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On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity
2022 Book of the Year Award, Academy of Parish Clergy
Nearly everyone knows someone on the autism spectrum, whether it's a niece or nephew, a student in their classroom, a coworker, or a sibling, spouse, or child. One in 54 children has autism, according to the CDC, and autism is reported across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Yet most of what people think they know about autism is wrong.
On the Spectrum debunks myths with a realistic yet hope-filled deep dive into the heart, mind, and life of a Christian. Daniel Bowman, a novelist, poet, and professor, received an autism diagnosis at age thirty-five after experiencing crises in his personal and professional life. The diagnosis shed light on his experience in a new, life-giving way. In this captivating book, Bowman reveals new insights into autism, relationships, faith, and the gift of neurodiversity.
Rather than viewing autism as a deficiency, Bowman teaches readers--through stories of his heartbreaks and triumphs--authentic ways to love their neighbors as themselves, including their autistic neighbors who are fearfully and wonderfully, if differently, made.
Nearly everyone knows someone on the autism spectrum, whether it's a niece or nephew, a student in their classroom, a coworker, or a sibling, spouse, or child. One in 54 children has autism, according to the CDC, and autism is reported across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Yet most of what people think they know about autism is wrong.
On the Spectrum debunks myths with a realistic yet hope-filled deep dive into the heart, mind, and life of a Christian. Daniel Bowman, a novelist, poet, and professor, received an autism diagnosis at age thirty-five after experiencing crises in his personal and professional life. The diagnosis shed light on his experience in a new, life-giving way. In this captivating book, Bowman reveals new insights into autism, relationships, faith, and the gift of neurodiversity.
Rather than viewing autism as a deficiency, Bowman teaches readers--through stories of his heartbreaks and triumphs--authentic ways to love their neighbors as themselves, including their autistic neighbors who are fearfully and wonderfully, if differently, made.
253 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2021
125 people are currently reading
3173 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Bowman Jr.
7 books114 followersDaniel Bowman Jr. is the author of A PLUM TREE IN LEATHERSTOCKING COUNTRY (Virtual Artists Collective, 2012) and ON THE SPECTRUM: AUTISM, FAITH, & THE GIFTS OF NEURODIVERSITY.
His poems and essays have appeared in The Adirondack Review, American Poetry Journal, Art House America, The Bitter Oleander, Books & Culture, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, Istanbul Literary Review, The Midwest Quarterly, The Other Journal, Redactions: Poetry & Poetics, Rio Grande Review, Seneca Review, Volume 1 Brooklyn, and many others. He recently completed his first YA novel, THE AUTISM JOURNALS.
A native New Yorker, he lives in central Indiana with his wife Beth and their two children, and teaches creative writing at Taylor University.
His poems and essays have appeared in The Adirondack Review, American Poetry Journal, Art House America, The Bitter Oleander, Books & Culture, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, Istanbul Literary Review, The Midwest Quarterly, The Other Journal, Redactions: Poetry & Poetics, Rio Grande Review, Seneca Review, Volume 1 Brooklyn, and many others. He recently completed his first YA novel, THE AUTISM JOURNALS.
A native New Yorker, he lives in central Indiana with his wife Beth and their two children, and teaches creative writing at Taylor University.
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June 12, 2024
Although I’m not especially fond of nonfiction (by which I mean, I usually avoid it), I decided to request On the Spectrum by Daniel Bowman Jr., from NetGalley. The publisher provided me a free Advanced Reader ebook in exchange for this review.
The book interested me because of its description, which had to do with viewing the gift of autism through a Christian lens. I am a Christian who has recently been (self) diagnosed with Autism— specifically, Aspergers, which is now identified, instead as being “on the spectrum.” Like the author and others referenced in the book, the diagnosis has brought a lot of clarity for me.
When I began the book, I was intrigued to learn that Bowman, like myself, was diagnosed in adulthood. He self-diagnosed and then received a professional diagnosis, while in his thirties. Bowman’s description of this process, which was often uncomfortable for him, reminds me of my own discomfort speaking with a psychiatry grad student (as part of a Psychology course when I was an undergrad). Indeed, one of the aspects of the book that I most enjoyed was its relatability. Bowman places strong emphasis on the need for #ownvoices in Autistic representation and, as an Aspie, myself, I was able to commiserate with many of his recountings of personal experience. Because I’m new to the diagnosis, I also enjoyed one or two personal “aha” moments, where I realized that certain personality traits of mine (which I hadn’t yet connected with Autism), were linked to autism.
At the same time, Bowman emphasizes throughout that his experience is not the autism experience. Repeatedly, Bowman writes, “If you’ve met one autistic person… you’ve met one autistic person,” bucking flat stereotypes of what it means to be autistic.
When he does reference traits shared by those with the autistic “operating system” (I really liked this analogy), he advocates for a shift away from the pathology paradigm, which describes autistic traits as deficits. Bowman acknowledges the many differences between neurotypicals and neurodivergents (a term which encompasses other learning differences, such as ADHD), but emphasizes that autists aren’t lacking.
This is a major theme throughout the text, which is comprised of essays: The idea that neurodivergents have unique skill sets to share with the world, and shouldn’t be expected to play by the rules of the neurotypical system. Referencing eye contact, for instance, Bowman mentions instances when people have shut him out of conversations because of his lack of eye contact. Bowman argues that this treatment is unfair because it penalizes autistic people who are unable to pick up/ demonstrate these basic social skills. As an autist, I feel that it is important to think about how our social behaviors, or lack thereof, are affecting the other person. While social situations may present additional challenges, I believe I am accountable for how my behaviors affect another person.
Bowman references the tension between the need to adapt to one’s environment (in the context of neurotypical society), while also seeking to be understood, writing, “I’m drawn to this balanced view.” Throughout the text, Bowman does address both sides of the scale, leaning more heavily toward the adaptation angle in the introduction and emphasizing grace and understanding throughout the majority of the text. For this reason, passages pertaining to the challenges (and potential pitfalls) of autism particularly resonated with me. For instance, Bowman notes that, in his interactions with his wife, his need for safety and stability may overreach to the point of attempting to control her. Insights like these were very important, to me, in the reading, because, even as I embrace the ways that God has made me beautifully unique (even my brain looks different than a neurotypical brain!), I also do not want to use autism as an excuse for bad behavior. At the same time, I find that it is valuable for me to recognize that I am dealing with challenges that others are not facing, and to give myself grace for that. With that said, as an autist, I think I would have liked to have seen a little bit more emphasis placed on how our tendencies affect others. HOWEVER, I do not think this was the author’s purpose, given that (I suspect) there is a lot of material already written on this topic. Plus, I think that this book was written more for neurotypicals than for those on the spectrum.
In that sense, I believe Bowman accomplished what he set out to do: to “make some sense of” his life, in a way that is “useful” to the audience. Bowman does not claim to have “arrived,” and provides personal narrative that is vulnerable and (in my case) relatable. His transparency is truly commendable, as well as empowering. Having read this work, I feel that I can lend my voice and experiences to the autistic community, without being afraid of misrepresenting it. I am “one” autistic person, and like Bowman says, do not claim to represent the entire community.
Highlights
• I especially related to Bowman’s descriptions of the challenges of fellowship in a church setting. This was one of my favorite essays
• Likewise, the essay on serving in the body of Christ, which touched on feelings of guilt as a Christian, was relatable and helpful for me.
