who are trying to help him. He writes as a boy who above all wants to be understood and who wants people to understand that the behavours of autism do not reflect
This book should be required reading for anyone who parents or works with autistic children. The challenges can be great, but Higashida reminds us that the person who is suffering the most is the one with autism. He repeatedly asks for caregivers to not give up because for him, if there is hope, all else can be endured.
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the person he is inside. He shares the challenges of living a life âdetached from the flow of timeâ where sensory inputs can create chaos for him, and where he is not always in control of his mind or body. He shares the calming effect that order, repetition, water, and certain TV commercials have on him. Unfortunately though, he cannot find the words to express the beautifully unique way that a person with autism experiences the natural world. When asked if heâd like to be ânormalâ he draws inspiration from Buddha to say âall human beings have their hardships to bear, so never swerve away from the path you are on.â (Q.47) The book ends with a heartbreaking allegorical short story by Higashida. Brilliant. This book should be required reading for anyone who parents or works with autistic children. The challenges can be great, but Higashida reminds us that the person who is suffering the most is the one with autism. He repeatedly asks for caregivers to not give up because for him, if there is hope, all else can be endured.
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LibraryThing member elzbthp
Naoki Higashida, the author of The Reason I Jump, has an eloquence and a degree of self-awareness that far surpasses most neurotypical (non-autistic) individuals. The fact that he is autistic and wrote this at the age of 13 is quite remarkable. His voice is gentle, compassionate, helpful-- he
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answers questions about characteristic autistic behaviors so that non-autistic people can better understand the whys and hows. He comes across as a spokesperson for autistic individuals (or at least, that is the impression the translation gives), explaining why "we" repeat things or get upset about changes in routine, or why "we" are so concerned with causing other people discomfort or annoyance. It left me wondering if his thoughts and experiences are as universal among autistic people as he implies. Regardless, this book invites our compassion, patience and understanding, and it should be read far and wide. Show Less
LibraryThing member thisisstephenbetts
A short book by an autistic Japanese boy, describing what it is like to be autistic. It's pretty interesting, as obviously he doesn't know what it's like to not be autistic. The book is structured as brief questions about autism (presumably those that Naoki has been asked a lot), followed by
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answers, of about a page. Interspersed are Naoki's short stories, some of which are really beautiful. A touching - perhaps moving - courage, openess and humanity pervades the book. This is a quick, fascinating read, which left me feeling a huge amount of sympathy and admiration for Naoki, and, I hope, a good bit more understanding of the experience of autism. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member KamGeb
I was very disappointed with this book. It didn't sound authentic, like the voice of a 13 year old. I'm not sure if it is because of the translation or because the boy is repeating information he has heard rather than speaking from his own experience. For example, at one point he is asked if he
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hates being touched. He replies that it doesn't bother him, but then he describes the reason why other autistic people hate being touched. How could he know why other autistic people hate being touched? Also there is no ambivalence in his answers. There is no answer where the author says, I know I shouldn't but I want to just sit and stim and I get really angry when an adult comes and forces me to do something else. I work with autistic children and they all at some point feel that way. Show Less
LibraryThing member dgmlrhodes
I really enjoyed this book. I found the book to be fascinating with a look inside the mind of someone who has autism. It is written from the perspective of Naoki Higashida, very self-aware boy with autism.
The book is a one-of-a-kind memoir that delves into the mind of the autistic child. The
This is a must read for anyone that has an autistic child in their lives. Or, if you just want to learn more like me, it is a great read for that as well.
The book is a one-of-a-kind memoir that delves into the mind of the autistic child. The
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chapters are very short, direct and to the point. If you are expecting a story, this will not meet your expectations. I found this book to be one that stretched my thinking and it was a fascinating read that I completed in one sitting. This is a must read for anyone that has an autistic child in their lives. Or, if you just want to learn more like me, it is a great read for that as well.
