Autism, Sensory and Behavior: Everything You Need to Know

by Temple Grandin

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health

180 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

Mary Temple Grandin is an American academic and animal behaviorist. She is a prominent proponent of the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and the author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. Grandin is a consultant to the livestock industry, where she offers advice on animal behavior, and is also an autism spokesperson.
Grandin is one of the first autistic people to document the insights she gained from her personal experiences with autism. She is a faculty member with Animal Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University.
In 2010, Time 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, named her in the "Heroes" category. She was the subject of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning biographical film Temple Grandin. Grandin has been an outspoken proponent of autism rights and neurodiversity movements.

Reviews

[Sarah B · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an adult on the spectrum I didn't find this book very helpful at all. I actually got excited when I happened to find it on the library shelf this morning, in the New Books section. See, I was just diagnosed with hyperacusis a few days ago (but I have been struggling with it for years - I just never realized it had a name or that it was something that was "abnormal" or that you could get diagnosed with it). So yes, I was excited! Which is why I read it right away.

But sadly I didn't find the book to be helpful in any way.

She says in here to "take control of the thing creating the noise". Well my problem is I can't. The noise is my neighbor's TV and it plays loud all night.. I can't get away from the unwanted sound.

One one page she lists "deep pressure, slow swinging and balancing" to be helpful for sensory issues. I fail to understand how balancing on one foot is going to help me with the hyperacusis caused by my neighbor's TV at 2 Am?? That doesn't make any sense at all...

In another chapter she mentioned using scents. Well I have a ton of IgE allergies. I have to avoid scents! So no that won't work either. At the moment I have 13 food allergies and then a bunch of environmental ones too.


She talks about the three different types of thinking. Well, she actually talks about two of them and then only names the third one. Well I am the third one: verbal thinker. Because I have aphantasia. I cannot visualize at all. But she doesn't talk about it at all because apparently if you are autistic you are not supposed to be a verbal thinker yet I am both! So that makes me feel I was squeezed out totally. Am I not supposed to exist or something? All of my thinking and memories are in words. It's been that way since I was a tiny kid in kindergarten.

The chapters in here are extremely short.

I think I do have the auditory processing issues and I definitely need time to think if I am asked an unexpected question. So I do agree with that.

I don't have kids and I don't know any kids. I was reading this for myself hoping to find something about the hyperacusis but there was nothing in here at all. Says to "take control of the noise" but most noise you can't do that. Most unwanted noise is made by other people. And it's worse if it's at night when you want to sleep.

There are pictures in here of her brain / parts of her brain and then pictures of a normal brain... But there are no deep explanations of why these sensory issues are going on. I had been hoping for some in depth stuff on it. Like a better explanation of why so many on the spectrum have Hyperacusis. What is going on in the brain?? A part of the brain is mentioned but it's not deep at all. It only mentioned the amygdala and another part.. but no real explanation. And that was very disappointing.

Oh and then there was the bit about behavior. I was acting like an adult since kindergarten. Very strict rule following. So that part wasn't helpful either.

I didn't find this helpful at all. Very sad.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Autism, Sensory and Behavior: Everything You Need to Know by Temple Grandin

Rating: 4/5

Reactions & Emotional Resonance
As a sociologist and public health professional, I approached this book with keen interest in how it bridges lived experience with practical guidance for neurodivergent individuals and their support networks. Grandin’s authority as an autistic scholar lends credibility to her insights, and her no-nonsense, solutions-oriented approach is refreshing. However, as someone attuned to systemic barriers in healthcare and education, I found myself wishing for deeper structural critique—particularly regarding how sensory and behavioral challenges intersect with race, class, and access to resources.

The book’s tone is pragmatic and hopeful, which I appreciated, but at times, its focus on individual adaptation over systemic change left me conflicted. While Grandin’s strategies are undeniably useful, they risk placing the burden of “fitting in” on autistic individuals rather than demanding broader societal accommodations. That said, her emphasis on strengths rather than deficits is a welcome counter to pathologizing narratives in autism discourse.