• My other favorite essay was about the parable of the tares. Bowman quotes commentary about the Lord being the one to pull our weeds, which was a powerful statement for me. I think this may be my biggest takeaway from the book
Overall Impression:
The book was not what I expected it to be. Based on the subtitle, I thought that the book would be geared more toward autists, rather than neurotypicals. I was expecting to read more about how autistic people bring specific contributions to society. Instead, the book seemed geared toward neurotypicals who are seeking greater insight into the life of an autistic person. However, this is made pretty clear in the introductory material, and I believe that the book does achieve its stated end. I do really like that this is packaged as reflections from one person in the community, providing insight into the community without claiming to speak for everyone.
The author described autists as a marginalized people group, likening us to persons of color and members of the LGBTQ community. Bowman is progressive in his opinions and advocacy and I resonated with his comparison between autism and race. I strongly disagree with any comparison to the LGBT community. I recommend this book for its insight into what autism looks like, particularly with reference to creativity. I do not, however, agree with every belief the author espouses.
The book interested me because of its description, which had to do with viewing the gift of autism through a Christian lens. I am a Christian who has recently been (self) diagnosed with Autism— specifically, Aspergers, which is now identified, instead as being “on the spectrum.” Like the author and others referenced in the book, the diagnosis has brought a lot of clarity for me.
When I began the book, I was intrigued to learn that Bowman, like myself, was diagnosed in adulthood. He self-diagnosed and then received a professional diagnosis, while in his thirties. Bowman’s description of this process, which was often uncomfortable for him, reminds me of my own discomfort speaking with a psychiatry grad student (as part of a Psychology course when I was an undergrad). Indeed, one of the aspects of the book that I most enjoyed was its relatability. Bowman places strong emphasis on the need for #ownvoices in Autistic representation and, as an Aspie, myself, I was able to commiserate with many of his recountings of personal experience. Because I’m new to the diagnosis, I also enjoyed one or two personal “aha” moments, where I realized that certain personality traits of mine (which I hadn’t yet connected with Autism), were linked to autism.
At the same time, Bowman emphasizes throughout that his experience is not the autism experience. Repeatedly, Bowman writes, “If you’ve met one autistic person… you’ve met one autistic person,” bucking flat stereotypes of what it means to be autistic.
When he does reference traits shared by those with the autistic “operating system” (I really liked this analogy), he advocates for a shift away from the pathology paradigm, which describes autistic traits as deficits. Bowman acknowledges the many differences between neurotypicals and neurodivergents (a term which encompasses other learning differences, such as ADHD), but emphasizes that autists aren’t lacking.
This is a major theme throughout the text, which is comprised of essays: The idea that neurodivergents have unique skill sets to share with the world, and shouldn’t be expected to play by the rules of the neurotypical system. Referencing eye contact, for instance, Bowman mentions instances when people have shut him out of conversations because of his lack of eye contact. Bowman argues that this treatment is unfair because it penalizes autistic people who are unable to pick up/ demonstrate these basic social skills. As an autist, I feel that it is important to think about how our social behaviors, or lack thereof, are affecting the other person. While social situations may present additional challenges, I believe I am accountable for how my behaviors affect another person.
Bowman references the tension between the need to adapt to one’s environment (in the context of neurotypical society), while also seeking to be understood, writing, “I’m drawn to this balanced view.” Throughout the text, Bowman does address both sides of the scale, leaning more heavily toward the adaptation angle in the introduction and emphasizing grace and understanding throughout the majority of the text. For this reason, passages pertaining to the challenges (and potential pitfalls) of autism particularly resonated with me. For instance, Bowman notes that, in his interactions with his wife, his need for safety and stability may overreach to the point of attempting to control her. Insights like these were very important, to me, in the reading, because, even as I embrace the ways that God has made me beautifully unique (even my brain looks different than a neurotypical brain!), I also do not want to use autism as an excuse for bad behavior. At the same time, I find that it is valuable for me to recognize that I am dealing with challenges that others are not facing, and to give myself grace for that. With that said, as an autist, I think I would have liked to have seen a little bit more emphasis placed on how our tendencies affect others. HOWEVER, I do not think this was the author’s purpose, given that (I suspect) there is a lot of material already written on this topic. Plus, I think that this book was written more for neurotypicals than for those on the spectrum.
In that sense, I believe Bowman accomplished what he set out to do: to “make some sense of” his life, in a way that is “useful” to the audience. Bowman does not claim to have “arrived,” and provides personal narrative that is vulnerable and (in my case) relatable. His transparency is truly commendable, as well as empowering. Having read this work, I feel that I can lend my voice and experiences to the autistic community, without being afraid of misrepresenting it. I am “one” autistic person, and like Bowman says, do not claim to represent the entire community.
Highlights
• I especially related to Bowman’s descriptions of the challenges of fellowship in a church setting. This was one of my favorite essays
• Likewise, the essay on serving in the body of Christ, which touched on feelings of guilt as a Christian, was relatable and helpful for me.
• My other favorite essay was about the parable of the tares. Bowman quotes commentary about the Lord being the one to pull our weeds, which was a powerful statement for me. I think this may be my biggest takeaway from the book
Overall Impression:
The book was not what I expected it to be. Based on the subtitle, I thought that the book would be geared more toward autists, rather than neurotypicals. I was expecting to read more about how autistic people bring specific contributions to society. Instead, the book seemed geared toward neurotypicals who are seeking greater insight into the life of an autistic person. However, this is made pretty clear in the introductory material, and I believe that the book does achieve its stated end. I do really like that this is packaged as reflections from one person in the community, providing insight into the community without claiming to speak for everyone.
The author described autists as a marginalized people group, likening us to persons of color and members of the LGBTQ community. Bowman is progressive in his opinions and advocacy and I resonated with his comparison between autism and race. I strongly disagree with any comparison to the LGBT community. I recommend this book for its insight into what autism looks like, particularly with reference to creativity. I do not, however, agree with every belief the author espouses.
October 26, 2021
On the Spectrum is the bringing together of various blogposts Bowman wrote as he navigated his autism diagnosis and reflected on how his autism affects his life today and how it affected his childhood-- albeit he wasn't diagnosed until he was 35.
I did appreciate Bowman's point of view-- and emphasis-- on the fact that he is not the "typical" autistic of the tech, math, and/or science realm, but an autistic of the arts, specifically creative writing and teaching. I was disappointed, though, in how little the faith aspect is brought up. There was one sliver of a chapter that covered how autistic people need to be accommodated as volunteers in the church, but I was expecting the whole book to be about that. I was hoping to be able to give this book to my pastor as a way to say, "I want to volunteer, but I have limits and parameters; please take them-- and me-- seriously."
I did appreciate Bowman's point of view-- and emphasis-- on the fact that he is not the "typical" autistic of the tech, math, and/or science realm, but an autistic of the arts, specifically creative writing and teaching. I was disappointed, though, in how little the faith aspect is brought up. There was one sliver of a chapter that covered how autistic people need to be accommodated as volunteers in the church, but I was expecting the whole book to be about that. I was hoping to be able to give this book to my pastor as a way to say, "I want to volunteer, but I have limits and parameters; please take them-- and me-- seriously."
April 26, 2021
I made it a point to get this one in during #AutismAcceptanceMonth, even though it doesn't actually release until August.
This is apparently officially a "collection of essays", but the organization works such that it never feels disjointed, as other efforts of this vein I've read tend to do. But that could just be my own #ActuallyAutistic mind working similarly to Bowman's.
If you've ever heard of the late great Rachel Held Evans, and particularly if you like her style, you're going to enjoy this particular book. Bowman has a roughly similar background to Evans (and thus even rougher similar to myself) in that he has experience in the Baptist church and now finds himself in a more progressive mainline church, and in both of their cases are more academic-oriented to boot. Thus, even while explaining his own version of the intersection of faith and Autism - and on being Autistic more generally, but through that lens - his words really do evoke the same kinds of tones Evans' work did.
