`This deceptively little book contains more truth and provides more insight into what it is like to have Asperger's Syndrome than many a weighty tome on the subject. It offers a view from the inside, but it is not yet another autobiography. Admirably and refreshingly, the author has refrained from giving an account solely based on her own experiences. Instead she sets out observations from 25 different suffers, giving often astonishing and sometimes harrowing glimpses of what actually happens to a child with Asperger's Syndrome in the classroom, in the playground, in the lunch queue and at home' - The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry This award-winning book illuminates what it means to be a person who has Aspergers Syndrome by providing a window into a unique and particular world. Drawing on her own experience of schooling, and that of a network of friends and correspondents who share her way of thinking and responding, Clare Sainsbury reminds us of the potential for harm which education holds for those who do not fit. This book holds insights that take us beyond the standard guidance on how to manage autistic spectrum disorder. It challenges the way we might handle obsessional behaviour. It invites us to celebrate the pure passion of the intellect, which such obsessions can represent, and to recognise the delight which can be experienced by children who love to collect. It reminds us that many of the autistic mannerisms we might try to suppress actually help the child to think. This revised edition includes an additional introduction and extensive summary of research in the field of Asperger's Syndrome, both by Tony Attwood.

When Davey Martin's family moves to Mars, he discovers that there's nothing to do--at least until he and his robot dog Polaris learn to seize the spirit of adventure. It's not until they've zipped around the planet on his flying scooter--climbing Martian "trees," digging up "fossils," dancing in Martian rain dances--that they discover a treasure that finally piques Davey's interest--a source of water on the red planet! Chris Gall's new picture book plays on the themes (and ironies) of a complaint parents have heard from their children a thousand times: "There's nothing to do!" The book also offers a deeper lesson to our stationary, convenience-driven society: If you're creative and look carefully, you'll be amazed at what you find!

From the bestselling author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat • Fascinating portraits of neurological disorder in which men, women, and one extraordinary child emerge as brilliantly adaptive personalities, whose conditions have not so much debilitated them as ushered them into another reality. Here are seven detailed narratives of neurological patients, including a surgeon consumed by the compulsive tics of Tourette's syndrome unless he is operating; an artist who loses all sense of color in a car accident, but finds a new sensibility and creative power in black and white; and an autistic professor who cannot decipher the simplest social exchange between humans, but has built a career out of her intuitive understanding of animal behavior. Sacks combines the well honed mind of an academician with the verve of a true storyteller.

The Imprinted Brain sets out a radical new theory of the mind and mental illness based on the recent discovery of genomic imprinting. Imprinted genes are those from one parent that, in that parent's interest, are expressed in an offspring rather than the diametrically opposed genes from the other parent. For example, a higher birth weight may represent the dominance of the father's genes in leading to a healthy child, whereas a lower birth weight is beneficial to the mother's immediate wellbeing, and the imprint of the mother's genes will result in a smaller baby. According to this view, a win for the father's genes may result in autism, whereas one for the mother's may result in psychosis. A state of equilibrium - normality - is the most likely outcome, with a no-win situation of balanced expression. Imprinted genes typically produce symptoms that are opposites of each other, and the author uses psychiatric case material to show how many of the symptoms of psychosis can be shown to be the mental mirror-images of those of autism. Combining psychiatry with insights from modern genetics and cognitive science, Christopher Badcock explains the fascinating imprinted brain theory to the reader in a thorough but accessible way. This new theory casts some intriguing new light on other topics as diverse as the nature of genius, the appeal of detective fiction, and the successes - and failures - of psychoanalysis. This thought-provoking book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in autism, psychiatry, cognitive science or psychology in general.

Mars in the human imagination from the invention of the telescope to the present For centuries, the planet Mars has captivated astronomers and inspired writers of all genres. Whether imagined as the symbol of the bloody god of war, the cradle of an alien species, or a possible new home for human civilization, our closest planetary neighbor has played a central role in how we think about ourselves in the universe. From Galileo to Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert Crossley traces the history of our fascination with the red planet as it has evolved in literature both fictional and scientific. Crossley focuses specifically on the interplay between scientific discovery and literary invention, exploring how writers throughout the ages have tried to assimilate or resist new planetary knowledge. Covering texts from the 1600s to the present, from the obscure to the classic, Crossley shows how writing about Mars has reflected the desires and social controversies of each era. This astute and elegant study is perfect for science fiction fans and readers of popular science.

Eighteen science fiction stories deal with love, madness, and death on Mars, Venus, and in space.

