The Reason I Jump: one boy's voice from the silence of autism

Naoki Higashida was 13 when he wrote this book, a young Japanese boy with autism. Using a complicated (to my eyes) grid with Japanese characters he pointed to each one in order to indicate what he wanted to write. His focus is to explain autism from the inside, in order to let the rest of us - and presumably, most of all - those who have a child with autism, a sibling with autism, who teach children with autism - understand the supreme mismatch between what those of us who are not autistic see and mis-interpret and what people with autism feel. I came to this book because I am a great admirer of David Mitchell's writing, and thought initially this was a book BY Mitchell, before discovering it is a book translated by Mitchell and his wife, Keiko Yoshida, and with a foreword by Mitchell, in which, with typical intensity and precision, he guides the reader into an imaginative exercise to try to help us make the jump into an inside experience of autism. And yes, I found it bewildering and terrifying, which is rather the point Mitchell wants us to realise, before Naoki Higashida eloquently explains the rich, profound, tender complexity of his interior world. What Mitchell's foreword also reveals, again with the empathetic, compassionate humanity which is a hallmark of his writing, is that there is a back-story to this translation by Yoshida and Mitchell - they are the parents of an boy with autism. Mitchell himself invites the reader to feel humbled by Higashida - as the translator has been humbled - by being given a real understanding of how the autistic person really is, with an inner which may be even more vastly dissimilar from what the outsider SEES, than most of our structured `masks' of who we 'normals' are, have dissimilarity from the inner core and rich complexity of each of 'us'. The greatest myth we all believe about those with autism, is that they cannot feel or empathise with what `us normals' feel, and that they lack compassion. However, this 13 year old boy, who explains that he is speaking for others also, who are diagnosed as `autistic' shocked and humbled me by a profound and tender compassion FOR US, and for the world itself, particularly the natural world, that goes way beyond my own compassionate empathy. "One of the biggest misunderstandings you have about us is your belief that our feelings aren't as subtle and complex as yours. Because how we behave can appear so childish in your eyes, you tend to assume that we're childish on the inside too. But of course we experience the same emotions that you do" What is crystal clear, in this beautifully, gently explained book, is that we have failed to understand that it is not empathy that autistic people lack, it is the knowledge of the approved social forms and rituals to express this. We have (well, I have) mistaken the lack of external expression for a lack of internal feeling. I have only briefly encountered autism, when working many years ago with a child. I am pleased to see that some of my `instinctive' feelings about how to be with that child were right, but, oh, I missed so much. Higashida who says he wants to be a writer (Mitchell, truthfully, in his foreword, says - actually, he already IS one) - uses short questions as chapter headings, with the chapter content as answers. The questions are common ones which the non-autistic might have on observing the behaviours associated with autism, for example "Why do you ask the same questions over and over" "Why do you move your arms and legs about in that awkward way". Over and over again the insistent, but gentle plea is re-iterated by Higashida - stay with us, don't give up on us. Interspersed with the Q and A chapters are metaphorical stories, often to do with the natural world, and what might be called, philosophical and ethically inspired soulfulness. In truth, I was left with a sense that this young boy demonstrated a far better and more compassionate understanding of the nature of true empathy than I have. He is just unable to outwardly show it in a way which I, and others like me, might understand. The book is completed with beautiful illustrations, metaphors and abstract impressions, often using shapes and designs rather than realistic objects, to visually express a sense of the interior world. These are by "Kai and Sunny" illustrators whose work is included in the V + A's print archive collection, who have collaborated with Alexander McQueen and whose designs feature on the covers of several of Mitchell's books . "But to us people with special needs, nature is as important as our own lives. The reason is that when we look at nature, we receive a sort of permission to be alive in this world" I strongly recommend this deceptively simple, plainly written book