This was enjoyable for me due to the *lack* of constant "Autistics need government intervention" diatribes that so many books make their central point of Autism - even from among fellow Autistics (such as Eric Garcia's We're Not Broken, which publishes a week earlier and which, IIRC, I posted about here roughly a month ago). Instead, Bowman's life and thoughts flow more closely to my own, with key community members becoming mentors over the eras and helping him naturally become all that he now is.
Indeed, if I have a criticism of the book - and I do, though it isn't large enough for a star deduction - it is the emphasis on an "official" Autism diagnosis. I trust docs as much as I trust politicians these days - which is to say, I don't trust them to accurately tell me the color of the noontime cloudless sky, and verify it myself. And one does not need someone else to dictate a word based on their own understanding of it, particularly when that person isn't even living with the thing in question. And this ignores the very real, sometimes very negative, real world repercussions of having such an "official" label.
Still, for anyone interested in knowing more about what life is really like as an Autistic, this truly is one of the better books I've come across in my own readings. Very much recommended.
This is apparently officially a "collection of essays", but the organization works such that it never feels disjointed, as other efforts of this vein I've read tend to do. But that could just be my own #ActuallyAutistic mind working similarly to Bowman's.
If you've ever heard of the late great Rachel Held Evans, and particularly if you like her style, you're going to enjoy this particular book. Bowman has a roughly similar background to Evans (and thus even rougher similar to myself) in that he has experience in the Baptist church and now finds himself in a more progressive mainline church, and in both of their cases are more academic-oriented to boot. Thus, even while explaining his own version of the intersection of faith and Autism - and on being Autistic more generally, but through that lens - his words really do evoke the same kinds of tones Evans' work did.
This was enjoyable for me due to the *lack* of constant "Autistics need government intervention" diatribes that so many books make their central point of Autism - even from among fellow Autistics (such as Eric Garcia's We're Not Broken, which publishes a week earlier and which, IIRC, I posted about here roughly a month ago). Instead, Bowman's life and thoughts flow more closely to my own, with key community members becoming mentors over the eras and helping him naturally become all that he now is.
Indeed, if I have a criticism of the book - and I do, though it isn't large enough for a star deduction - it is the emphasis on an "official" Autism diagnosis. I trust docs as much as I trust politicians these days - which is to say, I don't trust them to accurately tell me the color of the noontime cloudless sky, and verify it myself. And one does not need someone else to dictate a word based on their own understanding of it, particularly when that person isn't even living with the thing in question. And this ignores the very real, sometimes very negative, real world repercussions of having such an "official" label.
Still, for anyone interested in knowing more about what life is really like as an Autistic, this truly is one of the better books I've come across in my own readings. Very much recommended.
July 30, 2021
With thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a series of short #ownvoices pieces about autism, faith and life. Like Bowman, I am autistic. We are both creative types. We were both diagnosed as adults. Nonetheless, I’ve read a lot of nonsense about autism in my time, so Bowman was going to have to work to win me over.
He did.
I must admit, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book when I first picked it up. I had some difficulty connecting with the rather roundabout and metaphorical approach to language. Bowman will suddenly meander off into talking about cornfields, or his favourite shirt, or a tree – but he’s a poet, so he gets a pass on that one. It does always come back to a point about autism. I think this might make it a love-or-hate book for many. If you think that’s the kind of thing that might put you off, it probably will.
It’s a relatively short book but it’s by no means an easy read. It’s challenging for two reasons. First, Bowman will force you to think, pulling in novels, poems, Christian scripture, and philosophy in order to make his point. Secondly, if you’re not autistic, you’re probably going to have to re-evaluate what you’ve always thought about autism in a way that might be uncomfortable. Nothing said here is revolutionary. Most of it has been shouted from the rooftops by other autistic people, including myself. Another autistic voice is always welcome on this roof, though.
There are a few little slip-ups (yes, the average life expectancy for autistic people is thirty-six years, but that’s largely because of common comorbid conditions like severe epilepsy, which can be fatal in themselves.) But there’s so much that is relatable. I cringed along with him when he talked about people touching him unexpectedly, the backhanded compliments, the “but why aren’t you, a real person, more like [fictional character written by a neurotypical person]?” I didn’t connect so well with the section about faith and autism, but it’s right there in the title so it’s not like it was unexpected. I’m sure those essays will be of value to many; they just didn’t do much for me.
The most interesting part was the interview section in the final quarter of the book. In this section, Bowman doesn’t just talk about how autistic people think, but directly reveals it. Over and over, he answers the exact question he is asked, which is not necessarily the question the interviewer thought they were asking. When the interviewer clearly expects a broad answer (a more neurotypical way of thinking) Bowman begins by narrowing down to a fine point and being clear about what he is and isn’t speaking about: there is no one answer. This is how what you’ve said relates to me, and me only.
That aspect really spoke to me. On the one hand, answering the exact question you’re asked gets you good grades on essays. On the other, you get called impolite constantly for some reason.
This book is a precise and specific exploration of exactly one autistic person’s life, and is clear that it doesn’t claim to be anything else, even if some of the experiences within have far broader connotations. If you want to understand more about autism than you did before, read the thoughts of this Bowman chap. He’s smart and eloquent. And then keep reading.
This book is a series of short #ownvoices pieces about autism, faith and life. Like Bowman, I am autistic. We are both creative types. We were both diagnosed as adults. Nonetheless, I’ve read a lot of nonsense about autism in my time, so Bowman was going to have to work to win me over.
He did.
I must admit, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book when I first picked it up. I had some difficulty connecting with the rather roundabout and metaphorical approach to language. Bowman will suddenly meander off into talking about cornfields, or his favourite shirt, or a tree – but he’s a poet, so he gets a pass on that one. It does always come back to a point about autism. I think this might make it a love-or-hate book for many. If you think that’s the kind of thing that might put you off, it probably will.
It’s a relatively short book but it’s by no means an easy read. It’s challenging for two reasons. First, Bowman will force you to think, pulling in novels, poems, Christian scripture, and philosophy in order to make his point. Secondly, if you’re not autistic, you’re probably going to have to re-evaluate what you’ve always thought about autism in a way that might be uncomfortable. Nothing said here is revolutionary. Most of it has been shouted from the rooftops by other autistic people, including myself. Another autistic voice is always welcome on this roof, though.
There are a few little slip-ups (yes, the average life expectancy for autistic people is thirty-six years, but that’s largely because of common comorbid conditions like severe epilepsy, which can be fatal in themselves.) But there’s so much that is relatable. I cringed along with him when he talked about people touching him unexpectedly, the backhanded compliments, the “but why aren’t you, a real person, more like [fictional character written by a neurotypical person]?” I didn’t connect so well with the section about faith and autism, but it’s right there in the title so it’s not like it was unexpected. I’m sure those essays will be of value to many; they just didn’t do much for me.
The most interesting part was the interview section in the final quarter of the book. In this section, Bowman doesn’t just talk about how autistic people think, but directly reveals it. Over and over, he answers the exact question he is asked, which is not necessarily the question the interviewer thought they were asking. When the interviewer clearly expects a broad answer (a more neurotypical way of thinking) Bowman begins by narrowing down to a fine point and being clear about what he is and isn’t speaking about: there is no one answer. This is how what you’ve said relates to me, and me only.
That aspect really spoke to me. On the one hand, answering the exact question you’re asked gets you good grades on essays. On the other, you get called impolite constantly for some reason.
This book is a precise and specific exploration of exactly one autistic person’s life, and is clear that it doesn’t claim to be anything else, even if some of the experiences within have far broader connotations. If you want to understand more about autism than you did before, read the thoughts of this Bowman chap. He’s smart and eloquent. And then keep reading.