Strengths
-Lived Experience + Expertise: Grandin’s dual perspective as an autistic person and researcher provides a rare, valuable synthesis of personal and empirical knowledge. Her advice on sensory sensitivities (e.g., managing overload, gradual desensitization) is grounded in both science and practical wisdom.
-Actionable Strategies: The book excels in offering concrete, immediately applicable techniques—such as environmental modifications and sensory integration exercises—that caregivers and educators can implement.
-Strength-Based Approach: Her insistence on nurturing autistic individuals’ unique talents (rather than forcing conformity) aligns with contemporary neurodiversity paradigms in sociology and disability studies.

Constructive Criticism
-Structural Analysis Lacking: While Grandin acknowledges systemic challenges (e.g., school accommodations), she stops short of critiquing how ableism, economic disparities, and racial inequities compound sensory and behavioral struggles. A public health lens demands this intersectional scrutiny.
-Redundancy with Prior Work: Readers familiar with Grandin’s earlier books may find some sections repetitive (e.g., sensory tips, insistence on early intervention). More novel contributions—such as addressing autism in adulthood or systemic advocacy—would have elevated this volume.
-Limited Caregiver Diversity: Most examples presume a nuclear family with resources for therapies and modifications. More discussion of single-parent households, low-income contexts, or cultural differences in autism support would broaden its relevance.

Final Thoughts
This book is a valuable, accessible guide for those new to autism or seeking practical sensory-behavioral strategies. Grandin’s expertise shines, though sociologists may crave deeper interrogation of systemic barriers. Still, her advocacy for neurodivergent strengths remains vital.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy—this book reinforces the need for both individual and societal shifts in supporting autistic individuals.

Rating: 4/5 (Highly useful for practical guidance, but lacks intersectional and structural depth.)

[Darya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have heard about Dr. Temple Grandin earlier but haven't actually read anything by her before this one. Unfortunately, nothing in the annotation prepared me to this book being about "these kids" (that is, autistic children) and how to recognize their struggles, yes - but also how to teach them proper manners, in the way they did in the 1950s. Which is simply not something I am interested in. Most of the other stuff I have read on this topic is about later-diagnosed autistics who had to suffer enough through adults teaching them proper manners. And this one is in part about Grandin's own experience growing up but mostly about "these kids". So I dropped at some point, but it was good to get acquainted with her peculiar style.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book Temple Grandin uses her experience (and pictures of her brain connections), to help parents and educators of children on the autism spectrum facilitate an understanding of their problems to wdevelop a more effective educational method. The best part remains in my opinion the final one, where the author answers a whole series of questions with extremely practical advice.

In questo libro Temple Grandin utilizza la sua esperienza (e le immagini delle sue connessioni celebrali), per aiutare i genitori e gli educatori dei bambini sullo spettro autistico ad agevolare la comprensione dei loro problemi per sviluppare un metodo educativo piú efficace. La parte migliore resta secondo me quella finale, dove l'autrice risponde a tutta una serie di domande con dei consigli estremamente pratici.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book had a lot of good information. Temple did a good job at explaining things so that anyone could understand. Unfortunately toward the end, I found myself skimming because it started to feel receptive. I think this book is great for parents and caregivers of autistic individuals as well as the individual themself. As a special education teacher, I enjoyed reading a perspective from an autistic person rather than people who have just studied autism.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book repeats a lot of information that was in Temple Grandin’s other books. The sensory processing information is what is new, and the significance may lead to children who have been misdiagnosed with processing issues may actually have autism. The increase in autism diagnosis is due to the changing criteria for diagnosis resulting from more complete understanding of the difficulties involved in this communication disorder.

[Daria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a late-diagnosed autistic. It was hard growing up feeling that you were an outsider, and not being able to explain even to yourself what's wrong with you or the others.
I was diagnosed at 30. And it's still hard to explain. I mean, "you can look others in the eye, so you can't be autistic". But still, knowing who I am made it easier for me to accept myself. And to do so, I choose books like this one to read.

But here I was irritated on every page.

Pro of this book - it was written by an actual autistic person.
Cons:
1- It is a book not for autistics, but for those who raise them. But still, it's full of BS.
If I were to describe this book in one sentence, it would be: if it worked for me, it's the only right way to do things, and I hate it. It makes me angry.
2- It was only focused on autistic children. Yes, adult autistics exist, that's great, but what about them dealing with overstimulation?
Moreover, it is not a book for autistics per se. It is more of a book about how to discipline autistic children, and how current parents allow their autistic kids too much. Like, for real.
3- After reading this book, I've got no new insights on managing my sensory or behavioral issues and struggles. For example, I can't just forbid myself from watching TV if I behaved badly today. That makes the book irrelevant to me.

I don't have kids. I was reading this for myself, hoping to find something useful or at least new. Perhaps, something about how to explain to others why I react this way to some situations.

As an adult on the spectrum, I didn't find this book to be helpful at all. I'd even say I find it somehow dangerous, or at least outdated. Again, if that worked for Temple and her Mother, it doesn't make it the only possible True way.
Maybe, if the same information was presented as just her personal experience, and not followed by: "nowadays you can do the same with these instruments", it would already make it better.

Maybe, as an adult on the spectrum, I took everything too literally, but I wasn't taught by the book how to deal with it. So you have to accept it.

[Eleni | elenisbookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book with high hopes, especially since it’s written by an autistic author whose work has meant a great deal to many people. Grandin’s perspective is undeniably important, and I appreciate that she continues to advocate for understanding and practical support. That said, this particular book didn’t resonate with me.

The tone and focus felt geared almost entirely toward parents and caregivers of autistic children, often through a framework that reads more like guidance on discipline than support. Many of the strategies appear rooted in what worked for Grandin and her mother in the 1950s, and while that context is valuable as personal history, it doesn’t always translate to present-day realities or the wide diversity of autistic experiences.

I was hoping for insights that adults could apply to sensory or emotional challenges, or at least language that people could use to help better understand and communicate with autistic people. Instead, I found very little that addressed autistic adulthood or the complexities of navigating overstimulation, burnout, or modern environments. The advice often felt prescriptive in a way that assumes one “right” approach, which left me more frustrated than supported.

There are some moments where Grandin’s lived experience shines, and those parts were the most meaningful to me. I just wish the book leaned more into that personal storytelling instead of framing those memories as universal solutions.

Overall, I think parts of this could be potentially useful for caregivers who want straightforward, very traditional guidance for working with autistic kids, although there are many great works out there that I would instead recommend. However, for autistic adults — or anyone looking for updated, nuanced, neurodiversity-aware insight — this felt outdated and not especially helpful.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Temple Grandin is a treasure who has much to offer this world, and especially autistic people. This text may be a good starting point and quick-flip guide for a lot of folks. But I was expecting more and better.

This is a short text and it's equally bereft of the nitty-gritty details we might hope to have. I'm not sure if it was the galley copy or not, but it's rather rough around the edges. Each chapter (mini chapter, mind) comes with a list of references ... but these are not cited in-text, so it's unclear which claims go with which sources. Except for the case of one chapter (that I noticed). Huh? This made it infuriatingly difficult to do simple fact-checking and find out more information on each of the ideas presented. All that was needed was in-text citations linking the references to the points made. I hope this was a problem in the draft that will be rectified in the final version.

Despite its size, the text is mightily repetitive. I didn't count but let's say she references "let kids have control over stimuli" at least a hundred times, give or take. The last part, a Q&A, was especially repetitive. To be fair, people ask a lot of questions that may have more or less the same answer. I was hoping for more nuance there, I suppose.

