Okay, this is a straightforward plug for an upcoming event – but I am so excited about this that I have to let people know.

In London on May 18th at Waterstones, Notting Hill, at 7pm I will be appearing with Kamran Nazeer, author of "Send In The Idiots -- Or How We Grew To Understand The World".

Kamran, himself, was diagnosed with autism and attended a school for autistic children 23 years ago. The school no longer exists, but Kamran has traced the lives of several of his classmates and tells the fascinating story of how they have coped with autism through the years. I have read this book and it is truly wonderful. It is a compelling read, beautifully written, and very enlightening.

With two authors talking about their direct experiences about autism from these very different points of view, the evening promises to be quite something. Anyone who is living in London, please pass on the message to any friends or family who may be interested. The event is free.

Below is a review of Kamran's book from the San Francisco Chronicle. I think his book is on the charts in San Francisco and has definitely been selling really well in the states, generally, which is no easy feat from a first time British author! 

 From San Francisco Chronicle

"Send in the Idiots is the always candid, often surprising, and ultimately moving investigation into what happened to those children. Now a policy adviser in England, Kamran decides to visit four of his old classmates to find out the kind of lives that they are living now, how much they’ve been able to overcome—and what remains missing. A speechwriter unable to make eye contact; a messenger who gets upset if anyone touches his bicycle; a depressive suicide victim; and a computer engineer who communicates difficult emotions through the use of hand puppets: these four classmates reveal an astonishing,thought-provoking spectrum of behavior.

Bringing to life the texture of autistic lives and the pressures and limitations that the condition presents, Kamran also relates the ways in which those can be eased over time, and with the right treatment. Using his own experiences to examine such topics as the difficulties of language, conversation as performance, and the politics of civility, Send in the Idiots is also a rare and provocative exploration of the way that people—all people—learn to think and feel. Written with unmatched insight and striking personal testimony, Kamran Nazeer’s account is a stunning, invaluable, and utterly unique contribution to the literature of what makes us human."