November 3, 2023
This book was a collection of essays by an autistic Christian author. It is really incredibly hard to rate because much of the book’s value comes from this third-wall breaking fact that the author is, in a sense, not only the main character, but the theme. When I liked or did not like something, could I perceive that fact as I normally do when reading (at face value), or is that feature of the book itself part of what makes the book a valuable contribution to understanding neurodiverse individuals?
Unbelievably, the issue above was not even the most complicated aspect of this book for me. The author’s own autism diagnosis left me unsure of how to process anything I read. I once read about a professor who self-identified as having turrets and argued that though her tick was voluntarily, she was disabled just like someone with an involuntary tick. In other words, there is a slippery slope when we make disabilities subjective. Unfortunately, Autism pairs incredibly well with a subjective view of disability because it is complicated and occurs on a spectrum. Unlike deafness or Downs, it has a plasticity that can be exploited in the hands of certain intellectuals.
I am NOT trying to say that the author was just blowing smoke about being Autistic, but I do think that perhaps he goes a step too far in his suggestion that his experience is representative of the typical disabled experience. He essentially had a breakdown in his marriage and mental health as an adult, and sought out why this might have occurred. He began reading about autism and suspected he might be on the spectrum. He saw multiple psychologists who were unwilling to confirm his suspicion, but eventually, to his relief, one did (and according to the associated criteria for diagnosis I began to think that I may also be on the spectrum - a thought I have played with before but believe to be untrue).
There is nothing invalid or dishonest about his experience, but it did not provide for the read that I was hoping for based on this books title and subtitle. I was hoping to learn about the way the Church might better love, celebrate, and embrace neurodiversity. Instead I got memoir style essays from a man who diagnosed himself with autism as an adult. BUT, then again, maybe the way I love, celebrate, and embrace neurodiversity is to accept that when it comes to neurodiverse individuals, you see beauty in not getting what you planned for.
Finally, as with any collection of essays, some were 2-star, and some were 5-star. There was one essay on the language we use when we talk about Autistic people that I found incredibly helpful and Illuminating. For sure an interesting read, and quite well written, but it just wasn’t the read I was looking for given the book’s description and subtitle.
Unbelievably, the issue above was not even the most complicated aspect of this book for me. The author’s own autism diagnosis left me unsure of how to process anything I read. I once read about a professor who self-identified as having turrets and argued that though her tick was voluntarily, she was disabled just like someone with an involuntary tick. In other words, there is a slippery slope when we make disabilities subjective. Unfortunately, Autism pairs incredibly well with a subjective view of disability because it is complicated and occurs on a spectrum. Unlike deafness or Downs, it has a plasticity that can be exploited in the hands of certain intellectuals.
I am NOT trying to say that the author was just blowing smoke about being Autistic, but I do think that perhaps he goes a step too far in his suggestion that his experience is representative of the typical disabled experience. He essentially had a breakdown in his marriage and mental health as an adult, and sought out why this might have occurred. He began reading about autism and suspected he might be on the spectrum. He saw multiple psychologists who were unwilling to confirm his suspicion, but eventually, to his relief, one did (and according to the associated criteria for diagnosis I began to think that I may also be on the spectrum - a thought I have played with before but believe to be untrue).
There is nothing invalid or dishonest about his experience, but it did not provide for the read that I was hoping for based on this books title and subtitle. I was hoping to learn about the way the Church might better love, celebrate, and embrace neurodiversity. Instead I got memoir style essays from a man who diagnosed himself with autism as an adult. BUT, then again, maybe the way I love, celebrate, and embrace neurodiversity is to accept that when it comes to neurodiverse individuals, you see beauty in not getting what you planned for.
Finally, as with any collection of essays, some were 2-star, and some were 5-star. There was one essay on the language we use when we talk about Autistic people that I found incredibly helpful and Illuminating. For sure an interesting read, and quite well written, but it just wasn’t the read I was looking for given the book’s description and subtitle.
March 4, 2023
Yikes. Where do I begin. I'm 50 years old and, in the last few years, have begun to suspect I have Aspergers. Seeing this book at my local Mardel's I was intrigued to read about other Christian adults who have found themselves in the same situation. Especially when I read that it was from the perspective of a writer seeing as I'm an artist. His description of symptoms does make me more certain I have it, and while I became a bit suspicious when the author mentioned he was a 'Progressive Episcopalian', I felt I should give him the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, it became what I feared. A liberal/progressive/whateveryouwishtocallit treatise about how autism isn't some kind of disability. Just a different 'way of thinking'. The author almost seems to take pride in his autism and seems to expect normal people to go out of their way to adapt to HIM in everyday life. But that isn't how the world works. The majority is never going to adapt to fit the minority. Believe me, I know. I've dealt with the symptoms my whole life and was told, 'you're just going to have to get over that'. I think I've finally just become numbed to it. Like my emotional 'nerve endings' have been cauterized. The book also seemed very narcissistic. One whole chapter was devoted to a history of the authors family. I'm still not sure why. And the three interviews were other people interviewing the author! After 200 pages about him! There was very little about his faith in it. Except when he decided to dump on other Christian authors to distance himself from them in a cowardly attack. Everything else about his faith was more new-agey than Christian and had plenty of current buzzwords to fit in with progressive christianity. All in all, a very disappointing book.
December 31, 2021
Full disclosure: I'm friends with Dan. And I can objectively say this is a wonderful book. My little brother is autistic, so over the last 20 years since his diagnosis I've read many books on autism, most from the perspective of parents, but some memoirs of individuals on the spectrum. Dan's book is unique because it's story, advice, and inspiration written across multiple essays. The included interviews were also helpful--one can see the questions neurotypical people often ask, and the questions that neurodivergent people (often) want to be answering instead. One reviewer called this a book more for neurotypical readers, which I can see now that I've finished it. I hope this is a subject Dan keeps writing on--clearly he has much to say.
Also, someone needs to publish his YA novel ( mentioned in this book) ASAP!
Also, someone needs to publish his YA novel ( mentioned in this book) ASAP!
July 20, 2024
DNF @ 25%
It’s just not what I’m looking for.
It’s just not what I’m looking for.
Read
September 30, 2024I am not rating this book because I did not finish the book. I read *some* of the book. (I'll detail which chapters in a bit.) This is not a proper review. It is a partial review of what I did read. It is not meant to reflect the book as a whole because I did not finish the whole book.
On the Spectrum is a collection of essays written by an autistic poet who is a practicing progressive Episcopalian, a husband, a father, a lover of literature. (Personally, I thought he came across as a literary snob. But to each his own. Seriously. Love whatever authors you love. No judgment. His tastes aren't my taste from what little I read, however, again to each his own.)
The essays I read include: "Autism and the Church" (8 pages); "Service and the Spectrum" (12 pages); "The Insidious Nature of Bad Christian Stories" (8 pages).
Are those three essays enough to judge the book as a whole? NO. Of course not. That's why this is NOT a proper review. It was enough for me to taste and see that this book was not what I wanted. It would be horribly unfair to judge a book based on what it isn't. What the book is: Personal memoirs in the form of a collection of essays written by a man whose first love is poetry and *literature*.
Essays are not my typical read. I didn't understand that this is what the book is, a collection of essays. So while I was expecting the traditional format/structure of more traditional Christian nonfiction or christian living or dare I say even theology, this is a collection of personal essays. I think the subtitle is slightly misleading in that it doesn't really clarify that this is a book of essays.
Poetry is not my typical read either. Even though the book is not a book of poetry, you can't take the poet out of his writing style, his narrative. And that's not a bad thing, it's an authentic to himself thing.
Personal memoir. I believe that it would be safe to say that ALL of the essays are personal.
