Unmasking Autism

I have downloaded the app TikTok as a woman, which means I have at times convinced myself I am autistic, have ADHD, or both. Less jokingly, my family and workplace and self are all so very neurodivergent. Plus I loved [b:Laziness Does Not Exist|54304124|Laziness Does Not Exist|Devon Price|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607877126l/54304124.SY75.jpg|84737407], by the same author. All good reasons to pick up this book.

Unmasking Autism reminds me a lot of [b:Ace|52128695|Ace What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex|Angela Chen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580804471l/52128695.SX50_SY75.jpg|73599792], because both books straddle this line of “primer/101” and “hugely expansive ambitious vision of a better world we could build together.” Sometimes they're just defining a word, other times they're showing how systems of oppression box even the most privileged in. This happens because justice does not trickle down; it swells upward. Accessibility benefits everyone, including abled people.

At its core, Unmasking Autism insists that there is room and hope for everyone. There is a utopian tinge to some of the concluding points, but I think a lot of the suggestions and exercises are within reach. Dr. Price does not mince words; he spells out the risks and drawbacks of unmasking. But he shows how it can still be worth it, because of what we lose by not taking that leap — both individually and as a species.

This review may just sound fluffy and dramatic, but every once in a while I come across a nonfiction book that really resonates. And to be totally honest, reading Unmasking Autism made me a better person. I feel a little kinder, a little more patient. Dr. Price narrates the audiobook and his tone is comforting. He is emphatic but not preachy or pretentious. His work always provides me with more compassion for myself and others.

I'd recommend this to people who liked [b:Real Self-Care|61327482|Real Self-Care A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included)|Pooja Lakshmin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660050441l/61327482.SY75.jpg|96704606] and/or did not love [b:The Emotionally Exhausted Woman|60062210|The Emotionally Exhausted Woman Why You're Feeling Depleted and How to Get What You Need|Nancy Colier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664631572l/60062210.SX50.jpg|94706608]. It has made me want to read more about disability justice, too. My shortlist is [b:Sincerely, Your Autistic Child|54615849|Sincerely, Your Autistic Child|Sharon daVanport|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605573791l/54615849.SY75.jpg|49605219], [b:We're Not Broken|55985404|We're Not Broken Changing the Autism Conversation|Eric Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606026641l/55985404.SX50.jpg|87211805], and [b:Disability Visibility|51456746|Disability Visibility First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century|Alice Wong|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582004027l/51456746.SY75.jpg|76117598].