A thought-provoking read, rich with science and personal accounts,
The Pattern Seekers explores how autism has evolved human inventionFollowing a hardback publication that was widely and glowingly receivedWorld-renowned Autism researcher whose previous book,
Zero Degrees of Empathy received widespread acclaim and sold 17,000 copies in paperbackChallenges readers to consider how society can be inclusive to those who think differently across professional industries and education
Simon Baron-Cohen is professor of psychology and psychiatry and Director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University. He is the author of 600 scientific articles and four books, including
Zero Degrees of Empathy and
The Essential Difference.Ambitious and provocative...goes beyond the usual discussion of 'special gifts' in autism to propose that the diversity of human operating systems has accelerated the advancement of human civilization and culture in ways we can barely imagine.It's rare to come across a surprising new idea that explains important phenomena, but Simon Baron-Cohen's exploration of abstract pattern-seeking in human affairs is one of them. This book sheds light on one of humanity's most distinctive traits, celebrates human cognitive diversity, and is rich with empathy and psychological insight.A game-changing book, a passport into exploring the world of innovation and creativity. Most importantly, it celebrates autistic people and is a call for action, to welcome neurodiversity.A fascinating account of the mechanisms underlying the related capacities of both autistic individuals and innovators.Erudite, illuminating...His bold new idea, that the genes for autism drove the evolution of human invention, places this disability centre stage in the story of humans.Based on massive research, Simon Baron-Cohen argues that most of us are specialized in how we perceive the world around us. There are those who focus on people and those who focus on things. The author makes a compelling case that the second kind of mind-the pattern seeker-is at the root of modern human civilization.Destined to become a classic...In an age of increasing specialization, Baron-Cohen's book comes as a breath of fresh air.Bold, intriguing, profound.A wonderful, lyrical celebration of the autistic mind.
'Celebrates human cognitive diversity, and is rich with empathy and psychological insight' Steven Pinker
'Bold, intriguing, profound' Jay Elwes, Spectator
Why can humans alone invent? In this book, psychologist and world renowned autism expert Simon Baron-Cohen puts forward a bold new theory: because we can identify patterns, specifically if-and-then patterns. Baron-Cohen argues that the genes for this unique ability overlap with the genes for autism and have driven human progress for 70,000 years.
From the first musical instruments to the agricultural, industrial, and digital revolutions, Pattern Seekers links one of our greatest human strengths with a condition that is so often misunderstood and challenges us to think differently about those who think differently.