It isn't that faith is completely and totally absent from this one. It isn't. But based on the subtitle AND the fact that this is listed under the category or label Christian living, I was expecting another kind of book. I read chapters whose titles might indicate the presence of faith as a subject. It is entirely possible that other essays might reflect faith as well.
I will say that his faith--PROGRESSIVE EPISCOPALIAN--does not align with mine. He seems more likely to quote some of Oprah's favorite authors (in particular there were scores of Richard Rohr quotes If not scores, it felt like it. I only read a handful of essays but his name kept popping up. I just used the search feature to search, eleven times he is quoted and/or referenced)
"Autism and the Church" is an essay detailing the author's history with the church...the elements of church that were NOT working for him (though he couldn't quite put his finger on the why until his diagnosis) and his present experiences in his local church. One quote, "Since my diagnosis, I know I don't have to feel ashamed anymore. And that's perhaps the key takeaway I'd like to offer to fellow Christ followers: as you live and worship alongside your autistic neighbors, you can help free us from the shame we've carried." I think my favorite bit of this one was seeing how the Book of Common Prayer could be *extremely* comforting because of the structure and familiarity.
"Service and the Spectrum" is an essay all about BALANCE. How does one balance the need for self-preservation (taking care of one's self to avoid meltdowns and overwhelming the mind, the senses, etc.) with the need to "serve" the church and "bear fruit." This is a thought-provoking chapter with plenty of questions and one man's solution to those questions.
"The Insidious Nature of Bad Christian Stories" is an essay about how terrible, horrible, no good, very bad anything labeled "Christian" is. Which is perhaps slightly ironic since this one is I believe published by a Christian publisher. The main point of this one seems to be that the only good art is secular art. Are there bad Christian movies? Yes. But where I would disagree is the generality that ALL, no exceptions, are bad. It seems impossible to him that a good Christian movie could ever be made. But it isn't just films, he is criticizing anything and everything specifically "Christian." He first says that Christian art doesn't even deserve "serious critical attention" because obviously it is so poorly done and obviously bad. Actually the word he uses is CHILDISH.
It would be easier to evaluate if he'd lowered himself enough to comment with specifics instead of generalizing everything and condemning it one and all.
Christian works [be they art, movies, books, music] will always, always, always have haters. That's true enough. Even within Christian circles you will find haters that slam on Christian stuff. For better or worse. Again often condemning anything and everything in a generalized grouping. So while plenty of readers would probably agree with Bowman, I cannot. Because generalizations just don't work for me.
So this last essay I read was a big NO to me.
On the Spectrum is a collection of essays written by an autistic poet who is a practicing progressive Episcopalian, a husband, a father, a lover of literature. (Personally, I thought he came across as a literary snob. But to each his own. Seriously. Love whatever authors you love. No judgment. His tastes aren't my taste from what little I read, however, again to each his own.)
The essays I read include: "Autism and the Church" (8 pages); "Service and the Spectrum" (12 pages); "The Insidious Nature of Bad Christian Stories" (8 pages).
Are those three essays enough to judge the book as a whole? NO. Of course not. That's why this is NOT a proper review. It was enough for me to taste and see that this book was not what I wanted. It would be horribly unfair to judge a book based on what it isn't. What the book is: Personal memoirs in the form of a collection of essays written by a man whose first love is poetry and *literature*.
Essays are not my typical read. I didn't understand that this is what the book is, a collection of essays. So while I was expecting the traditional format/structure of more traditional Christian nonfiction or christian living or dare I say even theology, this is a collection of personal essays. I think the subtitle is slightly misleading in that it doesn't really clarify that this is a book of essays.
Poetry is not my typical read either. Even though the book is not a book of poetry, you can't take the poet out of his writing style, his narrative. And that's not a bad thing, it's an authentic to himself thing.
Personal memoir. I believe that it would be safe to say that ALL of the essays are personal.
It isn't that faith is completely and totally absent from this one. It isn't. But based on the subtitle AND the fact that this is listed under the category or label Christian living, I was expecting another kind of book. I read chapters whose titles might indicate the presence of faith as a subject. It is entirely possible that other essays might reflect faith as well.
I will say that his faith--PROGRESSIVE EPISCOPALIAN--does not align with mine. He seems more likely to quote some of Oprah's favorite authors (in particular there were scores of Richard Rohr quotes If not scores, it felt like it. I only read a handful of essays but his name kept popping up. I just used the search feature to search, eleven times he is quoted and/or referenced)
"Autism and the Church" is an essay detailing the author's history with the church...the elements of church that were NOT working for him (though he couldn't quite put his finger on the why until his diagnosis) and his present experiences in his local church. One quote, "Since my diagnosis, I know I don't have to feel ashamed anymore. And that's perhaps the key takeaway I'd like to offer to fellow Christ followers: as you live and worship alongside your autistic neighbors, you can help free us from the shame we've carried." I think my favorite bit of this one was seeing how the Book of Common Prayer could be *extremely* comforting because of the structure and familiarity.
"Service and the Spectrum" is an essay all about BALANCE. How does one balance the need for self-preservation (taking care of one's self to avoid meltdowns and overwhelming the mind, the senses, etc.) with the need to "serve" the church and "bear fruit." This is a thought-provoking chapter with plenty of questions and one man's solution to those questions.
"The Insidious Nature of Bad Christian Stories" is an essay about how terrible, horrible, no good, very bad anything labeled "Christian" is. Which is perhaps slightly ironic since this one is I believe published by a Christian publisher. The main point of this one seems to be that the only good art is secular art. Are there bad Christian movies? Yes. But where I would disagree is the generality that ALL, no exceptions, are bad. It seems impossible to him that a good Christian movie could ever be made. But it isn't just films, he is criticizing anything and everything specifically "Christian." He first says that Christian art doesn't even deserve "serious critical attention" because obviously it is so poorly done and obviously bad. Actually the word he uses is CHILDISH.
What are some childish attitudes that bad Christian stories feed into and encourage?
*The immature need to have correct beliefs, as opposed to the adult need to consider and examine diverse voices to develop critical thinking, empathy, and love.
*The immature need to be continually comforted, rather than the adult need to be comforted when afflicted, but also afflicted and challenged by difficult art when one has become too comfortable, even complacent, in one's faith, relationships, work and leisure.
*The immature need for clear answers to questions that have none, as opposed to the adult need to learn to live creatively with mystery and paradox.
*The immature need to separate good and evil into clear camps at all times, as opposed to the adult need to learn to let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest
*the immature confusing of real emotion and true empathy with shallow sentimentality and greeting card cliche, as opposed to the adult need to feel deeply through encounter and catharsis while confronting our own contradictions
*The immature need to romanticize the past as opposed to the adult need to recognize the complications, flaws, and entrenched injustices of every era--and in that recognition, to nevertheless work in faith to love God and our neighbors.
*The immature need to be in control as opposed to the adult need to wait on God through ambiguity.
It would be easier to evaluate if he'd lowered himself enough to comment with specifics instead of generalizing everything and condemning it one and all.
Christian works [be they art, movies, books, music] will always, always, always have haters. That's true enough. Even within Christian circles you will find haters that slam on Christian stuff. For better or worse. Again often condemning anything and everything in a generalized grouping. So while plenty of readers would probably agree with Bowman, I cannot. Because generalizations just don't work for me.
So this last essay I read was a big NO to me.
July 15, 2021
What a fabulous collection of essays on autism, creativity, faith, and so much more.
Check out my review on Ruminate's The Waking:
https://www.ruminatemagazine.com/blog...
Check out my review on Ruminate's The Waking:
https://www.ruminatemagazine.com/blog...
