The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy

A playful guide to understanding the ways of 'normal people', The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy flips our usual scripts about neurodiversity.

Following on from her internationally successful memoir, The Autists, Clara Törnvall has written a fun, comprehensive, and accessible explanation of neurotypical, or 'normal', behaviour. Full of facts, tips, and tests, and developed with input from other autists, this book places the difficulties autists face in the context of a world built for the neurotypical majority. It will help neurodiverse people—and their families, friends, and loved ones—navigate this world, nurture stronger relationships, and thrive.

'Clara Törnvall's cheeky, illuminating social manual The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy turns the tables on autism conversations by focusing on how to engage with neurotypical people... Because articles about neurodiversity are often penned by non-autists—sometimes with the implicit directive to "help" those with diagnoses conform themselves more to the rest of the world—Swedish author, producer, and autist Törnvall steps in with light-hearted realism... With its tips to help autists thrive, The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy is an encouraging, entertaining overview of common social challenges.'

-Forward

Praise for The Autists-

'Törnvall has written an important, illuminating first book, one that deserves to sit alongside the best insider accounts of autism... The Autists should be required reading for all parents, partners, friends, and colleagues of anyone on the autism spectrum, as well as a road map for autistic women navigating the neurotypical world.'

-James Cook, Times Literary Supplement

'Törnvall was diagnosed as autistic at the age of forty-two, and The Autists takes her own experience as a lens through which to explore the phenomena and experiences of autistic women more generally. Its research is wide-ranging... I was particularly delighted by Törnvall's chapter on language, "Too Much Faith in Words".'

-Caitlin McGregor, Sydney Review of Books