`The author enables parents and professionals to see inside an Asperger mind. Interwoven into the text is some sound advice about the best ways of helping individuals with the syndrome. This includes some helpful 'recommendations for teaching' Asperger students, with an attached list of 'things teachers should know'. Throughout, there are poignant reminders of the author's vulnerability and the cruelty of some of her acquaintances'- British Journal of Learning for Support `This book will be relevant to teachers, those working within FE and HE and professionals working in the field of mental health' - Educational Psychology in Practice `This book is easy to read and one to recommend to colleagues, parents and possibly some young people with Asperger's Syndrome' - Support for Learning `Nita's personal account of living with Asperger's Syndrome is an enlightening read. Each chapter gives a revealing insight into her personal experience and challenges of day-to-day life - Contact a Family This book is a fascinating account of Nita Jackson's experience of Aspergers Syndrome. If you have already read Clare Sainsbury's Martian in the Playground, don't expect a similar publication. Nita offers a personal account of her unique world: " is she size 10 or 16? " where does she come from? " will she be up or down today? The book contains personal descriptions of how Aspergers Syndrome affects the author's day-to-day life and the people around her. Nita shows off her intensely creative talent in her poetry and diary entries, which are used throughout the book. At times, this is an uncomfortable read. However, it is an essential text if you want to understand how the world looks from Nita's perspective.

The heart-warming story of a little boy who misses his mum from award-winning author-illustrator Simon James. The day that Stanley's mum had to go away, he decided to go to Mars. In his place, a not-very-well-behaved Martian arrived. He looked just like Stanley, but he wouldn't eat his vegetables, he wouldn't clean his teeth and he certainly didn't play nicely in the playground. Dad's not sure what Mum will think when she gets back. Will the martian still be there, or will the real Stanley get back in time? Simon James's gentle watercolour illustrations add depth and warmth to this charming story of Stanley who misses his mum. From award-winning author-illustrator Simon James, whose books for Walker include Dear Greenpeace and Rex. A charming and funny story that also subtly explores family relationships

Summary Get Programming with Go introduces you to the powerful Go language without confusing jargon or high-level theory. By working through 32 quick-fire lessons, you'll quickly pick up the basics of the innovative Go programming language! Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the Technology Go is a small programming language designed by Google to tackle big problems. Large projects mean large teams with people of varying levels of experience. Go offers a small, yet capable, language that can be understood and used by anyone, no matter their experience. About the Book Hobbyists, newcomers, and professionals alike can benefit from a fast, modern language; all you need is the right resource! Get Programming with Go provides a hands-on introduction to Go language fundamentals, serving as a solid foundation for your future programming projects. You'll master Go syntax, work with types and functions, and explore bigger ideas like state and concurrency, with plenty of exercises to lock in what you learn. What's inside Language concepts like slices, interfaces, pointers, and concurrency Seven capstone projects featuring spacefaring gophers, Mars rovers, ciphers, and simulations All examples run in the Go Playground - no installation required! About the Reader This book is for anyone familiar with computer programming, as well as anyone with the desire to learn. About the Author Nathan Youngman organizes the Edmonton Go meetup and is a mentor with Canada Learning Code. Roger Peppé contributes to Go and runs the Newcastle upon Tyne Go meetup. Table of Contents Unit 0 - GETTING STARTED Get ready, get set, Go Unit 1 - IMPERATIVE PROGRAMMING A glorified calculator Loops and branches Variable scope Capstone: Ticket to Mars Unit 2 - TYPES Real numbers Whole numbers Big numbers Multilingual text Converting between types Capstone: The Vigenère cipher Unit 3 - BUILDING BLOCKS Functions Methods First-class functions Capstone: Temperature tables Unit 4 - COLLECTIONS Arrayed in splendor Slices: Windows into arrays A bigger slice The ever-versatile map Capstone: A slice of life Unit 5 - STATE AND BEHAVIOR A little structure Go's got no class Composition and forwarding Interfaces Capstone: Martian animal sanctuary Unit 6 - DOWN THE GOPHER HOLE A few pointers Much ado about nil To err is human Capstone: Sudoku rules Unit 7 - CONCURRENT PROGRAMMING Goroutines and concurrency Concurrent state Capstone: Life on Mars

The world was too bright for Leo. And too loud. "I must be living on the wrong planet," Leo thought. Leo struggles to make sense of the world. He doesn't understand the other children in his class, and they don't seem to understand him. But then one day, Leo meets Maya. Maya is an octopus, and the more Leo learns about her, the more he thinks that perhaps he isn't alone in this world, after all. "The sensitive descriptions throughout the book of what it is like to have autism are accurate and perceptive on so many levels" (Professor Tony Attwood, author of Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals).