The Only Boy in the World is a memoir, an investigation into what makes us human, a study of aberration, and a love story. It's about all the odd ways journalist Michael Blastland's autistic son, Joe, has of seeing the world and understanding others, and what that tells the rest of us about how we also tick. Through the strange stories of Joe's scrapes and confusions, he makes luminous the routine skills by which the rest of us mostly avoid the disasters that befall him. The book strives to this understanding by combining Technicolor scenes from Joe's bizarre life, from the long catalog of his social accidents, with scientific and psychological understanding of how we normally relate to other people. Illuminating the emotional core of the book are the ways that Joe and his father relate to one another through all the turbulence.

214 pgs

"Fascinating" turned out to be one of the most comforting things anyone ever said to the author in response to the news that his son had autism. At first put off, but then seeing the wisdom in that response, the father seeks to analyze the deficits of the "mindblindness" caused by autism compared to a typical brain. This is the most unusual and philosophical book on autism I've read (and I've read many). It's not for parents who have just learned of the diagnosis. They should consult others that offer more hope and potential therapy, diet and bio-med strategies. They will be deeply disturbed that, at age 9, Joe is still exhibiting severe lack of empathy and is locked in many "quirky" obsessions that are so odd when viewed by others but are almost endearing to those of us who love someone with autism. I actually had to stop reading the book when I reached page 110 because I unexpectedly began sobbing like I have't sobbed since the night 4-1/2 years ago when I first realized my son's symptoms could only be one thing: autism. Michael Blastland's honest love for and frustration with his son are somehow comforting (misery loves company) and disturbing... is it really impossible to teach empathy? Are people with autism really less empathetic than a dog or a chimpanzee? I sincerely hope not. But please don't let me disuade those of you who have been dealing with autism for a while to not read this book...just don't read it when your child is first diagnosed or you are in for a very rough ride. Read other books that are more hopeful. Save this one for the point when you feel you have done everything possible for your child --ABA, diet, bio-meds--and you simply want more insight as to WHY he behaves as he does...you'll find it here. I wish he'd talked more about his own relationship with "Joe's mother" and given her a voice, he doesn't even tell you when/if they divorced or never married...I wanted at least a postscript from her point of view. Even so, it is fascinating reading.

Susan Goewey, Vienna, VA