Nine Minds

Reviews

“A book as beautiful as the minds it portrays.”

“This fascinating book engages by imaginatively entering its subjects’ inner worlds…Readers will discover a spectrum filled with valuable different kinds of minds.”

“Nine Minds offers something that autistic people urgently need: It humanizes us.”

“There are more than nine minds in this book, there are ten: Daniel Tammet’s own mind is there on every page, in the narrative flow, the wordplay, and the empathy for his subjects. Nine Minds reminds us of the diversity within neurodiversity, and of the common challenges that the neurodivergent face. A fine contribution to the growing body of work by and about people who think differently.”

“Daniel Tammet’s wonderful portraits of autistic people’s inner lives illustrate the range of neurodivergent talents and experiences, and celebrate human cognitive diversity.”

“These stories offer glimpses into parts of the human experience most people never see, yet we are all touched by neurodiversity every day, and we are better for it.”

“Beautiful and intimate and mind-expanding. We generally presume that everyone’s inner life is like our own; only rarely do we get to dive deeply into the mind of another, much less nine of them. Tammet gives us this opportunity with his characteristic eloquence, insight, and grace. Beautifully rendered and completely absorbing.”

“This book is a meeting of minds, in all their vast capacity, passionate commitments, and varied flavors―a profound act of appreciation of the many unexpected gifts of neurodivergence.”

“Beautifully written and fascinating, Nine Minds takes us deep into the inner lives of nine extraordinary people. With eloquence and sensitivity, Daniel Tammet transcends stereotypes and shows us different facets of neurodivergence. I loved this book.”

“As Daniel Tammet’s short sentences morph and lengthen into a kind of literary portraiture, you may find unique insights into autism and new aspects of our shared humanity.”

“[Tammet] celebrates the gifts and talents of autistic people, while exploring the richness of their desires and dreams…It is not that…Tammet’s subjects [do] not listen, but that they listen and perceive differently. This is a quietly radical revelation which speaks to the essence of the neurodiversity movement: If there is a deficit in society, then it does not lie in an autistic person’s differences of perception, but in neurotypical assumptions that govern human relations.”

“Bursting with feeling and possibility.”

“Eye-opening in showing that those with neurodivergence have excelled far beyond the fields we usually think of.”

“Nine Minds is a celebration of autistic talent and depth, but Tammet also writes of ‘defying outdated prejudices.’ It is a sad illustration of their potency that…this book should feel so fresh.”

“Skillfully gives each portrait color and personality so they zip along, with loves, joys, and challenges effortlessly woven together in an engaging but sensitive style.”

“A memoir of outstanding lucidity and charm.”

“A charmingly precise, tenderly honest account.”

“So elegantly written.”

“Tammet’s writing is eloquent and moving but always uncomplicated.”

“Remarkable.”

“[Tammet] has done so much to forward our understanding of people on the spectrum.”

“[Tammet] is challenging the stereotypes of autism and it’s fascinating.”

“Tammet’s exquisite portraits remind us that the variety of brains is every bit as essential as any other form of diversity.”

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