August 26, 2021
Wonderful memoir/essays about neurodiversity and faith. The kind of book I want to run around encouraging everyone to read. Enlightening and beautifully crafted.
Read
June 12, 20242024 reads: 157/250
this discusses the author’s journey with a late autism diagnosis and his thoughts on how autism affects daily life. what originally drew me to this book was seeing that the author is a christian and discusses his beliefs and how they relate to autism. i did end up appreciating this aspect and i wish there had been even more on this. i’d recommend to anyone wanting to gain a perspective on daily life, relationships, and faith from an autistic person.
this discusses the author’s journey with a late autism diagnosis and his thoughts on how autism affects daily life. what originally drew me to this book was seeing that the author is a christian and discusses his beliefs and how they relate to autism. i did end up appreciating this aspect and i wish there had been even more on this. i’d recommend to anyone wanting to gain a perspective on daily life, relationships, and faith from an autistic person.
November 25, 2022
Excellent book, not only was this book helpful in thinking through and learning about autism, I also found much to resonate with as a person with a disability about the value of listening to those with the experience. Nothing about us without us.
As a Taylor grad ir was great to hear that TU has continued the good fight to embrace and value students and staff with disabilities and neurodiversity
As a Taylor grad ir was great to hear that TU has continued the good fight to embrace and value students and staff with disabilities and neurodiversity
September 13, 2021
I received an advanced reader's copy of Daniel Bowman's "On the Spectrum" and I put it on my review stack. I thought, since I'm a journal editor, that one of my clergy colleagues who are autistic might find it interesting. But, before I made contact, I saw a note from a clergy colleague and writer whom I respect recommend it. With her recommendation in mind, I decided to open the book to see what I might find. I must say that I am glad I decided to read the book. I soon discovered that I knew very little about autism. I knew autism was a spectrum with different degrees of effect, but beyond that, I knew little. It did not take long for me to realize that this is a book that needs to be read by everyone, and not just autistic persons or family members of autistic persons. We all need to read it.
Daniel Bowman is a college professor. He teaches creative writing and the arts and is not a math and science wiz. He writes about autism as one who is autistic. That is important because, as Bowman, writes, most books about autism are either written by scientists and clinicians or parents of autistic children who share the challenges of raising a child who is autistic. I should note the language I'm using here. Bowman notes that there is disagreement within the autistic community as to whether to speak of being a person with autism or being autistic. He chooses the latter because the former suggests that it is a malady to be overcome, rather than a different operating system.
The book is composed of twenty-five essays, with a prelude in which Bowman sets up the story of his own life. The essays are broken into seven sections -- Foundations (this section does as the heading suggests, it offers definitions and sets the tone for what follows). Key is the distinction between neurodiversity and neurotypical). From there we move to a section titled Place, then Community, Worship, and Service (remember that this is not just a book about autism, but it is also about faith. That is important because the way an autistic person worships and serves might be different from a neuro-typical person). From church life, we move to his vocational life, with stories about his writing, his attraction to poetry, the "Insidious Nature of Bad Christian Stories," and more. Then he takes up questions of family and identity, followed by a section that provides responses to three interviews. Finally, he speaks of new directions, including how autism is represented.
Bowman writes with great passion about his own journey of discovery and what it means for him to be autistic. He recognizes that it would be much easier to be a neurotypical person, but that is not who he is. Thus, he has to find his own pathway. He writes the book in part for people like me so we can know what it means to be autistic in all its diversity --- not all autistic persons are great with math -- i.e. Rain Man. Some, like Bowman, are gifted artists and writers, though the way they write will be different (different operating system). He also writes with the intent to be a mentor to others who are autistic, helping them to discover their own gifts and way of living.
As I read the book and considered the definitions and descriptions, I began to better understand my autistic friends. I also began to realize that I may have other friends and family members who are autistic, and they may not know it (and at least I do not). What a gift this book is to the church and to the larger world. It is important that autistic people tell their own stories, rather than letting neurotypical people (like me) define them and their stories. While autism is part of every essay, it is not always the focal point. That is part of the point of the book. Autism needn't be at the front of the conversation in every case for us to learn about it. So, take and read. Thanks must go to Katherine for raising the book to the forefront of my attention!
Daniel Bowman is a college professor. He teaches creative writing and the arts and is not a math and science wiz. He writes about autism as one who is autistic. That is important because, as Bowman, writes, most books about autism are either written by scientists and clinicians or parents of autistic children who share the challenges of raising a child who is autistic. I should note the language I'm using here. Bowman notes that there is disagreement within the autistic community as to whether to speak of being a person with autism or being autistic. He chooses the latter because the former suggests that it is a malady to be overcome, rather than a different operating system.
The book is composed of twenty-five essays, with a prelude in which Bowman sets up the story of his own life. The essays are broken into seven sections -- Foundations (this section does as the heading suggests, it offers definitions and sets the tone for what follows). Key is the distinction between neurodiversity and neurotypical). From there we move to a section titled Place, then Community, Worship, and Service (remember that this is not just a book about autism, but it is also about faith. That is important because the way an autistic person worships and serves might be different from a neuro-typical person). From church life, we move to his vocational life, with stories about his writing, his attraction to poetry, the "Insidious Nature of Bad Christian Stories," and more. Then he takes up questions of family and identity, followed by a section that provides responses to three interviews. Finally, he speaks of new directions, including how autism is represented.
Bowman writes with great passion about his own journey of discovery and what it means for him to be autistic. He recognizes that it would be much easier to be a neurotypical person, but that is not who he is. Thus, he has to find his own pathway. He writes the book in part for people like me so we can know what it means to be autistic in all its diversity --- not all autistic persons are great with math -- i.e. Rain Man. Some, like Bowman, are gifted artists and writers, though the way they write will be different (different operating system). He also writes with the intent to be a mentor to others who are autistic, helping them to discover their own gifts and way of living.
As I read the book and considered the definitions and descriptions, I began to better understand my autistic friends. I also began to realize that I may have other friends and family members who are autistic, and they may not know it (and at least I do not). What a gift this book is to the church and to the larger world. It is important that autistic people tell their own stories, rather than letting neurotypical people (like me) define them and their stories. While autism is part of every essay, it is not always the focal point. That is part of the point of the book. Autism needn't be at the front of the conversation in every case for us to learn about it. So, take and read. Thanks must go to Katherine for raising the book to the forefront of my attention!
July 25, 2021
As an #OwnVoices author, Daniel Bowman Jr. gives a vulnerable, open, and intimate perspective on his experiences as an autistic adult. In the first few chapters, Bowman generously lays out the difference between a pathological view of autism and an embrace of neurodiversity: "A neurodiversity paradigm asserts the basic fact that autism doesn't need to be fixed; it simply needs to be understood and accepted." He gives examples that clearly explain the problematic nature of treating autism as a disease.
But in addition to these basic ideas about autism and how we should view it, Bowman also writes beautiful essays about his personal experiences navigating a world built for neurotypical people. In particular, I really enjoyed his essay about riding his motorcycle and how it helps him to regulate his sensory needs.
As the parent of an autistic child, I am always seeking to learn and listen to first-person accounts of how I can best support and celebrate my son's neurodiversity. And like Bowman says, "there is no autistic point of view. There are as many autistic points of view as there are autistic persons." But his point of view is incredibly valuable and I am glad to have listened.
Thank you NetGalley and Baker Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
But in addition to these basic ideas about autism and how we should view it, Bowman also writes beautiful essays about his personal experiences navigating a world built for neurotypical people. In particular, I really enjoyed his essay about riding his motorcycle and how it helps him to regulate his sensory needs.