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LibraryThing member Capybara_99
Remarkable short book, consisting of short sections in which a thirteen year old boy with significant effects of autism -- he cannot speak -- describes his life, and what it is like for him to live with autism, and what he believes it is like for others with the condition. He cannot speak, but he
He provides answers to questions such as : why do you ask the same questions over and over? what is the worst thing about having autism? why do you jump? The book's powerful effect is to teach the reader not to confuse an autistic person's difficulty in communicating or processing information or displaying his or her self, with a lack of intelligence or thoughtfulness or a nuanced understanding of the world and his or her place in it. The author displays a far greater self-awareness than the thirteen year-olds I have known, and in doing so helpfully corrects many assumptions we might have of what autism is and what it means for the person with the condition. Naoki Higashida is remarkable.
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can type, slowly, on a grid.He provides answers to questions such as : why do you ask the same questions over and over? what is the worst thing about having autism? why do you jump? The book's powerful effect is to teach the reader not to confuse an autistic person's difficulty in communicating or processing information or displaying his or her self, with a lack of intelligence or thoughtfulness or a nuanced understanding of the world and his or her place in it. The author displays a far greater self-awareness than the thirteen year-olds I have known, and in doing so helpfully corrects many assumptions we might have of what autism is and what it means for the person with the condition. Naoki Higashida is remarkable.
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LibraryThing member herzogm
I have to admit that I was disappointed in this book. I regularly seek out books that deal with the Autism Spectrum, not only because of my work as a medical social worker but also because it has touched my family. I just could not believe that a non-verbal 13 year old could put together such
That said, it is still possible to glean insight into how Higashida's mind works. I only wish he had confined himself to his own mind and not tried to generalize to the autistic population.
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elegant language, always grammatically correct. Some of this may be an artifact of the person interpreting what he has chosen on his communication board and then there is the difficulty of translating from Japanese into English. It is very difficult in either case to only interpret or translate exactly what is produced and to not give in to the temptation of editing.That said, it is still possible to glean insight into how Higashida's mind works. I only wish he had confined himself to his own mind and not tried to generalize to the autistic population.
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LibraryThing member amaryann21
It is a wonder to see inside the head of someone who has trouble communicating, and this book is amazing. I'm so grateful to the author and interpreters and Naoki's family for having the confidence and faith to listen and learn and share this with the rest of the world. For anyone with any contact
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with those who have autism, this is a must-read. Show Less
LibraryThing member mariah2
I received this book through the LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
This book was written by a young man with Autism, and it is in a simple question and answer format. One question and answer
for each section. At the end of the book is a short story.
The questions are answered using many "we
This book was written by a young man with Autism, and it is in a simple question and answer format. One question and answer
for each section. At the end of the book is a short story.
The questions are answered using many "we
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statements" opposed to "I statements". I have a difficult time believing that each individual with Autism is the same. Each time I would read one of these "we statements" I would become distracted with my belief that the author can't possibly know we what is going on in the year of every other person with Autism. Some parts of the story did contradict others parts of the he story. Overall, this was a light book on a weighty topic. Show Less
LibraryThing member lmgrim
This charming book opened my eyes to the ways special needs people might perceive the world. I'd recommend it to anyone working in education today.
LibraryThing member Carolee888
I read a lot of books about autism because my brother is severely autistic. I am very thankful to Nagoki Higashida for answered questions that I have about my brother's behavior and the way that he thinks. And also answering some questions that had not even occurred to me! His voice came through
In fact I wish that my brother had the experience of being trained to use the special keyboard. So many things are locked inside for my brother but Nagoki been has let some of them out via the keyboard.
My brother also jumps. He always does this just before he starts a walk. He also loves to walk in places filled with nature. He wanted to go to a park when I asked him where on our latest visit. I have read quite a few books written by Aspergerâs but this one by a boy who has autism rings home for me. My brother can speak but usually he does not initiate any conversation, he is limited to a few words of a reply. I can see the struggle that he goes through when he is trying to âgrabâ something to say.
I was aware of the overload of senses but I didnât realize that the floors could be tilting for him. That must be why he touches the wall here and there trying to get some balance.
I thought that the author really conveyed how regular people can hurt people with autismâs feelings. I knew that from being with my brother. I have heard people talk about my brother in front of him and that is mean. I know the author would feel the same way.
This book is very valuable for understanding autism and I wish that caregivers in group homes and others who work with people who have autism would read this book.
When I read this book, I truly wanted more. I am hoping that there will be a place in the future where we can send out questions to you. I have so much more that I want to learn. If you have a family member who has autism please read this book.
