If the definition of autism had originally included Asperger’s expansive vision, it is possible, says the author, that we would not have been hunting down environmental causes or blaming parents. Silberman thus concludes that the autism pandemic of recent years is actually an illusion brought about by diagnostic error. Importantly, Kanner’s narrow definition of the condition prevailed for an extended period of time, which caused the public to believe a sudden “epidemic” of autism was underway when the DSM-III-R was published in 1987 (and the DSM-IV in 1994) because the definition finally expanded to include the full scope of relevant symptoms.

As a result, parents attempted to track down any potential cure, including shock therapy and LSD. In making autism the fault of parents, Kanner inadvertently made the syndrome a source of stigma and shame for families around the world. Although he believed it to be biological in origin, Kanner thought the disorder was activated by cold, withholding parents. He believed the condition to be unique and uncommon, only affecting young children. In the United States, meanwhile, psychiatrist Leo Kanner was developing a distinct picture of autism.

All, however, had in common a family of symptoms that included precocious abilities, social awkwardness, and an intense focus on laws, rules, and schedules. Others suffered from greater disabilities and were put into asylums. Some of the children were prodigies who struggled with school. During his time at the Children’s Clinic in Vienna, Asperger studied more than 200 children whom he would treat for what he termed autistische Psychopathen (autistic psychopathy). The difference is that Kanner published his work in Baltimore, whereas Asperger, unfortunately, published his work in Nazi-controlled Vienna. Silberman begins by taking the reader back to the origin of autism, which was identified by two separate scientists, Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger, around the same time. Through his examination of autism, Silberman seeks to reshape our understanding of the meaning, history, and implications of biodiversity. Rather, they are products of natural variations in the human genome. The author also investigates the concept of neurodiversity, considering the notion that neurological issues such as autism are not errors of nature or consequences of a modern toxic world. Tracing the origin of autism back to research pioneers Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger, Silberman explores the questions of what autism actually is and why the number of diagnoses has risen so dramatically in recent years. Steve Silberman’s 2015 book NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity takes a fascinating look at the history and science of autism.

Silberman autism