[Book Introduction] "The World Wasn't Made for Us" (by Pete Wharmby)
"This book is pretty amazing," my son said as he showed it to me.
(Son)
90% of what's written in this book feels like it's written about me.
(Me)
90%! That's amazing.
(Son)
I don't really have trouble with sensory sensitivities, so subtracting that, it's 90%.
(Me)
So that means everything except for sensory sensitivities applies to you?
(Son)
That's about right.
(Me)
Does that mean if I read this book, I'll understand you?
(Son)
Hahaha. I guess that's what it means.
(Me)
Wait, let me read it.
(Son)
Sure.
Driven by a morbid curiosity (?), I retreated to my room to read it.
I started reading while sticking sticky notes on parts where I thought, "This definitely applies to my son," but since it applied everywhere, I gave up on the sticky notes halfway through. However, this is what happened.
And again, much of it, to varying degrees, also applied to me, his mother. Like mother, like son!
This book is a new release, with the Japanese translation just published in December 2024.
The author is Pete Wharmby, a British man. He is a former teacher who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age 34.
(Son)
Still, it's amazing that even though we live so far apart, in Japan and the UK, we think the same things and struggle with the same things.
(Me)
It really is. It has nothing to do with race, culture, or nationality.
(Son)
I read this 300-page book in one sitting because I was so absorbed, but I wonder if non-autistic people will read it. I think it's such a good book that there's nothing else written as skillfully and interestingly.
It has everything I wanted to write. I've been beaten to the punch.
(Me)
Yeah, yeah. Wait? You were planning to write it?
This book is definitely one that I want the majority, the neurotypical people, to read. How can I get them to read it?
the world can be changed.
For now,"Table of Contents"I will introduce the.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Human Relationships - Things as Complex as a Spider's Web
(Rules of small talk, difficult conversations, telephone phobia, masking, meltdowns...)
Chapter 2: ASD and Friends
(The myth that autistic people lack empathy, romantic relationships for autistic people...)
Chapter 3: Tying Shoelaces and Other Daily Difficulties
(Being neurodivergent, adherence to routines...)
Chapter 4: Beyond Hobbies
("Special interests" and how special they are, burnout...)
Chapter 5: School - The Harshest Environment
Chapter 6: The Workplace is Full of Dangers - About Necessary Accommodations
Chapter 7: Nothing is More Stressful Than Rest
Chapter 8: In Search of Correctness
Not only is it written in a concrete, easy-to-understand, and humorous way about "how people with autism spectrum disorder feel," but it also clearly summarizes "how those around them and society should respond."
—Below are my own musings—
"I'm doing cutting-edge research but I can't tie my shoelaces"—that's so true, so true!
"Many people are obsessed with Pokemon"—seriously! (Even in the UK!)
"When someone asks me to do something, no matter how kindly they say it, I absolutely don't want to do it"—could that have been a trait of autism spectrum disorder...💦
So that person's behavior had that meaning.
In those times, you just have to think this way and do this.
If everyone just knew, we could all get by.
It was a book that helped me understand those things.
Finally, an introduction to our co-managed magazine.
There is a wonderful world in the world of note as well.
It is a co-managed magazine related to developmental disabilities that I, Kabocha, am also participating in on the sidelines.
Thank you for your support.