This book is just brilliant. I have two teenage children both with very complex autism, a daughter and a son. Over the years I have attempted to read some books - whether by 'experts' or other parents - on autism. The 'experts' books I have found not helpful as autism affects each person so uniquely and what the 'experts' say is often cold and difficult to personalise. I have found other parents books often quite depressing and have not managed to get passed the first few chapters. My experience with my children is my own journey - but my children are just the most amazing, courageous, beautiful people, and I kind of get tired seeing/reading negative things. These young people cope with so much, and this book by this young man is the first real honest insight into the thoughts and processes of autistic young people. Sometimes there aren't any answers to the questions that are posed, but that in itself is an insight. I feel I know my children so well, but there are things written which my children wouldn't be able to explain to me, but are totally applicable to them. I read some of the questions/answers to my son; he kept jumping up and down saying 'That's how it is. That's how I feel.' At one point he was moved to tears and just said 'Oh wow'. My son would never have been able to tell me those things himself but to hear it voiced by another young man, who has a similar life journey to my son, helped him tremendously. So I would say this book is not only invaluable to parents and carers, teachers and support staff. But mostly, I would say it is for other young autistic people themselves, it gives them an opportunity to explain to you what's applicable, what's the same, and opens up discussion on how things are for them. It brings the young person comfort to know that they aren't the only person feeling this way - especially as another young person has written it down. As I write this my daughter has just started to read the book and I'm sure she will draw huge comfort from it also. I cannot praise this book highly enough. It answers so many questions, some of which you may already know the answers, but also run deeper than that. My son is a rocker/flapper, echolaic, spins, food issues, very loud voice etc. And the explanation this young man gave to these questions opened up a new understanding, respect and appreciation. Yes I knew that for instance rocking and flapping is a sensory issue - but the way it is explained is a completely different level. Sorry for waffling on - but I cannot recommend this highly enough. The forward is written perfectly - explaining autism simply, to the point, and in a way which really hits home just how hard life is for our youngsters due to their inner turmoils. As much as their brings some heartache there is also a lot of hope, and that is what I hold on to for my two.

Naoki Higashida's personal memoir of sorts is an important work, made more precious by the fact that it is written when the author was thirteen years old and that he just happens to be autistic. Through a series of answers to questions that give a first person account of the condition, and a few creative pieces interspersed in between, this turns out to be much more than just an interview session, but rather, through Higashida's candid responses, an insight into his own individual quest to find his place in this world, and meaning in his life. He explains early on about how he manages to type out these words using an alphabet grid his mother invented: "What kept me hammering away at it was the thought that to live my life as a human being, nothing is more important than being able to express myself." His account attempts to be objective and that makes it all the more poignant as he requests the reader more than once to be patient with people like him. However, he is also clear about not wanting pity or to be a nuisance: "The hardest ordeal for us is the idea that we are causing grief for other people. We can put up with our own hardships okay, but the thought that our lives are the source of other people's unhappiness, that's plain unbearable." Along the way, there are also inevitable repetitive information about why people with autism repeat their actions, which is extremely telling and revealing about the author himself, which gives a sense of authenticity to the book. This is a wonderful book that teaches empathy for people who may be different from us, and I felt particularly moved by the last creative piece at the end of the book. It effectively summed up the author's inner world, and how he feels.

Incredibly powerful book that has strengthened my knowledge of autism further.

Amazing, very emotional explanation of autism through the eyes of autistic child.

This is a great book to be written by someone of any age and the fact that it is written by a 13 year old is amazing. The book reads like a FAQ of questions that anybody especially a parent of children with Autism or Asperger Syndrome have asked/shouted at their children about why they keep doing certain things. I bought this book after a particularly heated argument with my 8 year old. this book did help at the very least it told me that many of the things I questions e.g. "Why do you keep doing the same thing after I have told you a million times not to?". Yes all kids do this but is Autistic and AS children seem to take it to another level. In between questions we are threated to a couple of short stories written by Naoki. these are great and remember the boy was only 13 when he wrote this book. It shows that creative writing is definitely Naoki's outlet and wrenches at my heart that such a creative and intelligent boy has so much problem communicating verbally or in person. Two thing to remember about this book. Everyone with Autism or AS is different, but they do share many traits, so as insightful as Naoki's views are for himself might now apply to all children/people. However it does offer a first hand perspective which is otherwise unheard of. the other is the message/theme that Naoki is trying to get across. "DON'T GIVE UP ON US". Yes they might keep doing the same thing when they are told not to, but you still have to keep telling them not to till maybe on the ten million and one time it might get through to the child then they know it for life. As Naoki points out they might not look like it but they are learning slowly but surely they are. This book is a great insight into a great and creative mind that has been trapped inside a body with fewer outlets then are available to the rest of us, however with patience and understand many other children could be allowed to find their own outlet and unleash their ideas on the world.