I received this book as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in the review.
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this book as very genuine and I have recognized some of the same feelings in my brother as Nagoki Higashida.In fact I wish that my brother had the experience of being trained to use the special keyboard. So many things are locked inside for my brother but Nagoki been has let some of them out via the keyboard.
My brother also jumps. He always does this just before he starts a walk. He also loves to walk in places filled with nature. He wanted to go to a park when I asked him where on our latest visit. I have read quite a few books written by Aspergerâs but this one by a boy who has autism rings home for me. My brother can speak but usually he does not initiate any conversation, he is limited to a few words of a reply. I can see the struggle that he goes through when he is trying to âgrabâ something to say.
I was aware of the overload of senses but I didnât realize that the floors could be tilting for him. That must be why he touches the wall here and there trying to get some balance.
I thought that the author really conveyed how regular people can hurt people with autismâs feelings. I knew that from being with my brother. I have heard people talk about my brother in front of him and that is mean. I know the author would feel the same way.
This book is very valuable for understanding autism and I wish that caregivers in group homes and others who work with people who have autism would read this book.
When I read this book, I truly wanted more. I am hoping that there will be a place in the future where we can send out questions to you. I have so much more that I want to learn. If you have a family member who has autism please read this book.
I received this book as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in the review.
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LibraryThing member Sean191
Although the book was written by an autistic thirteen-year-old boy, I don't think that his autism or age make it a difficult gap to cross to really get the message. If anything, maybe just the translation makes it slightly awkward in spots.
Beyond that though, it's a quick and enlightening read and
Beyond that though, it's a quick and enlightening read and
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heartbreaking. Knowing there's sharp minds like Higashida's trapped in bodies that just won't cooperate is a hard fact to comprehend, but it's all right there - the proof of that - in this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member KatyBee
âThe Reason I Jumpâ is slim, very moving book that was written in 2007 by a 13-yr-old Japanese boy. The writer, Naoki Higashida, is autistic and although unable to talk, he was able to spell out words and sentences with an alphabet grid to write this book. It has now been translated by English
The text is presented in a question and answer format and the translation is extremely articulate. There are many thoughtful and insightful observations from this young personâs point of view and a number of important take-away messages. I believe all parents and others who work with all types of young people can learn from reading this book - it is a clear appeal for understanding and patience and not giving up on them, no matter what.
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writer David Mitchell and his wife, KA Yoshida. We find out in the introduction that they have a son diagnosed with autism, and the book was invaluable to them as they sought to understand and communicate with him. The text is presented in a question and answer format and the translation is extremely articulate. There are many thoughtful and insightful observations from this young personâs point of view and a number of important take-away messages. I believe all parents and others who work with all types of young people can learn from reading this book - it is a clear appeal for understanding and patience and not giving up on them, no matter what.
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LibraryThing member williecostello
David Mitchell is one of my favourite contemporary authors, and it was his name that initially caught my attention and drew me to The Reason I Jump â which, of course, is not a new Mitchell novel, but a translation he did along with his wife of a Japanese book published in 2006 written by a
The book is a quick and light read, but it is touching and eye-opening throughout (and I say this even as someone who has not dealt closely with autistic people). If you are at all intrigued by the description, then I wholeheartedly recommend The Reason I Jump. It's everything it promises to be.
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thirteen-year-old Japanese boy with autism. The book is basically exactly what it advertises itself as being ("a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine"), and proceeds mostly by a series of questions and answers about how autistic people act and experience the world. As Mitchell notes in his introduction, the memoir's distinction and virtue lies in how it provides a present-tense first-person view of the autistic mind, which in turn provides some of the most enlightening information for those of us without autism trying to make sense of the autistic mind from the outside.The book is a quick and light read, but it is touching and eye-opening throughout (and I say this even as someone who has not dealt closely with autistic people). If you are at all intrigued by the description, then I wholeheartedly recommend The Reason I Jump. It's everything it promises to be.
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Awards
Independent Booksellers' Book Prize (Shortlist — Adult — 2014)
NPR: Books We Love (2013)
Pages
176
ISBN
0812994868 / 9780812994865