Grandin also makes a lot of claims that strike me as fishy. Autistic people apparently have more gastrointestinal, urinary track, and ear problems than other people. Really? To be honest, even as someone who is not a parent, a lot of the advice and issues presented here seem to apply to most kids at some point in their development.

Where Grandin scores points is in her clear writing and examples. I also enjoyed the images and photos and wished there was more.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Future Horizons | Ingram Publisher Services for the advance copy.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grabbed this book on a whim while at work because I thought it'd have some good information about the intersection of autism and sensory issues, as the title suggests. But, like a lot of books on autism, unfortunately, it has way too much of a focus on autistic children rather than autistic adults. I was expecting a self-help book of sorts for autistic folks to figure out how to manage their sensory issues, but it's more of a book for parents of autistic children to manage their sensory issues and/or how to desensitize the kids to their sensory triggers. So, not really all that relevant for me personally, even if some of the information presented was interesting. And I guess, buried within the text, I did find a sprinkling of suggestions I may be able to benefit from (like weighted blankets for pressure therapy or tinted glasses to reduce light sensitivity indoors).

Also, while I wasn't paying super close attention to the resources Grandin cites in the book (maybe I should have, so I could do further research myself on this subject), I happened to notice in her Q&A section that she cites Autism Speaks as a source for one of her answers. Maybe the specific article she cited is written by an actual, reliable autism expert, but anytime I see AS mentioned in a book about autism, it's a red flag for me. And it's even more frustrating to see an actual autistic person and advocate rely on them for information. Society, please stop giving AS a platform. They're a load of sinister garbage.

[Lisa Brooke Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temple Grandin’s Autism, Sensory, and Behavior is an insightful and practical guide that blends Grandin’s lived experience with her professional expertise. As one of the most trusted voices in autism advocacy, she provides clear strategies for understanding and managing sensory sensitivities—an area that many autistic individuals navigate daily.

The book covers key topics, including sensory overload, desensitization techniques, and integration strategies. What makes it especially valuable is Grandin’s emphasis on strengths-based thinking, encouraging readers to recognize and build upon the unique abilities of autistic individuals rather than focusing solely on challenges.

While the information is highly useful, especially for parents, educators, and caregivers, the structure can feel somewhat repetitive at times, and a few more detailed case studies or examples would have strengthened the material. Even so, the book remains an approachable, compassionate, and research-informed resource that empowers readers to better support individuals on the autism spectrum.

If you’re seeking practical advice presented with empathy and clarity, this guide is well worth adding to your shelf.

Thank you to the author for doing the incredible research reflected in this book. Thank you also to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few minor quibbles, but overall an insightful, practical guide. Dr. Temple Grandin brings her signature blend of personal experience and scientific expertise to this new entry. The book is highly accessible and is a valuable resource for parents, educators, or anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the nuances of sensory processing in autism. I genuinely appreciated the Q&A's over different topics and the suggestions that are offered throughout the book and those Q&A's.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review thanks to NetGalley!

[Moon Captain · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's an OK book. borrow it read it and return it. not really a reference book, just some tips and reminders. I feel pretty called out about the escalator thing. I always kept it on the down low but yeah escalators are pretty confusing and used to be quite terrifying. now I'm not really afraid of falling down and dying or anything because I don't care. lol. still, being autistic sucks and is hard. it's funny though! now that I know why I am this way, it is all quite funny.

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temple Grandin is a well-known autism expert, who herself has autism. I wish I could have had this book when my youngest was a child. There is lots of good advice here but she relates her advice to her own childhood, which may not be for everyone. Subtracting one star because there is a lot of repeated information.

[Brenda Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the very basic aspects of autism in this book. It is logical, precise and you can tell it was written by an autistic person. I loved that I was getting firsthand experience and not just generally theoretical ideas from a psychologist or doctor.

[Nick Salenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that sheds light on best ways to adapt & thrive for most autistic individuals dealing with variety of sensory differences.