A very insightful read delving into the mind of one autistic boy and how he sees the world. Had I read this a few years ago when my autistic son was a baby, I think it would have had far more impact but, since I am autistic myself, it felt a little slow for my tastes. If you want more insight into the life and mind of a young person with autism and don’t have much of an understanding of what it is like to be autistic this book will probably be full of revelations for you. It is written in the simplistic style of a younger person which is very easy to understand and it is a good starting point to diving into autism and how those living with it tend to feel and see the world. I would recommend reading it and then diving even deeper into other literature about those on the autistic spectrum to get a greater insight into what we feel and experience.

This book gives an exceptional insight into the experience of autism from the point of view of the person who is autistic. The author, Naoki Higashida, is obviously very intelligent and his explanations of his behaviour throw an inspiring light on what is happening inside the autistic person; it is incredibly interesting and moving, as well as being educational for anyone living with, or teaching someone with autism. None of us could possibly imagine the experience of the autistic person, as their perception of the world is so very different from ours. This book is so enlightening, and also made me consider how extraordinary the so called 'normal' person is: to be able to find the right words at the right time, to be able to control our body as we wish, and to be able to respond appropriately when necessary - all of which the autistic person cannot do. It's not that they don't want to, it's that they simply cannot. All of this is explained very clearly by Naoki, who, incredibly, was only thirteen when he wrote this book. I would certainly recommend this beautiful book. I think it should be read by everyone, and anyone, interested in increasing their understanding of others.

This book was an eye opener to ways my child with autism may be thinking. It’s well written and a good read if you have a family member who is non verbal.

What makes this book really so special and unique is that it is written by a person with autism. Not by an expert or a doctor. This book tells you why people with autism do certain things at certain times or in certain situations, how they see the world, and how they are actually not so different from the rest of us as to how they feel about things in general etc... This is a real eye opener. To be honest I wasn't so interested in this book at first but after reading some reviews of the book, I thought I had to read it. And the next thing I knew I had a copy in my hand. At first I couldn't even believe that it was written by a person with autism but after a while on You Tube I watched some documentary programs about Higashida Naoki, the author of the book, which convinced me that it really was written by him and that he really was a person with autism. The book has been so popular around the world now because it's such a special book written by a person with autism. You can study autism, you can read books on autism and you can deal with people with autism but you can never know what it's really like unless you are one with autism. It's a bit like "Autobiography of yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda, a book about a saint written by a real saint himself. Which makes the book so special. Anyway this book written by Higashida totally changed my idea of autism and people with autism. Autism may seem difficult to figure out but if you read this book, you'll know they are actually in a way not so different from the rest of us. They do look different but they are not different inside. Think about it, what if your legs and arms move against your will sometimes all of a sudden and you can't really control that? What if you yell and scream all of a sudden when you don't want to and you can't stop it from happening even if you want to? What if your body is beyond your control? And people around you think you are "different" just because of all those things? You just have no control over your body and what you do sometimes. You can read books and understand but you can't talk. You can talk inside you but are not able to communicate with others with words. As soon as you try to say something or anything aloud or put your words out of your mouth, your words just vanish. And people around you believe that you don't feel or think the same way they do but of course you do. This is a wonderful book, indeed. Only, it is to be regretted that the English version is not as wonderful as the original Higashida Naoki wrote in Japanese. I recommend the original Japanese version.

Que livro esclarecedor! Incrível ter a oportunidade de conhecer um pouco sobre um mundo a parte do que vivo no dia a dia. É uma benção poder que quer brar paradigmas.

I originally bought this book as a gift for a dear friend who is an amazing mother navigating a long, challenging recovery journey with her child. Before gifting it, I read most of it myself, and it completely shifted my perspective on neurodivergent and special needs children. This book beautifully reveals that their world is simply different from ours, and we cannot force them to constantly adapt to fit into our expectations. While we might look from the outside and assume they are suffering or "unhealthy," the author shows that they can be incredibly happy and at peace in their own world—they don't view themselves the way society does. It is a deeply moving, comforting book that brings immense hope. It reminded me that miracles do happen. If you know a parent walking a similar path, or if you just want to understand these wonderful children better, I highly recommend this read.

Brilliant. I'd recommend for anyone who has autistic people in their lives.