As the parent of an autistic child, I am always seeking to learn and listen to first-person accounts of how I can best support and celebrate my son's neurodiversity. And like Bowman says, "there is no autistic point of view. There are as many autistic points of view as there are autistic persons." But his point of view is incredibly valuable and I am glad to have listened.
Thank you NetGalley and Baker Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 14, 2023
So the book started out very interestingly. His narrative would be comparative to O’toole which I know can rub some people the wrong way.
His negative viewpoint on aba which as a teacher he has no real knowledge on. Getting past that his views were very one sided and seemed very disrespectful towards typical people caring for their autistic kids. As an autistic person with autistic kids I thought this book was not a great read based off the biased opinions but I guess that is to be expected in this type of book. He also said the average life expectancy of autistic people is only the age of 36 which is not true at all. He really needed a person educated in this subject to help him with this book. As an autistic person it is still important to fact check and know both sides of everything and not to just assume or publish it anyways because who cares I’m autistic and only my viewpoint matters.
Would not recommend unless you are into a chaotic male perspective of his life which random topics unrelated and uneducated biases about autism.
His negative viewpoint on aba which as a teacher he has no real knowledge on. Getting past that his views were very one sided and seemed very disrespectful towards typical people caring for their autistic kids. As an autistic person with autistic kids I thought this book was not a great read based off the biased opinions but I guess that is to be expected in this type of book. He also said the average life expectancy of autistic people is only the age of 36 which is not true at all. He really needed a person educated in this subject to help him with this book. As an autistic person it is still important to fact check and know both sides of everything and not to just assume or publish it anyways because who cares I’m autistic and only my viewpoint matters.
Would not recommend unless you are into a chaotic male perspective of his life which random topics unrelated and uneducated biases about autism.
February 26, 2025
If I could give this 8 stars I would
May 25, 2021
Full disclosure: the author is one of my best friends. Even so, you can trust me when I say that this book is a generous invitation to knowing and loving your neighbors better— reading it, for a moment you can begin to see from the perspective of an autistic artist, and the view is lovely.
August 14, 2021
This is an important book.
Through essays, letters, and vividly realized anecdotes, Daniel Bowman Jr. offers the rare gift of empathy, inviting readers into his life and his beautiful way of seeing the world. This book is billed as being about the many contributions that neurodiversity can make to creative fields and to society in general. It is about that, but it’s also about ancillary subjects: the value of art, the importance of compassion, the most honest ways to find and present truth. Using an #OwnVoices narrative, Bowman makes insightful observations about problems in the Church and provides advice for how neurotypicals can be more welcoming to and affirming of people on the autism spectrum.
Having taken one of Dr. Bowman’s writing classes in college, I knew there would be aspects of this memoir I might struggle with—specifically, his perspectives on storytelling and his beliefs about what qualifies as worthwhile art. There were moments when his views on that subject felt less inclusive than they might’ve. Some readers might wonder if Dr. Bowman believes it is possible to produce any work of literary merit that is not saturated with high artistic reference or rooted in a viewpoint of Christian spirituality. Even in those moments, however, the intent shines through: Bowman is dedicated to a model of creative endeavor that illuminates healing, provides hope, and urges compassion for the struggles of our neighbors.
Once again, this memoir is a gift of empathy. It is an important book.
Through essays, letters, and vividly realized anecdotes, Daniel Bowman Jr. offers the rare gift of empathy, inviting readers into his life and his beautiful way of seeing the world. This book is billed as being about the many contributions that neurodiversity can make to creative fields and to society in general. It is about that, but it’s also about ancillary subjects: the value of art, the importance of compassion, the most honest ways to find and present truth. Using an #OwnVoices narrative, Bowman makes insightful observations about problems in the Church and provides advice for how neurotypicals can be more welcoming to and affirming of people on the autism spectrum.
Having taken one of Dr. Bowman’s writing classes in college, I knew there would be aspects of this memoir I might struggle with—specifically, his perspectives on storytelling and his beliefs about what qualifies as worthwhile art. There were moments when his views on that subject felt less inclusive than they might’ve. Some readers might wonder if Dr. Bowman believes it is possible to produce any work of literary merit that is not saturated with high artistic reference or rooted in a viewpoint of Christian spirituality. Even in those moments, however, the intent shines through: Bowman is dedicated to a model of creative endeavor that illuminates healing, provides hope, and urges compassion for the struggles of our neighbors.
Once again, this memoir is a gift of empathy. It is an important book.
August 2, 2022
The intersection of neurodiversity & Christianity is laid out honestly and vulnerably in this memoir by an autistic individual! could not recommend this book more. I learned so much about autism and how to try and understand how they perceive the world and the “disorder” as a whole. Please go read this book.
December 27, 2024
This is a beautiful book of essays by an English professor who is a person of faith and also happens to be autistic. I found myself needing time to mull over his writing. I particularly loved the last 100 pages where he reflects on faith & art, his experiences, and shares interviews with students.
Read
January 4, 2022Fascinating, compassionate, educational, and poetic all at once.
April 8, 2024
I love the way Daniel Bowman writes.
His essays and reflections helped me to hopefully embrace some more insight into the richness and challenges of being neurodivergent.
As someone who is neurotypical, there is much still to learn about neurodiversity. I am grateful for what this book has added amidst the grace, hope, honesty, and heartache expressed.
My review feels wholly inadequate really.
His essays and reflections helped me to hopefully embrace some more insight into the richness and challenges of being neurodivergent.
As someone who is neurotypical, there is much still to learn about neurodiversity. I am grateful for what this book has added amidst the grace, hope, honesty, and heartache expressed.
My review feels wholly inadequate really.
Read
February 5, 2022Beautiful essays. The section on community, worship, and service was so moving. I have hardly heard anyone express perspectives on how being autistic in the church feels, but this is VERY accurate. Understanding neurodiversity is essential to building community. This is definitely worth reading!
May 2, 2021
Every once in a while, a book comes along out of nowhere and simply blows you away. For me, Daniel Bowman Jr's "On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity" is such a book.
I'd not heard of Bowman until stumbling across Bowman's upcoming release despite the fact that we share a Midwestern home state, a lot of theology, and an interest in the world of disability - in Bowman's case Autism and in my own Spina Bifida/Paraplegia/Amputee/Brain Injury.
It was like when I discovered that Shannan Martin, another writer of faith, is an Indiana resident. I instantly wanted to drive up, say hey, have coffee, and talk about life.
After having recently read yet another expert's opinion on church and theology and disability and having once again been disappointed by what I read, I approached "On the Spectrum" gingerly and with low-to-modest expectations.
"On the Spectrum" brings to light the phrase "nothing about us without us." Indeed, the greatest benefit for me of "On the Spectrum" is that Bowman immerses us in his world of living with Autism from tackling the inevitable comparisons to Temple Grandin to dealing with high school academic challenges to wondering about "outing" himself while working in the often high-pressure tenure-seeking academic world and, of course, to the everyday life of faith.
There isn't a page of "On the Spectrum" I didn't love because this book is filled with truth-telling and stories demanding to be heard. Bowman, who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 35 after having put the pieces together in his own heart and head, speaks of Autism in a way that no non-Autistic theologian or academic or religious researcher ever could. While this is not to say that those other voices are not valuable, Bowman has the stories that need to be told.
"On the Spectrum" is simultaneously memoir and a collection of both short and longer essays. Bowman writes more like a Rachel Held Evans or a Shannan Martin than he does your typical theologian. This is not to say there isn't tremendous intelligence in "On the Spectrum." Indeed, there is. Bowman is a professor at Indiana's Taylor University and his writing beautifully balances being intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
For those of us who embrace the power of natural supports and true community rather than a life in paid supports, "On the Spectrum" is a powerful vision of how beautiful this life can be. As a person myself who left the "system" in favor of seeking true community that would both empower and provide the supports for daily life I need, I resonated greatly with Bowman's honesty about daily living, daily challenges, daily triumphs, personal relationships, marriage, mentors, life in the professional world, and even the challenges of travel.
