Tuesday, July 14, 2009

How did I miss that?

I don't know how I missed noticing that one of the living people in my list of famous autistic people, a Nobel Prize winner no less, has had an autobiography published. A quick search of the book on Amazon suggests that the author does write about Asperger syndrome. Professor Vernon L. Smith was a co-winner of the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002. In 2005 he spoke out publicly about having Asperger syndrome. I am grateful for the courage shown by the famous and not so famous people who have openly disclosed that they are, or suspect that they are, autistic. I believe this type of media coverage helps to remind the public that autistic people are real and unique individuals, not just faceless "patients" described in dusty old textbooks. Here are the details of Professor Smith's autobiography:

Smith, Vernon L. (2008) Discovery - a memoir. Author House, 2008.
http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Memoir-Vernon-L-Smith/dp/1434384314#

And more information about Prof. Vernon L. Smith:

Breit, William & Hirsch, Barry T. (2009) Lives of the laureates: twenty-three Nobel economists. 5th edition. MIT Press, 2009.
[Vernon L. Smith is one of the economists covered in this edition of this book of autobiographical essays.]

Herera, Sue (2005) Mild autism has ‘selective advantages’: Asperger syndrome can improve concentration. MSNBC.com. February 25 2005.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7030731/
[includes a link to a TV news story interview with Prof. Smith and his wife in which they discuss AS]


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