Since its first official mentioning in 1943 autism spectrum disorder has proven to be a
much-discussed yet seemingly unfathomable object of investigation by numerous disciplinary
fields that have sought to understand the condition from multiple lenses and vied for their
respective power of interpretation. This book explores the representation of autism in medical
popular and literary discourses. Focusing on the works of Temple Grandin it understands her
oeuvre as a prism for refracting perspectives that have taken a stand on the question and
definition of autism in past and contemporary debates. It further illuminates the crucial
interconnection between life sciences and life writing which goes far beyond the example of
autism and demonstrates how central it is to bridge the divide between the life sciences and
the humanities. Such an interdisciplinary dialogue this book proposes can lead to a
significant advancement of knowledge about autism and other forms of neurodiversity.