Truthfully, as much as I use the word "disability" here and I believe it to be an important word to use there's also an awareness that rises from the book that we are often more disabled by society and the church's response to our diagnoses than we are by the diagnoses themselves. Autism, of course, presents with its everyday challenges and they portrayed realistically here. Yet, when the church is ultimately doing its job Autism, or neurodiversity, becomes a gift and a part of what makes the tapestry of faith so rich. "On the Spectrum" is, indeed, a realistic portrayal of neurodiversity and also a celebration of it.
Bowman is successful, another story of living successfully with autism among many, as a college graduate, professor, writer, speaker, husband, and father among many other "roles." He recognizes Autism for the challenges it presents but also for the ways in which it has helped him succeed.
While my challenges are different (though Autism has long been tied to Spina Bifida and I checked off more than a few common traits with Bowman), the truth is that "On the Spectrum" has emotionally and intellectually informed my own living with spina bifida and its related diagnoses. I've resonated with Bowman deeply - we both unexpectedly went to college and we're both creatives who value the role of creativity in living AND, of course, we share our faith journeys. Yet, perhaps more than anything, we both share a willingness to share our journeys and all they're hilarious and frustrating quirks and foibles.
For any church claiming to be truly celebrating of diversity and disability in all its forms, "On the Spectrum" is mandatory reading as it speaks to the church experience and it speaks outside the usual structures and programs to which people with disabilities are so often relegated. We are not your charity...we are your brothers and sisters and so much more.
"On the Spectrum" is one of my favorite books of 2021.
I'd not heard of Bowman until stumbling across Bowman's upcoming release despite the fact that we share a Midwestern home state, a lot of theology, and an interest in the world of disability - in Bowman's case Autism and in my own Spina Bifida/Paraplegia/Amputee/Brain Injury.
It was like when I discovered that Shannan Martin, another writer of faith, is an Indiana resident. I instantly wanted to drive up, say hey, have coffee, and talk about life.
After having recently read yet another expert's opinion on church and theology and disability and having once again been disappointed by what I read, I approached "On the Spectrum" gingerly and with low-to-modest expectations.
"On the Spectrum" brings to light the phrase "nothing about us without us." Indeed, the greatest benefit for me of "On the Spectrum" is that Bowman immerses us in his world of living with Autism from tackling the inevitable comparisons to Temple Grandin to dealing with high school academic challenges to wondering about "outing" himself while working in the often high-pressure tenure-seeking academic world and, of course, to the everyday life of faith.
There isn't a page of "On the Spectrum" I didn't love because this book is filled with truth-telling and stories demanding to be heard. Bowman, who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 35 after having put the pieces together in his own heart and head, speaks of Autism in a way that no non-Autistic theologian or academic or religious researcher ever could. While this is not to say that those other voices are not valuable, Bowman has the stories that need to be told.
"On the Spectrum" is simultaneously memoir and a collection of both short and longer essays. Bowman writes more like a Rachel Held Evans or a Shannan Martin than he does your typical theologian. This is not to say there isn't tremendous intelligence in "On the Spectrum." Indeed, there is. Bowman is a professor at Indiana's Taylor University and his writing beautifully balances being intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
For those of us who embrace the power of natural supports and true community rather than a life in paid supports, "On the Spectrum" is a powerful vision of how beautiful this life can be. As a person myself who left the "system" in favor of seeking true community that would both empower and provide the supports for daily life I need, I resonated greatly with Bowman's honesty about daily living, daily challenges, daily triumphs, personal relationships, marriage, mentors, life in the professional world, and even the challenges of travel.
Truthfully, as much as I use the word "disability" here and I believe it to be an important word to use there's also an awareness that rises from the book that we are often more disabled by society and the church's response to our diagnoses than we are by the diagnoses themselves. Autism, of course, presents with its everyday challenges and they portrayed realistically here. Yet, when the church is ultimately doing its job Autism, or neurodiversity, becomes a gift and a part of what makes the tapestry of faith so rich. "On the Spectrum" is, indeed, a realistic portrayal of neurodiversity and also a celebration of it.
Bowman is successful, another story of living successfully with autism among many, as a college graduate, professor, writer, speaker, husband, and father among many other "roles." He recognizes Autism for the challenges it presents but also for the ways in which it has helped him succeed.
While my challenges are different (though Autism has long been tied to Spina Bifida and I checked off more than a few common traits with Bowman), the truth is that "On the Spectrum" has emotionally and intellectually informed my own living with spina bifida and its related diagnoses. I've resonated with Bowman deeply - we both unexpectedly went to college and we're both creatives who value the role of creativity in living AND, of course, we share our faith journeys. Yet, perhaps more than anything, we both share a willingness to share our journeys and all they're hilarious and frustrating quirks and foibles.
For any church claiming to be truly celebrating of diversity and disability in all its forms, "On the Spectrum" is mandatory reading as it speaks to the church experience and it speaks outside the usual structures and programs to which people with disabilities are so often relegated. We are not your charity...we are your brothers and sisters and so much more.
"On the Spectrum" is one of my favorite books of 2021.
January 27, 2023
4.5 I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective and tone Bowman brings to this book—especially as someone who is ADHD and also struggles in the spectrum of sensory processing. I felt seen and understood as a neurodivergent throughout the book. As a AP English teacher and writer, I also appreciated Bowman as an artist and a voice for other neurodivergent artists. This is one book which will remain on my shelf and to be referenced for years to come.
January 15, 2023
I listened to the audio version of this book in chunks over the span of a year and a half. It challenged me to think outside the box of diagnosis. It encourages me to be even more gentle with those around me, knowing there could be neurodiverse people of all kinds and some who do not know it (specifically) themselves, as Dan did not for so many years. I pray that my autistic 16-yr-old will find the kinds of satisfaction and balance and community in his life that Dan has found, and that I might help as much as I can.
August 22, 2021
Full disclosure: Dan is a friend. That said, I'm a writer with a lot of writer friends who have an overwhelming number of publications, and I read mostly science fiction. So this was not a typical read for me. I loved it. There's a lot of overlap between my particular brand of neurodivergence (severe social anxiety, GAD, high sensitivity) and autism, so I was often on the verge of weepiness with fellow-feeling. I also learned a lot, and in many places just enjoyed Dan's beautiful writing and the need to slow down and be in the moment with him. Dan is doing something new here with narrative processes and memoir - which he has talked about in at least one interview - and that's really exciting; it's become one of several catalysts for changing my own thinking about memoir and narrative structure and the many possibilities of moving beyond neurotypical writing patterns. I'm so grateful that Dan has written this book and invited us all into this conversation.
September 12, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book. I learned from the author's personal experience with Asperger's and appreciate his practical instruction for understanding and supporting people who are neurodivergent. Based on the title, I thought faith would be addressed more than it was. When his faith was mentioned, it seemed more closely associated with mysticism. The author refers to himself as a "progressive Episcopalian" and comes across as dismissive of anyone who holds to orthodox Christian doctrine.
October 3, 2021
If you are looking for a book that talks about how the church can better minister to autistic people like I was, this isn't the book for you.
Instead it's a well written poetic spiritual memoir of an autistic English professor. I came looking for information, but was invited into a story of someone's life, probably the only true way to learn anything, especially to learn more about autism.
Instead it's a well written poetic spiritual memoir of an autistic English professor. I came looking for information, but was invited into a story of someone's life, probably the only true way to learn anything, especially to learn more about autism.
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